India’s Scorecard Paris Olympics: A Story of Near-Misses

If we were to describe India’s campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024 in just one word, it would be “near-miss.” India came agonizingly close to winning several medals—sometimes by just a few points, a few centimeters, or a single match.

A week before the Olympics, I optimistically predicted that India would win 13 medals, its highest-ever tally at the Games.

Many of my friends questioned the basis of my optimism. My answer was lengthy (and not everyone agreed to it), but my confidence hinged on three key factors:

• The good recent form of our medal defenders (winners from the Tokyo Olympics)
• The emergence of new athletes with strong world rankings and impressive recent performances
• Brighter prospects in shooting and archery

However, the reality turned out quite differently, with India ending up with just six medals—one less than in Tokyo. Fortunately, my friends (good folks that they are) refrained from saying “I told you so.” In fact, before they could, I presented them with a perspective that highlighted India’s progress, despite the lower medal count.

I still believe India was capable of winning 13 or more medals this time. Alongside the six confirmed medals, there were nine instances where an Indian athlete:

• Finished in 4th place
• Lost a match that could have guaranteed a medal (e.g., boxing quarter-final losses, which are as good as medal losses)

My version of India’s scorecard at the Paris Olympics includes not just the 6 medals we won, but also 9 instances of near-missed medals.

We will undoubtedly remember the athletes who won medals, but we might forget those who narrowly missed out. My scorecard is an attempt to ensure that we do not forget these outstanding athletes and that we give them as much love and respect as the medal winners.

So, here is the list of our “near-miss” athletes:

1. Vinesh Phogat

It’s harsh to have Vinesh’s name on this list since she had already secured at least a silver medal by reaching the finals. Her disqualification due to being 100 grams over the weight limit has left a bitter taste among Indian sports fans. The legal battle is still ongoing, and we hope she eventually receives the silver medal she surely deserves. However, it will never feel as sweet, owing to the bitter “100-gram saga.”

2. Lakshya Sen

Lakshya Sen fought through a tough draw to reach the semi-finals. He gave several top-ranked players, including Viktor Axelsen, a scare but unfortunately lost from a winning position in both the semi-final and the bronze medal match. Given his incredible performance in Paris, the nation now expects a medal from him at the next Olympics—something that has never been achieved in men’s badminton singles.

3. Mirabai Chanu

Mirabai Chanu was defending her medal but struggled with terrible form due to injuries in the lead-up to the Olympics. Most people (myself included) had written her off from the medal list, but she proved everyone wrong. She narrowly missed out on the bronze medal due to a tactical error in her weight configuration.

4. Arjun Babuta

Arjun Babuta is a rising star in the world of shooting. If not for a few centimeters, he would have been a medal winner for India and celebrated as much as Manu Bhaker. This young lad will have to wait for his moment of glory, but it surely isn’t far away!

5. Dhiraj Bommadevara & Ankita Bhakat

Expectations were high for the Indian archery contingent, a mix of experienced and young players. Unfortunately, the squad returned without any medals. The only saving grace was Dhiraj and Ankita’s near-miss in the mixed bronze medal match. Once again, it came down to a matter of centimeters. They missed out this time but fared far better than their more experienced teammates.

6. Maheshwari C & Anant Naruka

Maheshwari and Anant quietly advanced to the bronze medal match amidst the buzz surrounding Manu Bhaker’s exploits. They narrowly missed out by just one point in their bronze medal game against the Chinese shooters.

7. Nishant Dev

Technically, Nishant Dev lost in the quarter-finals, so this isn’t purely a near-miss. However, in boxing, reaching the semi-finals assures a medal, making the quarter-final match a crucial one. Nishant was a surprise contender and narrowly missed out in a split decision. Many experts believed he had done enough to win the bout, but the judges thought otherwise. The decision was shocking for Nishant and Indian fans alike.

8. Lovlina Borgohain

Lovlina had a terrible draw. Despite being one of the top players in the world, she had to face the world number one as early as the quarter-finals. This match was always going to decide the ultimate winner of the competition. Her opponent, Li Quan, ultimately won the gold medal. A large part of Lovlina’s medal miss can be attributed to poor luck.

9. Manu Bhaker

Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on a hat-trick of medals in a heartbreaking shoot-off for the bronze in the 25m air pistol. She remained in contention for a silver or gold medal for most of the final but fell agonizingly short. A shoot-off separated her from the medal—again, luck playing a cruel role.

I still believe that my optimism around the 13-medal prediction wasn’t outrageous. At the highest level of sports, the margins are incredibly fine, and the role of luck is undeniable! If only Lady Luck had favored our athletes a little more, and if only they had played the key moments just a bit better, India might have been celebrating its highest-ever medal tally in Paris!

If only…