‘All athletes have given their best..’: PM Modi hails efforts of Indian contingent as Paris Olympics come to close

As the Paris Olympics 2024 conclude, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appreciated the efforts of the Indian contingent which participated in numerous sports representing the tricolour, saying that the country is proud of them.

With a closing ceremony, the Paris Olympics will conclude on Sunday.

PM Modi took to X and wrote, “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 endeavours.”

A contingent of 117 Indian athletes pursued medals and sporting glory at the marquee event.

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India secured a total of six medals at the marquee event, including one silver and five bronze, according to Olympics.com.

Manu Bhaker clinched India's first medal at these Games, earning bronze and becoming the first Indian woman to medal in Olympic shooting. She then made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, following her mixed team 10m air pistol bronze with Sarabjot Singh. Her medal with Sarabjot was also country's first team medal in shooting.

Swapnil Kusale contributed a third medal in shooting, marking India's largest haul in this sport at a single Olympics.

The Indian men's hockey team repeated their Tokyo 2020 success by securing bronze in Paris. Neeraj Chopra further enhanced his Olympic legacy, claiming silver in the javelin throw and becoming the most successful individual Olympian from India.

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Aman Sehrawat added to the tally, becoming India's youngest Olympic medallist with a bronze in wrestling.

Despite these achievements, India faced significant disappointments in Paris 2024. The nation narrowly missed out on six potential medals, with athletes finishing fourth in their 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 contributed to the nation's woes.

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

Returning Olympic medallists in the Indian contingent included 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.

India has secured a total of 41 Olympic medals to date, beginning with Norman Pritchard’s two silver medals at the Paris Games in 1900. KD Jadhav achieved India's first individual medal as an independent nation with a wrestling bronze at the Helsinki Games in 1952. Karnam Malleswari made history as the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal with her bronze in weightlifting at Sydney 2000.

Abhinav Bindra broke new ground by becoming the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal with his shooting victory at Beijing 2008. This achievement stood unmatched until Neeraj Chopra clinched gold in javelin at Tokyo 2020.

India's most successful sport has been men's hockey, which has garnered 13 medals, including eight golds. Wrestling follows with eight medals. India's most impressive Olympic performance occurred at Tokyo 2020, where the country won a total of seven medals, including one gold.

(With inputs from ANI)