We look back at the medal winners for India in the Summer Olympics
The struggle of Indian athletes to get a hold of Olympic gold is an almost mythical story. From the firing ranges to the wrestling mats, the boxing rings, badminton, and weightlifting platforms, India’s sportsmen and women have made their mark in the annals of History. This blog series titled ‘Celebrating Champions’ is dedicated to the Indian Olympic medal winners, their success and their setbacks, and the waves their success makes. In Part 4, we transition from London 2012 to Tokyo 2020 and learn about these incredible athletes who made India proud and inspired millions of Indians. These are stories of not just the medal winners but also about the spirit of a nation that never surrenders or gives up, a nation that gives its best in order to become a champion.
22. Gagan Narang, Men’s 10m Air Rifle Shooting – London 2012 – 3rd Position/ Bronze Medal
Gagan’s path to victory in men’s 10m air rifle at London 2012 was the epitome of his fighting spirit. Having lost very closely in the previous Olympics, where he missed the qualification after being tied and losing it on count-back, he was back in style. Along with China’s Wang Tao and Italy’s Nicolo Campriani, Gagan Narang was very composed to clinch the bronze medal, which made him a proud Indian. His triumph depicted the progress of India as a force to be reckoned with in shooting; it consequently motivated the next generation of shooters to do even better.
Gagan Narang. Pic Credit India Today
23. India, Mary Kom, Women’s Flyweight Boxing – London Olympic Games 2012 – Bronze Medal
Mary Kom, another famous boxer, participated in the London Olympics 2012 in the women’s flyweight boxing event. She also won the bronze medal for the country. This edition incorporated women's boxing in the Olympics. Mary Kom, a very spirited lady, ensured that she got to the semifinals, where she met Nicola Adams of Great Britain, the final winner. However, she still managed to come third, although she did not progress to the final round. Mary Kom’s win was a matter of pride for India, and she opened the door for other women boxers.
Mary Kom . Pic Credit North East Now
24. Yogeshwar Dutt, Bronze Medal – Men’s 60kg Wrestling – London 2012
Yogeshwar’s dream of winning an Olympic medal was fulfilled at London 2012. This was his third appearance at the Olympics, and he displayed a lot of zeal and vigour. In the last repechage round, Yogeshwar faced North Korea’s Ri Jong Myong and triumphed in just 1:02 minutes and thus got the third position and a bronze medal. His success touched a chord with every Indian and, more so, with the wrestling fraternity, and many budding wrestlers set sights on the Olympics.
25. Saina Nehwal, Bronze Medal – Women’s Singles Badminton – London 2012 Olympics.
During the London 2012 Olympics, Saina achieved fame by being the first Indian badminton player to clinch an Olympic medal. Grasping the women’s singles, she reached the semi-finals; her rival from China, Wang Xin, was injured and could not continue the battle. This ensured Saina a bronze medal, and this was a great victory for Indian badminton. Her success, which was well earned and well deserved, paved the way for the popularity of badminton in the country and gave many young athletes the goal of winning an Olympic medal.
Saina Nehwal. Pic Credit Sportstar/The Hindu
26. PV Sindhu, Silver Medal – Women’s Singles Badminton – Rio 2016
PV Sindhu changed the face of Indian badminton after clinching a silver medal at Rio 2016. Saina laid a good foundation, and Sindhu followed it up to the final, where she slugged it out for 83 minutes with Spain’s Carolina Marin. Sindhu had to be content with silver and became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in badminton. She was a fighter who changed the dynamics of Indian badminton and paved the way for many young athletes, making Sindhu one of India’s finest sportswomen.
27. Sakshi Malik - Bronze – Women’s 58kg wrestling – Rio 2016 Olympics.
Sakshi Malik winning the bronze in the women’s 58kg wrestling category at the Rio 2016 Olympics was a historic moment in Indian sports. She joined the Indian Olympic team late and had a clear vision and a spirit to reach the podium of greatness. She created history as the first woman wrestler of India to clinch an Olympic medal by outplaying Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova with an 8-5 verdict. This victory marked the fact that India had clinched an Olympic wrestling medal in three successive Games. The whole nation rejoiced in her victory, mainly because it showed that women can excel in sports that men dominate.
28. Mirabai Chanu, Silver Medal – Women’s 49kg Weightlifting – Tokyo 2020
The performance of the Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu was graceful, and she won the silver medal in the women’s 49kg weight category in Tokyo in 2020 after the disappointment of Rio 2016. In all, Chanu lifted a total of 202kg and proved herself worthy of the international stage. It was also India’s first silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, which made her the second Indian weightlifter to clinch an Olympic medal, following Karnam Malleswari. It was indeed a moment of pride for the entire India and reflected how much talent and hard work Chanu had put in. Her success was acclaimed throughout the country, motivating the next generation of weightlifters and raising the standing of the sport in India.
As the curtain falls on this chapter of Indian Olympic achievements, one can't help but marvel: The phrase that has gone viral is ‘Why do athletes always carry a pen? In case they need to draw their willpower!’ Their passion, commitment, and hard work, along with their zeal to perform to the best of their abilities, have not only given glory to the nation but have also changed the face of Indian sports.
Every medal is a symbol of the fight, of the strength one has to find within and the victory that follows it, so it can be an inspiration for the generations to come. Thus, it is right to celebrate these champions and pay tribute to their contribution to the growth of sports culture in the country and bringing India to the centrestage of world sports. It is their victories that echo the spirit of the Olympics and aspiration, and looking to the future, it becomes significant to foster and promote the immense talent within India so that the legacy of these great athletes continues and encourages more and more young Olympians to aim high.
Mirabai Chanu. Pic Credit Orissa Post