The Olympics is the most difficult sports competition on the planet and it is one of the Top 3 Most Watched Sports Events in the world. Indians watch the Olympics every 4 years and all the athletes know that this is the best chance to make a name for themselves. And a lot of Indian Sportspersons have become legends.
Let’s look at the Top 10 Individual Olympic Performances by Indian athletes
1) Abhinav Bindra
The greatest ever performance by an Indian at the Olympics has to be Abhinav Bindra because looking at him so many other young children took up sports thinking that they will also represent their country. Abhinav Bindra won Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 10M Air Rifle event. He qualified for the final and in the final he had a score of 700.5 points which won him the Gold medal.
2) Neeraj Chopra
The poster boy of Indian Athletics is the second greatest performance and the only track and field medal in history for India. It was in the middle of the pandemic and Neeraj Chopra gave all Indians so much joy. He was in the final of the Men’s Javelin Throw event and he had a best throw of 87.58 metres which was enough to win the Gold medal. He will look to defend his title next year in Paris.
Also Read | Best Neeraj Chopra Performances
3) PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu is only 1 of 2 Indian athletes to have won 2 Individual Olympic Medals and so she has to be at number 3 on this list. In the 2016 Olympics PV Sindhu was the underdog and few had any expectations from her but she shocked the world. She beat Tai Tsu Ying in the Round of 16 and then she beat Wang Yihan In the QF. In the semi final she beat Nozumi Okuhara but just lost to Carolina Marin in the final. And in 2016, she won the Bronze medal. In 2024, she can complete the trifecta.
4) Sushil Kumar
No matter the personal issues that he might have in his life but the fact that he was the first man to get 2 individual Olympic Medals for India cannot be overlooked. He is in 4th place because first I’m 2008, he won the Bronze medal in the Men’s 66 KG Freestyle. 4 Years later in London, he bettered his performance by winning the Silver medal in Men’s 66 KG Freestyle. It is sad that he was convicted for criminal activities.
5) Leander Paes
The first individual Olympic Medalist for India has to be in this list and he is at number 5. Leander Paes gave so much happiness to India in 1996 when he won the Bronze medal. He was not the favorite to win any medal. He played so well throughout the tournament and in the Bronze medal match he beat Fernando Meligeni by 3-6, 6-2 and 6-4. This was the dawn of a new era for Indian tennis.
6) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was the first shooting individual Olympic medalist from India and he won the Silver in the Men’s Double Trap event. This is the event where the shooters have to shoot targets in the sky and win points. 2004 was a year of change for Indian sport and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was the poster child for the change. He scored 179 points in the final.
7) Saikhom Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu was the second medalist in the Weightlifting category at the Olympics. She won the Silver medal and she won this medal with ease as the others in the field were not on her level. She lifted 87 In the Snatch category and 115 in the Clean and Jerk which gave her a total of 202 Kgs throughout the competition. She was celebrated like she should and she will look to change the colour of the medal to Gold in 2024.
8) Ravi Kumar Dahiya
Ravi Kumar Dahiya is at number 8 in this list and the Silver medal that he won in the Men’s Freestyle 57 KG was the stuff of dreams. Ravi Kumar Dahiya beat his semi final opponent coming from behind and winning the match. In the final he could not win Gold but he made the entire country proud of him. Ravi Kumar Dahiya will look to do one better this time in Paris.
9) Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal was the first female Badminton player from India and the first ever Badminton player to win a Medal at the Olympics. It can be said that the entire Badminton revolution in India started after her medal in 2012. Saina Nehwal beat Wang Xin of China because she could not continue and got injured. Saina Nehwal created history and looking at her PV Sindhu did one better.
10) Mary Kom
The greatest boxer that India has ever seen and certainly one of the greatest female Boxers of all time. Mary Kom was the inspiration to every one of the young female Boxers who are now competing for India. She has been a 6 time World Champion, Asian Games medalist. However the most important achievement for her has been the Bronze medal that she won at the 2012 Olympics in London. She competed in the women’s flyweight category and she beat Maroua Raheli in the Quarter Final to secure the Bronze medal.
