India End Their Paris Olympic Campaign Without a Gold; Finish Below Pakistan

India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics concluded without a gold medal, marking a significant moment in the country’s Olympic history. The Indian contingent secured a total of six medals, including one silver and five bronze. Neeraj Chopra clinched the silver in javelin throw, while the bronze medals were won by the Indian hockey team, Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, Swapnil Kusale, and Aman Sehrawat.

Reetika Hooda, India’s last hope for a gold medal, narrowly missed out in a dramatic quarterfinal match against Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy. The match was decided on the countback rule after a tied score, leaving Hooda with the possibility of a bronze if Kyzy progresses to the final. Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are still competing, but they are not in contention for medals.

In a surprising twist, Pakistan will finish above India in the medal tally for the first time since 1992, thanks to Arshad Nadeem’s gold in the men’s javelin. This marks a unique instance where the ranking of countries, determined by gold medals, places Pakistan above India. India’s tally of six medals is tied for their second-best Olympic performance, equalling their total from the 2012 London Games, and falls short of their record-setting seven medals at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

Abhinav Bindra (2008) and Neeraj Chopra (2021) remain India’s only individual Olympic gold medalists, with the men’s hockey team contributing eight of the country’s ten gold medals. Despite not achieving a gold this time, the performances highlight India’s growing talent and competitive edge in various sports. The outcome of Vinesh Phogat’s appeal and Reetika Hooda’s potential repechage could still impact India’s final standings, as the nation looks to build on these experiences for future Olympic success.