India's Paris Olympics Campaign: Six Medals, Mixed Fortunes

India's performance at the Paris Olympics 2024 was a mixed bag of triumphs and disappointments. The contingent of 117 athletes aimed to surpass their record-breaking Tokyo 2020 tally, but ultimately returned with six medals: one silver and five bronze.

Manu Bhaker emerged as India's first medallist, securing bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event. She made history by becoming the first Indian markswoman to win an Olympic podium finish and ending India's 12-year wait for a shooting medal. Bhaker's success continued with a second bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh.

Swapnil Kusale added a third medal in shooting, winning bronze in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions. This marked India's highest medal haul in a single sport at the Games.

The Indian men's hockey team replicated their Tokyo Olympics feat, defeating Spain 2-1 to secure bronze. This was India's first back-to-back medal in men's hockey in 52 years.

Neeraj Chopra became India's first track-and-field athlete to win consecutive Olympic medals, following his Tokyo gold with a silver in Paris. He also became the fifth Indian athlete with at least two Olympic medals and the third to win in back-to-back editions.

India's campaign concluded with Aman Sehrawat winning bronze in men's 57kg freestyle wrestling, becoming the nation's youngest Olympic medallist.

However, India narrowly missed out on six additional medals. Arjun Babuta finished fourth in the men's 10m air rifle individual final, while Maheshwari Chauhan and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka lost by a single point in the skeet mixed team event. Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara came close to a bronze in archery but lost their playoff clash. Bhaker missed out on a third medal by a whisker in the women's 25m Rapid Air Pistol event. Lakshya Sen had two opportunities to secure a medal in men's singles badminton but fell short in both the semifinal and bronze-medal match. Mirabai Chanu narrowly missed a second Olympic medal, finishing fourth in the women's 49kg weightlifting event.

Despite the missed opportunities, India's performance in Paris was their third-best outing at the Summer Games after Tokyo 2020 and London 2012. The contingent's six medals brought India's total Olympic medal count to 35.

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