PM Modi praises the efforts of the Indian contingent as the Paris Olympics draw to a close.

New Delhi [India], August 12 : As the Paris Olympics 2024 come to a close, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the Indian contingent for their remarkable efforts and dedication. He expressed the nation's pride in their achievements and extended his best wishes for their future endeavors.

In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "As the Paris #Olympics conclude, I appreciate the efforts of the entire Indian contingent through the games. All the athletes have given their best and every Indian is proud of them. Wishing our sporting heroes the best for their upcoming endeavors."

India's delegation, comprising 117 athletes, secured a total of six medals at the Games—one silver and five bronze.

Manu Bhaker earned India's first medal of the Games with a bronze in shooting, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal. She made history again by securing a second medal, this time a mixed team 10m air pistol bronze with Sarabjot Singh, marking the country’s first team medal in shooting.

Swapnil Kusale added another bronze in shooting, contributing to India’s largest haul in this sport at a single Olympics. The Indian men's hockey team matched their Tokyo 2020 success with a bronze in Paris. Neeraj Chopra enhanced his Olympic legacy with a silver in javelin throw, becoming India's most successful individual Olympian.

Aman Sehrawat, the youngest Olympic medallist from India, won bronze in wrestling.

Despite these successes, India faced several near-misses, with athletes finishing fourth in six events, including Lakshya Sen, Mirabai Chanu, and Manu Bhaker, who was close to securing a third medal. Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification just before a historic final also added to the disappointment.

Indian athletes competed in 69 medal events across 16 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and tennis.

The Indian contingent included returning Olympic medallists such as Neeraj Chopra, badminton star PV Sindhu, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, and select members of the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian men’s hockey team.

To date, India has won 41 Olympic medals. The nation’s Olympic journey began with Norman Pritchard’s two silver medals in Paris in 1900. KD Jadhav secured India’s first individual medal from an independent nation with a wrestling bronze at Helsinki in 1952, while Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal with her weightlifting bronze at Sydney 2000.

Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal with his shooting victory at Beijing 2008, a feat later matched by Neeraj Chopra’s javelin gold at Tokyo 2020. Men’s hockey, with 13 medals including eight golds, has been the most successful sport for India, followed by wrestling with eight medals.

India's best-ever Olympic performance came at Tokyo 2020, where the nation won seven medals, including one gold.