Legendary Indian Olympians To Have Shone Bright At World's Biggest Sports Event

Here's a look at some of the greatest Indian athletes who made India proud in the Olympics history.

With just five days to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, which commence with the opening ceremony on July 26, Indian athletes are set to head to Paris with high hopes and ambitious dreams. As we approach the event, let's take a look at some of India's greatest athletes of all time.

1. Neeraj Chopra: Neeraj Chopra, who has claimed gold at the World Championships, Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Diamond League, has solidified his status as India's top track and field athlete. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he made history as the first Indian track and field competitor to win an Olympic medal and became only the second Indian to secure an individual gold medal, following shooter Abhinav Bindra. (Image Source: Instagram/ @neeraj____chopra)

2. Milkha Singh: Milkha Singh, famously known as the Flying Sikh for his explosive speed in the 200m and 400m races, was arguably Independent India’s pioneering sports hero. His remarkable achievements on the track inspired generations. At the Rome 1960 Olympics, Singh narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in the 400m event just 0.13 seconds behind bronze medalist Malcolm Spence of South Africa. (Image Source: Olympics.com)

3. PT Usha: PT Usha came heartbreakingly close to securing the independent India’s first Olympic track and field medal. At the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics, she finished fourth in the 400m hurdles, missing out on a medal by a narrow margin of just 0.01 seconds. (Image Source: Olympics.com)

4. Anju Bobby George: Anju Bobby George delivered her best performance at the Athens 2004 Olympics, where she secured fifth place in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.83 metres. This distance remains the national record. (Image Source: Olympics.com)

5. Tajinderpal Singh Toor: Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a prominent name in Indian athletics, is a shot putter who holds the Asian record and has won gold twice at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. In 2021, Toor set a new Asian and national record with a throw of 21.49 metres at the Indian Grand Prix. This performance also qualified him for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Unfortunately, a wrist injury during the Games prevented him from reaching the final. (Image Source: Instagram/ tajinder22.22)

6. Abhinav Bindra: A significant milestone in India's Olympic history occurred in 2008 when the country secured three medals for the first time. The momentous achievement was highlighted by Abhinav Bindra's historic win, making him the first Indian to earn an individual gold medal. Bindra achieved this by clinching the gold in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Beijing Olympics. (Image Source: Instagram/ abhinav_bindra)