India’s Mixed Fortunes at the Paris Olympics: Highs, Lows, and What Could Have Been

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th August. The Paris Olympics proved to be a rollercoaster for Indian sports enthusiasts, marked by moments of both pride and disappointment. On one hand, young shooting sensation Manu Bhaker emerged as a beacon of hope with her two-medal haul, while on the other, javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra’s silver medal fell short of the golden expectations placed upon him. The disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat before the final was a bitter blow, compounded by the haunting near-misses of six athletes who finished fourth.

As the Olympics began, India’s ambitions of reaching a double-digit medal tally seemed within grasp, but several close calls cast a shadow on the campaign. The event raised many “what if” questions. What if badminton star Lakshya Sen hadn’t stumbled in the bronze medal play-off? What if archer Deepika Kumari hadn’t missed that crucial shot in the quarter-final against Korea? What if Mirabai Chanu had lifted just one kilogram more? No one expected the likes of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty to return without a medal, nor did anyone foresee Swapnil Kusale ending India’s long wait for a skeet medal.

India’s contingent of 117 athletes brought home just six medals—an outcome far from ideal. Yet, the journey was filled with moments of joy, hope, despair, and sorrow. The country couldn’t replicate the seven medals won at the Tokyo Olympics. Had the six athletes who narrowly missed out on medals succeeded, a double-digit tally could have been within reach.

The performance of the men’s hockey team, aiming for a second consecutive Olympic medal, remained under scrutiny. Although they couldn’t better the color of their Tokyo medal, their victories against Australia, a hard-fought match against Belgium, and their resilience against Germany and Great Britain showcased the mental fortitude of Harmanpreet Singh’s team. Entering as underdogs, the Indian team played like champions. It was the perfect moment for goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to retire, having played a crucial role in the revival of Indian hockey, leading to a bronze in Tokyo. Sreejesh received a fitting farewell, but Vinesh Phogat’s exit left her with an unhealed wound. Despite winning, she lost—victim to a technicality rather than her skills. If any Indian female wrestler deserved an Olympic medal, it was Vinesh. Her disqualification over a 100-gram weight discrepancy ended her career on a tragic note, leading her to announce her retirement as she awaits the outcome of her appeal against the disqualification.

Neeraj Chopra, with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters, topped the qualification rounds, igniting hopes for another gold for India. Despite a thigh issue, he was ready, but Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem’s phenomenal throw of 92.97 meters effectively ended the competition. Neeraj couldn’t surpass his best throw of 89.34 meters, making his silver medal feel like a loss given the sky-high expectations.

The shooters, led by young Manu Bhaker, brought some relief with three medals out of India’s six. At just 22, Bhaker’s extraordinary performance not only saved India’s honor but also elevated her to a different league. Alongside Sarabjot Singh, she clinched a bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event, with her dual medals securing her status as a national icon. Few had expected Swapnil Kusale to win India’s first medal in skeet shooting, but it’s worth imagining where India would have stood if the shooters had faltered once again.

No boxer made it to the medal rounds, with Nishant Dev’s loss being particularly painful. Another hopeful, Nikhat Zareen, was reduced to tears. However, wrestler Aman Sehrawat ensured that wrestling continued its medal-winning streak at the Olympics for the fifth consecutive time. As the only male wrestler in the Indian contingent, Sehrawat lived up to expectations, justifying his selection over Ravi Dahiya in the 57 kg category.

The most disappointing performances came from wrestlers Antim Panghal and Anshu Malik, whose fitness remained a constant concern. Despite these setbacks, the Paris Olympics will be remembered for the mix of emotions—happiness, hope, disappointment, and sorrow—that accompanied India’s journey.