India’s Disappointing Performance at Paris Olympics 2024 Raises Concerns
India’s performance at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024 has left many disappointed, including Mahindra Group founder Anand Mahindra. Despite the government’s significant investment in sports infrastructure and incentives, India finished a lowly 71st in the medals tally with just six medals (five bronze and one silver). Pakistan, on the other hand, finished ahead with a single gold medal in men’s javelin throw.
Mahindra expressed his distress over India’s poor showing, stating that he had “run out of thoughts and [was] confused” about what needed to be done to improve the country’s performance. He acknowledged the efforts of the government and private sector in promoting sports, but questioned why India was still struggling to produce world-class athletes in Olympic sports.
One of India’s biggest medal hopes was javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who had won gold at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. However, Chopra failed to repeat his success in Paris, finishing behind Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who set a Games record with a 92.97m throw. Nadeem’s victory marked Pakistan’s first individual gold medal at the Olympics.
Mahindra highlighted the need to identify and nurture young talent, providing them with the necessary support and resources to excel at the highest level. He also emphasized the importance of a strong grassroots sports culture, where children are encouraged to participate in sports from a young age.
The Indian contingent had several athletes who finished fourth in their respective events, narrowly missing out on medals. This suggests that India has the potential to improve its performance, but needs to address the factors that are preventing its athletes from reaching the podium.
