India first participated at the Olympic Games in 1900, becoming the first Asian nation to do so. A lone athlete Norman Pritchard represented the country and won two medals – both silver – in athletics. The nation first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games in 1920 and has participated in every Summer Games since then. India has also competed at several Winter Olympic Games after its debut in 1964.
Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events. He is the first Indian Paralympics player to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for his country. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won a second gold medal in the same event, bettering his previous record. Devendra is currently being supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. He becomes India's most decorated Paralympic player by winning his third medal, a silver at the 2020 Summer Paralympics at Tokyo. In 2024, he was elected president of the Paralympic Committee of India.
India competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. A total of 83 athletes, 60 men and 23 women, competed in 13 sports. Men's field hockey was the only team-based sport in which India was represented in these Olympic Games. India also marked its Olympic return in weightlifting, after the International Weightlifting Federation imposed a two-year suspension for the nation's athletes because of a doping scandal in Beijing.
In India, the sport of athletics was introduced during the period of the British Raj. The sport is governed at national level by the Athletics Federation of India, which was formed in 1946. Despite its large population, few Indian athletes have won a medal in a global or major championship. This began to change in the 21st century, when Indians started taking greater interest in athletics more generally and improved facilities for the sport began to be built at a local level. At a continental level, it has been among the more successful Asian nations, though some distance behind China and Japan.
Deepa Malik is an Indian para athlete from Haryana. She is the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games. She won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in shot put.
India competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016. The nation made its official debut at the 1968 Summer Paralympics and has appeared in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since 1984. This is India's 11th appearance at the Summer Paralympics.
Subedar Major Neeraj Chopra is an Indian track and field athlete. Considered as the greatest Indian javelin thrower, he's a double medalist at the Olympics, World Championships, and the Asian Games. He has won the Diamond League once. Chopra won the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics, becoming the first Asian javelin throw athlete to do so. He became the first Asian to win the javelin gold medal at the World Athletics Championships after his win in 2023. Chopra has won gold medals in every major tournament. He has a streak of having a podium finish in 24 consecutive competitions, dating back to 2020. Since his 2016 performance, he holds the junior javelin throw world record with 86.48 m.
Rinku Hooda is an Indian para javelin thrower who competes in the F46 category. He represented India at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris, his second Olympics and finished at 5th spot with the best throw of 61.58 metres.
Sundar Singh Gurjar an Indian Paralympic athlete from Rajasthan. He competes in javelin throw, shot put and discus throw in F46 category events. He won bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in men's javelin F46 event. He qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris.
India competed at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, from 18 August to 2 September. Neeraj Chopra was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony while Rani Rampal was named as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
India competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Originally scheduled to take place in July–August 2020, the games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games marked the nation's 25th appearance at the Summer Olympics after having made its official debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
India competed in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 August to 5 September 2021. India made its official debut at the 1968 Summer Paralympics and has appeared in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since 1984.
Ravi Kumar Dahiya, also known as Ravi Kumar or Ravi Dahiya, is an Indian freestyle wrestler who won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 57 kg category. Dahiya is also a bronze medallist from 2019 World Wrestling Championships and a three-time Asian champion. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, he won the gold medal in the men's 57kg freestyle wrestling category.
Ajeet Singh Yadav is an Indian Para athlete from Uttar Pradesh who competes in men's javelin throw, in F-46 category. On 3 September 2024, he won a silver medal in javelin throw F46 category at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.
Nishad Kumar is an Indian paralympian. He qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the high jump T47 category. He won the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics at Tokyo and retained his silver at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris.
Sumit Antil is an Indian Paralympian and javelin thrower. He won the gold in the men's javelin throw F64 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and the 2024 Paris Paralympics. He set a new Paralympic record both times with his throws of 68.55 m and 70.59 m respectively. He is a two-time gold medalist at the World Para Championships. In 2022, Antil not only won the gold medal at the Asian Para Games but also made the para-javelin WR of 73.29 m. He is a six-time world record holder.
India competed at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris from 28 August to 8 September 2024. The nation made its official debut at the 1968 Summer Paralympics and has appeared in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since 1984. This is India's 13th appearance at the Summer Paralympics.
Navdeep Singh is an Indian para-athlete and javelin thrower. He won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. He has also been a bronze medalist at the World Championships.
Ravi Rongali is an Indian para athlete from Andhra Pradesh. He competes in the shot put F40 category. He qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris.
