2024 - India's golden year in sports: Iconic wins, Olympic glory and emotional farewells

NEW DELHI: 2024 saw Indian athletes shine globally, setting new records and bidding farewell to legends. From Olympic records to emotional farewells, Indian sports achieved new heights and celebrated its heroes, inspiring the next generation of athletes.
T20 World Cup triumph ends 11-year trophy drought
Indian cricket reached a milestone as the men’s team lifted the ICC T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team remained unbeaten, defeating South Africa in the final. Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance earned him the Player of the Tournament award. The victory was bittersweet, as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirements from T20I cricket, marking the end of an era.

Paris Olympics: Six medals and record performances
Indian athletes delivered stellar performances at the Paris Olympics, bringing home six medals. Neeraj Chopra added to his legacy with a silver in the men’s javelin throw, while shooter Manu Bhaker made history with two bronze medals, including India’s first in women’s Olympic shooting. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat became India’s youngest Olympic medalist with bronze in the men’s freestyle 57 kg category.
The Indian men’s hockey team secured a bronze medal, with captain Harmanpreet Singh leading as the tournament’s top scorer. PR Sreejesh’s heroics in goal were instrumental in the team’s success, which included a historic win against Australia after 52 years.
Asian and global titles in badminton and chess
The Indian women’s badminton team, led by PV Sindhu, clinched their first gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. Rising star Anmol Kharb was pivotal in the victory. Meanwhile, in chess, Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest world champion, and Koneru Humpy secured her second World Rapid Chess Championship. India also won double gold at the Chess Olympiad.
Historic year for Indian para-athletes
At the Paris Paralympics, India won a record 29 medals, including seven golds. Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil repeated their gold-winning feats, while Harvinder Singh earned India’s first Paralympic gold in archery.
Farewell to icons in football, hockey, and gymnastics
Football legend Sunil Chhetri retired after 20 years in international football, ending as India’s top scorer with 94 goals. PR Sreejesh bid farewell after leading the hockey team to Olympic bronze, and gymnast Dipa Karmakar retired following her gold in vault at the Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Squash and tennis make waves
Young squash prodigy Anahat Singh won nine PSA Challenger titles and broke into the top 100 rankings. Tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna created history by winning his first men’s doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and becoming the oldest Masters 1000 champion.