Players to win the first medal for India in Olympics ft Mirabai Chanu and Manu Bhaker
The first medal in the Olympics is certainly a morale-boosting one for a nation. An early medal boosts the confidence of other athletes and motivates them to put up a much better show.
From Abhinav Bindra's gold at the Beijing 2008 to Mirabai Chanu's silver at the Tokyo, there have been some glorious first medals for India in the Olympic Games over the years.
Here, we take a look at players who won the first medals for India in the last four editions of the tournament as well as the ongoing one.
2008 Beijing Olympics- Abhinav Bindra - Gold
The 2008 Summer Olympics was a historical edition for Indian sports. The first medal won by India at the event was a glorious gold by Abhinav Bindra in the Men’s 10-meter Air Rifle sport. This was the first individual gold ever won by an Indian at the Olympic Games.
Bindra is the first of just two Indians to win an Olympic gold medal for themselves. In the men's 10-meter air rifle competition, he is the only Indian to have simultaneously held the world and Olympic titles. He did it in the Beijing 2008 and the 2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships.
Having won over 150 medals over his 22-year career, Bindra has been recognized by the Indian government with the Padma Bhushan and is a leading figure in sport policy.
2012 London Olympics- Gagan Narang - Bronze
Indian sport shooter Gagan Narang was born on May 6, 1983, and was sponsored by Olympic Gold Quest. Narang became the first medal winner from India at the 2012 London Olympics as he finished third in the 10m air rifle event with a score of 701.1. With this victory, he became just the third Indian shooter to earn an Olympic medal.
Gagan trailed only the Italian silver medallist Niccolo Campriani (score of 701.5), and Romania's gold champion Alin George Moldoveanu (score of 702.1). He has been given the responsibility of the Chef de Mission for India at Paris 2024.
2016 Rio Olympics- Sakshi Malik - Bronze
Sakshi Malik, a former Indian freestyle wrestler, was born on September 3, 1992. She became the first Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal when she took home the bronze in the 58 kg division at the Rio 2016.
Malik qualified for the repechage round and won her first fight against Pürevdorjiin Orkhon of Mongolia there after losing to Valeria Koblova of Russia, the eventual finalist. Despite trailing 0–5 at one point, she defeated Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan, the then Asian champion, 8–5, to win the bronze medal.
2020 Tokyo Olympics- Mirabai Chanu - Silver
Weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born in India on August 9, 1994. With a total lift of 202 kg, Chanu won the silver medal in the 49 kg division at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
She became the first weightlifter from India to win an Olympic silver medal, the second weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to do so, and the second Indian woman to do so after P. V. Sindhu.
Chanu achieved a new Olympic record when ahe successfully lifted 115 kg in the clean and jerk. India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games was assured by her victory.
2024 Paris Olympics- Manu Bhaker- Bronze
Manu Bhaker is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. The 22-year-old scored 221.7 in the 10m pistol final of the 2024 Paris Olympics to claim the third spot in the eight-man final. She later followed it up with yet another bronze, alongside Sarabjot Singh, in the 10m pistol mixed team final.