India at the 1924 Summer Olympics

India at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Flag of India
IOC code	IND
NOC	Indian Olympic Association
Website	olympic.ind.in
in Paris
Competitors	13 in 2 sports
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1900 1904–1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

India competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It was the country's third participation in the Summer Olympics its debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics. The Indian team comprised of 13 athletes and competed in two sports. Nora Polley became the first woman athlete to represent India at the Summer Olympics. India competed in the tennis event for the first time in the history of the Games.

Background

India competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France. ^[1] It was the country's third participation in the Summer Olympics after its debut in the 1900 Summer Olympics. ^[2] The Indian team consisted of 13 athletes including woman athlete Nora Polley. ^[3] This was the first time India sent a woman athlete for the Olympics. ^[4]

In February 1924, the All India Olympic Games (later National Games of India) were held at Delhi to select the team for the Games. ^[4] The team trained under Harry Buck, who served as the manager, at the YMCA College of Physical Education at Madras, where Buck was the founding principal. ^[5]

Competitors

There were 13 athletes who took part in two sports. ^[3]

Competitors representing India

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Athletics	7	0	7
Tennis	5	1	6
Total	12	1	13

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics

Seven athletes represented India at the athletics event in the 1924 Games. ^[3]

Athlete	Event	Heats		Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
James Hall	100 m	11.3	3	Did not advance
	200 m	22.5	4
Wilfred Hildreth	100 m	Unknown	4
	200 m	Unknown	4
C. K. Lakshmanan	110 m hurdles	—		16.4	5	Did not advance
Terence Pitt	100 m	Unknown	3	Did not advance
	200 m	Unknown	3
	400 m	49.8	1 Q	51.6	4	Did not advance
Dalip Singh	Long jump	—				6.635	3	Did not advance
Mahadeo Singh	Marathon	—						3:37:36.0	29
Pala Singh	1500 m	—				Unknown	6	Did not advance
	5000 m	—				Unknown	10
	10000 m					Did not finish

Note: Ranks given are within the heat.

Tennis

Main article: Tennis at the 1924 Summer Olympics

Six athletes, including a women, represented India at the tennis event in the 1924 Games. ^[3]

Men

Athlete	Event	Round of 128	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Athar Fyzee	Singles	Langaard  (NOR) W 6–2, 6–2, 6–3	Zerlentis  (GRE) L 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6	Did not advance
Syed Mohammad Hadi		Bye	Williams  (USA) L 0–6, 2–6, 1–6
Sydney Jacob		Morales  (ESP) W 6–2, 6–4, 6–4	Ferrier  (SUI) W 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–1	Willard  (AUS) W 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3	Washburn  (USA) W 6–1, 6–4, 8–10, 6–2	Borotra  (FRA) L 6–4, 4–6, 5–7, 3–6	Did not advance
Mohammed Sleem		Bye	van der Feen  (NED) W 6–4, 6–1, 6–4	Richards  (USA) L 6–8, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6	Did not advance
Sydney Jacob Mohammed Sleem	Doubles	—	Tegner / Ulrich  (DEN) L 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 4–6	Did not advance
Syed Mohammad Hadi Donald Rutnam		—	Bye	Langaard / Nielsen  (NOR) W 6–2, 6–3, 6–0	Colombo / Sabbadini  (ITA) W w/o	Borotra / Lacoste  (FRA) L 2–6, 2–6, 3–6	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Nora Polley	Singles	Bye	Valaoritou-Skaramaga  (GRE) L 6–1, 3–6, 2–6	Did not advance

Mixed

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Sydney Jacob Nora Polley	Doubles	Bye	Wallis / McCrea  (IRL) L 7–9, 6–4, 7–9	Did not advance

References

1. "1924 Summer Olympics". Olympedia . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
2. "India at the Olympics". Olympedia . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
3. "India at the 1924 Summer Olympics". Olympedia . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
4. "When Polley made history in Paris". The Hindu . 14 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
5. "Harry Crowe buck-pioneer of physical education in India" (PDF). January 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2025.