Indians Making History: List of Indian Athletes Achieving Firsts This Paris Olympics 2024

The Paris Olympics is shaping up to be a standout event for Indian athletes. Just four days after the spectacular opening ceremony by the Seine River, India has already secured two medals. 

In the past, winning even a single medal was seen as a major achievement. Now, Indian athletes are making history with notable firsts, be it Manu Bhaker becoming the first Indian to win two medals consecutively in an Olympic Games. In contrast, Manika Batra has become the first Indian to reach the round of 16 in singles.

Swapnil Kusale's Majestic Win

On Thursday, Swapnil Kusale made history by becoming the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. He earned a bronze medal with a total score of 451.4 in the men's final.

This win has earned India its third medal in the Paris Olympics 2024.

Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh’s Quest for Bronze

With the winning of Bronze model in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, the duo of Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh became the first-ever team to win a medal in the mixed team event of shooting. 

Clinching this medal also made Manu Bhaker the first Indian to win two medals in a single Summer Olympics since India gained independence. Before independence, British Indian Norman Pritchard won two medals at the 1900 Summer Games—silver in both the 200m sprint and the 200m hurdles.

Manu Bhaker: First Women Shooter to Win Medal

On Sunday at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal in the Women’s Air Pistol event, making her the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.

Bhaker scored 221.7 points to secure third place, giving India its first medal in the current Olympics.

Manika Batra: First Indian to Reach Pre-Quarterfinals

Manika Batra's impressive performance at the Paris Olympics continues. On Monday, she defeated France’s Prithika Pavade in four consecutive games to advance to the Women’s Singles Round of 16. 

With this victory, Manika becomes the first Indian woman to reach the singles Round of 16 in table tennis at the Olympics.

Badminton Doubles: Men’s Team Reaches Quarterfinals

On Monday, former World No.1 pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made history by becoming the first Indian men's doubles team to reach the quarterfinals at the Olympics.