Paris Olympics 2024, India at the Olympics Medals 2024

The Paris Olympics 2024 is gearing up to be an extraordinary event, marked by high expectations, significant risks, and the promise of historic achievements. Hosting the Olympics for the third time, after 1900 and 1924, Paris aims to deliver a unique and memorable experience. With India sending its largest-ever contingent, the hopes of breaking past records and achieving new heights are higher than ever.

Paris Olympics 2024

The Paris Olympics 2024 promises to be a landmark event, marking the city’s third time hosting the Games. Set against a backdrop of heightened security and climate concerns, the Games will run from July 26 to August 11.

India at the Olympics Medals 2024

• India finished the Paris Olympics with 6 medals (previously hauled 7)
• Ranking: Dropped from 48th to 70th place in the rankings.
  • The lack of a gold medal significantly impacted the country’s overall ranking.

Success Stories

• Hockey Team: The men’s hockey team won back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, showing significant achievement and reliable performance from Captain Harmanpreet Singh.
• Boxing: Arjuna awardee Ravi Dahiya and coaches played key roles in the success of Indian boxers.
• Cycling: Improvement in cycling, with government and federation support, helped build a strong national side.

What are the Future Directions to Improve India’s Ranking in the Olympic Games?

• There is a need for a critical review of the performance, focusing on broader lessons for future improvement.
• Important stakeholders include federations, the Sports Authority of India, the Sports Ministry, and non-government organisations. They need to work together cohesively.
• Investment in elite athletes was generous but sometimes misdirected and celebrity-driven.
• Vinesh Phogat’s weight category confusion and Nikhat Zareen’s lack of match-day training highlighted organisational inefficiencies in wrestling and boxing.
• India can focus on expanding its medal-winning prospects beyond traditional sports to include swimming and athletics.
• Near-misses should be seen as opportunities for improvement rather than failures.
• There is a need for mental resilience training to handle high-pressure situations better.

Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony 2024

The closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics will take place on Sunday at the Stade de France, the athletics venue for the Games. Scheduled to start at 00:30 IST on Monday, the ceremony will last just over two hours and will feature traditional elements such as the athlete parade and the handover of the Olympic flag to the organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Sreejesh to join Manu Bhaker as India’s flag-bearer in Olympics closing ceremony

PR Sreejesh will join Manu Bhaker as India’s flag-bearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This announcement comes after a stellar 18-year career for Sreejesh, who retired following India’s bronze medal win in hockey. Bhaker, having made history as the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in a single Olympic Games, will share the honor with Sreejesh, who also had the privilege of being a flag-bearer at the Hangzhou Asian Games closing ceremony last year.

Aman Sehrawat Youngest Olympic Medal Winner

Aman Sehrawat made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning the bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 57kg wrestling event, becoming India’s youngest Olympic medalist at 21 years and 24 days. He defeated Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz with a 13-5 scoreline, marking India’s first wrestling medal at Paris 2024 and the country’s eighth overall in Olympic wrestling. Aman had previously outperformed Ravi Kumar Dahiya, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, in national trials to secure his spot. India’s medal tally at Paris 2024 now stands at one silver and five bronze.

Neeraj Chopra Wins Silver Medal in Javelin

Neeraj Chopra, the reigning champion, earned a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics. His silver-winning throw of 89.45 meters came from his only successful attempt in the competition, marking India’s fifth medal of the Games.

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold medal, setting a new Olympic record with a remarkable throw of 92.97 meters on his second attempt. This historic achievement marks Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in 32 years, and Arshad becomes the third individual from the country to win an Olympic medal.

Indian Men’s Hockey Team Wins Bronze

The Indian men’s hockey team secured a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Spain, marking their second consecutive Olympic bronze after 52 years. Spain took an early lead through a penalty stroke by skipper Marc Miralles, but India’s captain Harmanpreet Singh responded with two goals, securing the win.

This victory also served as a fitting farewell for veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who confirmed his retirement. Despite a challenging build-up and near-misses, India’s hockey team delivered a proud moment for the nation.

Mirabai Chanu Missed Weightlifting Bronze By 1 Kg

Mirabai Chanu narrowly missed the bronze medal in the 49kg weightlifting category at the Paris Olympics 2024, falling short by just 1 kilogram. The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist finished fourth with a total of 199 kg, while Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao secured the bronze with 200 kg. Chanu’s final clean and jerk attempts of 117 kg were unsuccessful, despite a strong performance in the snatch phase.

Vinesh Phogat Announced Retirement

On August 8, 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement a day after being disqualified from the 50kg finals at the Paris Olympics for being 100 grams overweight. In an emotional post on social media platform X, she wrote, “Mom, wrestling has defeated me. I lost. Forgive me, your dream, my courage is broken. I don’t have any more strength now.”

Vinesh Phogat Disqualified From Paris Olympic 2024

At the Paris Olympics 2024, Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final for being 100 grams overweight during the final weigh-in. Despite a successful weigh-in the previous day and overnight efforts, Phogat’s team couldn’t meet the weight limit. As the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, her disqualification underscores the importance of adhering to stringent weight rules in competitive sports.

Vinesh Phogat Advances to Semifinals

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has reached the semifinals in the 50kg women’s freestyle category at the Paris Olympics 2024. Phogat faced a fierce challenge from Ukraine’s Oksana in the second period but secured a crucial 7-5 victory. Despite being under pressure late in the match, Vinesh delivered a clutch performance, executing a decisive takedown to overcome her opponent. Her resilience and tactical prowess were on full display, earning her a spot in the semifinals and keeping her medal hopes alive.

Bronze Medal in Men’s 50m Rifle by Swapnil Kusale

Shooter Swapnil Kusale secured India’s third medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. He became the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in this category. Kusale delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 451.4 points in the final, finishing behind China’s Yukun Liu (gold) and Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish (silver). This marks a historic achievement for India, highlighting Kusale’s exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

Bronze Medal in 10m air pistol mixed team in Paris Olympics 2024

Paris Olympics 2024 Medal Tally

Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 is set to be a spectacular affair, embodying the spirit and culture of the host city. Scheduled for July 26, 2024, the ceremony will take place along the Seine River, a departure from the traditional stadium setting. This unique venue will allow thousands of spectators to witness the grandeur of the event from the riverbanks, creating an immersive and inclusive experience.

The ceremony will feature a parade of nations, artistic performances, and the lighting of the Olympic flame. It aims to celebrate diversity, unity, and the Olympic spirit, setting the stage for two weeks of exhilarating sports competition.

Paris Olympics 2024 Schedule

The Paris Olympics 2024 will run from July 26 to August 11, with a packed schedule of events across various sports. Key dates to note include:

• July 27: Start of shooting events and swimming heats
• July 28: Gymnastics qualifiers and rowing finals
• August 2: Athletics events commence, including track and field
• August 5: Start of wrestling competitions
• August 10: Basketball finals
• August 11: Closing ceremony

The comprehensive schedule ensures a continuous flow of events, keeping fans engaged and athletes on their toes throughout the duration of the Games.

History Leading to the Modern Olympic Games

Early Inspirations and Proposals

• Panagiotis Soutsos: A Greek poet in the early 1830s, used his literary work to inspire national pride and proposed the revival of the Olympic Games to coincide with the anniversary of the Greek War of Independence on March 25.
  • His famous poem “Dialogues of the Dead” in 1833 reflects this sentiment.

Financial Backing and Initial Games

• Evangelos Zappas: Influenced by Soutsos’ ideas, Zappas, a wealthy veteran of the Greek War of Independence, proposed in 1856 to fund an Olympic event in Greece.
  • His efforts materialised with the first such event in 1859 in Athens, featuring traditional ancient Greek sports like running, discus, and wrestling.
  • Zappas continued to fund the Games, which were also held in 1870, 1875, and 1888, culminating in the construction of the Panathenaic Stadium.

Influence and Events in Britain

• William Penny Brookes: Inspired by Zappas’ efforts, Brookes started the “Annual Wenlock Olympic Games” in 1859 in Wenlock, England.
  • These evolved into the first “National Olympic Games” held in London in 1866.
  • Brookes also envisioned an international Olympic competition, which remained limited to nationals until his proposal in 1880 to internationalise the games.

Emergence of Pierre de Coubertin and the International Olympics

• Internationalisation: Pierre de Coubertin was influenced by Brookes after witnessing the Wenlock games and later proposed the revival of the Olympic Games at an international scale.
  • His proposal led to the “Congress for the Revival of the Olympic Games” in Paris in 1894, which set the stage for the first International Olympic Games.
• First Modern Olympics in 1896: The first modern Olympics were held in Athens under the International Olympic Committee’s aegis, drawing athletes from 14 nations and proving to be a significant international sports meet.

Why Paris 2024 Will Be the Most High-Risk Olympics in History?

Several factors contribute to Paris 2024 being deemed the most high-risk Olympics in history:

1. Security Concerns: The global landscape has seen increased security threats, and ensuring the safety of athletes, officials, and spectators will be paramount. The Paris Olympics will see stringent security measures to mitigate potential threats, including terrorism and cyber-attacks.
2. Health Risks: With the world still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, health risks remain a significant concern. Ensuring that all participants are safe and healthy will require extensive health protocols and contingency plans.
3. Climate Change: The impact of climate change has been felt globally, and Paris is no exception. The organizers must contend with potential extreme weather conditions, which could disrupt events and pose risks to participants.
4. Political Instability: The current geopolitical climate, marked by conflicts and unrest in various parts of the world, adds another layer of risk. The Olympics could be impacted by global political tensions, affecting international participation and cooperation.

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