The Olympic Games are an international sporting event where athletes compete for their home countries, alternating between summer and winter. The first game was held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who was responsible for the rebirth of the Olympic Games, presented his idea in 1894.

• The modern Olympic Games began in 1896, drawing inspiration from ancient Greek traditions, which saw similar festivals of art and sport.

• The Games aim to cultivate human beings through sport and contribute to world peace.

• The Olympics are an international competition where athletes from various countries compete against each other.

• The Games are hosted by a different city each time, with the host city changing every four years for the Summer Games and every two years for the Winter Games.  

• The recent Olympic Games were held from 26^th July 2024 to 11^th August 2024 in Paris.

• These games are known as the Summer Olympic Games, followed by the 25^th Winter Olympic Games will be held from 6^th Feb 2026 to 22^nd Feb 2026.

In this article, we can see the details of Olympic Medals for India that were held in the country, and in the games they participated.

Olympic Medals for India - Download Free PDF

History of the Olympics

At the end of the 6th century, four Greek sporting festivals were called “classical games”. Then it was held every four years.

• The first Olympic champion was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 BC.

• Boxing was introduced in 688 BC, whereas chariot racing and horse racing became part of ancient games after 8 years and were held in the hippodrome south of the stadium.

• Then the ideas of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics.

• Pierre de Coubertin is known as the architect of modern games.

• The king of Greece opened the games in 1st week of April 1896 on Greek Independence Day.

• In history, the first Olympic medals for India were won in Field Hockey (Event) in 1928.

Banking Awareness Free PDF

Medals and Their Types

The are three types of medals which are awarded by the Olympic committee i.e., Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

• It has been a tradition since the 1904 Olympics at St. Louis. The medal's design is the responsibility of the host city’s organizing committee.

• It varies with each edition of the Olympics.

• The medals represent the highest levels of athletic achievement at the games.

• The first Olympic medals for India were Gold in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics by the Indian Hockey Team.

• For the first time, the Silver medal was won by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for Ace Shooting in the year 2004, Athens.

• The first Bronze Medal was won by K.D.Jadhav (Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav) for Wrestling in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

Static GK Free PDF

India at the Olympics

• The Indian Olympic Association was created and recognized in 1927.

• In 1900, India participated in the Olympics.

• In the beginning year itself, India won 2 medals in pre-independence.

• Then India participated in the Winter Olympics in the year 1964 and has participated in every edition since 1988.

• India won 35 medals at the Summer Olympics but has yet to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

• Among 35 medals, Half of the medals were bought by the Indian Hockey Team.

• In the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Olympic medals for India (GOLD) were won in the fields of athletics.

• India has not participated in the 1896, 1904, 1908, and 1912 Summer Olympics.

Computer Awareness Bundle PDF Course

Complete list 

Among all Olympic editions, India has won 41 medals at the Olympics to date. The complete list of Olympic medals for India is mentioned here based on year-wise classification.

We have categorized the awards by year, too. 

Important Sports News Free PDF

Paris Olympics 2024

Here you can check the Olympic medals for india this Year, 2024 Winners in pairs Olympics. 

Tokyo Olympics 2020

Check the list of Olympic medals for India in the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo.

• Mirabai Chanu was the first medalist of this Olympic edition. 

• After losing in the semifinals, Lovlina won a bronze medal against a Chinese woman. 

• The second Indian athlete and the first woman Olympic medalist in India to win two medals in the individual games category is PV Sindhu. 

• Indian men’s hockey team put a full stop to the 41-year medal drought by winning a bronze medal. 

• India’s first track and field Olympic medalist is Neeraj Chopra.

Rio Olympics 2016

Here is the list and key points of the Rio Olympics medalists in India. 

• Following the feat of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu won a medal in badminton. 

• The first female Olympic medalist in India in the wrestling category is Sakshi Malik.

London Olympics 2012 

Following is the list of Olympic Medals for India in the London Olympics.

• Sushil Kumar is the only male Olympic medalist to win two-time Olympic medals for India in the individual games category.

• India won two medals in shooting and a medal in the wrestling category. 

• The legendary woman from Manipur won a medal in flyweight boxing. 

• India won the first medal in badminton.

Beijing Olympics  2008

The list of medalists in India at the Beijing Olympics is as follows;

• A near-perfect 10.8 shot brings a historic moment for India in shooting. 

• India won the first medal in the wrestling category. 

• The first Olympic medalist in India in the boxing category is Vijender Singh.

Athens Olympics 2004

Check the Olympic medals for India in the Athens Olympics 2004. 

• India won the medal for the first time in the shooting category.

Sydney Olympics 2000

The list of medals won by India in the Sydney Olympics is;

• For the first time in Indian history, a woman won an Olympic medal in weightlifting.

Atlanta Olympics 1996

Note down the medals that India won in the Atlanta Olympics.

• There have been no medalists in India for three consecutive Olympic editions after 1980. 

• The Leander Paes won a medal by beating F. Meligani in the bronze medal match.

Moscow Olympics 1980

Points to note about the medals won by India in the Moscow Olympics are;

• India’s last hockey gold medal was won against Spain by 4-3 in the final.

Munich Olympics 1972

The medalists in India in this Olympic  edition are;

• Indian Men’s Hockey team beat the Netherlands 2-1 and won the bronze medal.

Mexico Olympics 1968)

The medalist in the Mexico Olympics is listed in the table below.

• After getting beaten by Australia in the semi-finals, India beat West Germany to win the bronze medal in Men’s Hockey.

Tokyo Olympics 1964

Check the Olympic medalist for India in the Tokyo Olympics.

• Facing Pakistan at the finals for the 3rd Consecutive time in Men’s Hockey, India won the gold medal. 

Rome Olympics 1960

Here are the medalists in India in the Rome Olympics.

• The winning streak of India ends in the final of Men’s Hockey against Pakistan.

Melbourne Olympics 1956

The table below shows the Olympic medalists at the Melbourne Olympics for India.

• Beating Pakistan in the final, India lifted the gold medal in Men’s Hockey.

Helsinki Olympics 1952

Following is the list of medalists in India in the Helsinki Olympics.

• India won its 5th Consecutive Olympic gold medal against the Netherlands in men’s hockey. 

• Khashaka Dadasaheb Jadhav is the first individual medalist for India in the Freestyle bantamweight category.

London Olympics 1948

Check the table below for the Olympic medalists for this edition in India.

• Balbir Singh Sr, a new star, helped India to beat the hosts, Great Britain with 4-0 goals in the final.

Berlin Olympics 1936

This edition of Olympic medalists in India is in the table below.

• Dhyand Chand, the Captain of the Indian Hockey Team, won a hat trick of gold medals with an 8-1 goal victory against Germany.

Los Angeles Olympics 1932

Take down the list of Olympic medalists in this edition for India.

• Scoring 24 goals against the USA in Men’s Hockey, India won its second consecutive gold medal.

Amsterdam Olympics 1928

The key points and the medalists in India at the Amsterdam Olympics.

• After scoring 29 goals, India won a medal in hockey. In the finals, Dhyan Chand scored 14 out of 29 goals against the Netherlands.

Paris Olympics 1900

Note the medalists in India in the Paris Olympics. 

• In the maiden Olympics of India before Independence, India won 2 medals.

FAQs

Q: How many medals has India won in the Olympics?

 In various categories, India has won 41 medals till the Paris Olympics 2024.

Q: Who is the first individual athlete to win two Olympic medals in the individual games category?

Sushil Kumar is the only Indian male to win two Olympic medals in the individual games category.

Q: How many medals has India won in the Paris Olympics?

India has won 6 medals, including 1 silver and 5 bronze medals.