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Yuvaraja Karunakaran

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Paris Olympics 2024: A Look At India's First Medallists Over The Years In The Olympics

Paris Olympics 2024: A Look At India's First Medallists Over The Years In The Olympics

Paris Olympics 2024: A look at India's first medallists over the years

The Indian contingent has opened its medal tally at the Paris Olympics 2024 thanks to an amazing performance by Manu Bhaker. The 22-year-old shooter clinched the bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event. Manu Bhaker's win has ended a 12-year-long medal drought for India in shooting. Also, Manu Bhaker has become the first-ever Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. On the other hand, India faced heartbreak in archery as the womenโ€™s team consisting of Deepika Kumari, Bhajan Kaur, and Ankita Bhakat lost to the Netherlands 6-0 in the quarter-finals. It is a historic achievement for Manu Bhaker as she brings home India's first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. In this blog piece, we take a look at India's first medallists over the years in the Olympics.

Paris Olympics 2024: A look at India's first medallists over the years in the Olympics

The bronze medal-winning performance by Manu Bhaker was the highlight of the day and the event for India amidst some disappointments on Day 2 of the Paris Olympics 2024. Moreover, India still has a lot to look forward to with the likes of PV Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag advancing to the next levels in their respective events. Talking about the Olympic India schedule, Day 3 at the 2024 Paris Olympics will see the Indian contingent competing across five disciplines, including badminton and table tennis. Here's a look at India's first medallists over the years in the Olympics.

1. Manu Bhaker - Bronze Medal (Paris Olympics 2024)

Manu Bhaker displayed extreme calm and composure to bury the ghosts of the Tokyo Olympics and get India off the mark at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a historic bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event on Sunday. Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win a medal in Gun shooting games at the Summer Olympic Games, ending a 12-year wait for an Olympic medal in shooting. The last time India won Olympic medals in shooting was at the London edition in 2012 when 10m air rifle shooter Gagan Narang clinched the bronze medal and rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar won the silver medal.

2. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu - Silver Medal (Tokyo Olympics 2020)

Star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India's medals tally at the Tokyo Olympics as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category. Mirabai Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. On the flip side, China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg. A medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 would make Mirabai Chanu India's most successful weightlifter and only the second Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. It's a record she is well aware of and one that she is eager to break on August 7. A lot has happened since Chanu won the silver medal in Tokyo.

3. Sakshi Malik - Bronze Medal (Rio Olympics 2016)

Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik is a legend in more ways than one. Sakshi Malik was the very first Indian women wrestler to win a medal at the Rio Olympics 2016, she became a role model to future generations of female wrestlers. That bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics was the culmination of many impressive achievements that defined her impressive career in wrestling. Vinesh Phogat injured her knee during her quarter-final fight. However, Sakshi Malik bagged the bronze medal in the women's freestyle 58 kg category. Sakshi, who retired from wrestling last year in December amidst the controversy with WFI, also said that she was proud of changing the perception of wrestling being a "male sport" after her stupendous showing in Rio.

4. Gagan Narang - Bronze Medal (London Olympics 2012)

Gagan Narang's bronze medal in the menโ€™s 10m air rifle final took Indiaโ€™s medal tally in the British capital. It was Indiaโ€™s first medal at the 2012 Olympics and one that lifted a "great stone" off Gagan Narangโ€™s chest in his own words. Italian legend Niccolo Campriani and Romanian Alin Moldoveanu won gold and silver. The final saw him demonstrate tremendous temperament and resolve to hold his nerve in a tense climax. Narang is handling the pressure of a new role at the Paris Games. The veteran shooter is in charge of the Indian contingent for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

5. Abhinav Bindra - Gold Medal (Beijing Olympics 2008)

Since the Beijing Olympics 2008, every time India has sent their Olympic contingent, Abhinav Bindra has been the centre of attention. The athletes have faced pressure and high expectations to meet Bindra's standards. The star Rifle shooter etched his legacy in the history books in 2008 when he became the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in India. Bindra won the gold medal in the men's 10m Air Rifle opening India's medal tally in the edition. Among many records, Abhinav Bindra is the 3rd youngest Indian to represent the nation at the Olympic Games (17 years and 356 days). Famously known as the golden boy of Indian Shooting, Bindra comes in the top 2 Indian athletes with the most Olympic appearances (4 Olympic appearances).

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