India Needs to Increase Its Medal Tally in the Next Olympic Games

The Olympic Games, held every four years, are a global stage where nations showcase their athletic prowess. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, India has shown notable progress, securing a total of six medals so far (1 Silver and 5 Bronze), with hopes for more before the Games conclude. This marks a significant improvement compared to the previous two and a half decades.
 
The entire nation rejoices when an Indian athlete wins a medal. Over 1.4 billion Indians celebrate the achievements of their athletes and teams. This year, athletes from Haryana have particularly excelled, winning the most medals among Indian participants. In hockey, the majority of players hail from Punjab.
 
As we look ahead to the 2028 Olympics, it is imperative that the Indian Ministry of Sports develops comprehensive plans to increase the country’s medal tally. The Union Government should allocate additional funds to sports, ensuring the availability of top-quality coaches, international-standard turfs, and state-of-the-art sports equipment. If possible, these equipments should be sourced from the Indian sports industry itself.
 
Furthermore, the government should bolster the financial budget for sports, disbursing additional funds to state governments for the training of athletes. Trainees who qualify in their respective sports should receive a monthly stipend, and there should be no delays in releasing funds for nutritious food provisions.
 
If necessary, athletes should be sent abroad for advanced training, with the Union Government prioritizing their development to ensure India’s success in future Olympic Games.
 
The Indian public had high expectations for a double-digit medal count in 2024, and while this target was not met, the performance of our athletes has been commendable. Manu Bhaker achieved the remarkable feat of winning two bronze medals—one individually and another with Sarabjot Singh. Neeraj Chopra added a silver medal to his collection, having now won medals in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. The Indian hockey team repeated their success from 2020 by securing another bronze medal. Swapnil Kusale and Aman Sehrawat also brought home bronze medals.
 
There is still hope for additional medals from athletes like golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar. The case of Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified in Paris due to a minor weight issue, is still pending, and India had high hopes for her as well.
 
Authored by: 
Rajat Kumar Mohindru 
Journalist, 
Jalandhar City.