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India won their first ever medal at the Olympics in 1900, when the country was still under the British rule. Norman Pritchard clinched two silver medals in athletics, in that year.

Since then, India has managed to pick up 35 medals at the Olympic Games, both in team and individual sporting events.

In team sports, primarily men's field hockey, India has clinched a total of twelve medals, including eight golds. Hockey players Leslie Walter Claudius and Udham Singh Kullar share the record of winning the most number of Olympic medals - three gold and one silver. Hockey icon Dhyan Chand, meanwhile, played a hug role as India won hat-trick of golds at 1928 Amsterdam Games, 1932 Los Angeles Games and 1936 Berlin Games.

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In this article, The Sporting News looks at a list of the most decorated Indian Olympians in individual sports.

Who is the most decorated Indian Olympian?

In terms of the number of medals won at the Olympic games, Norman Pritchard (2 silver), PV Sindhu (1 silver, 1 bronze) and Sushil Kumar (1 silver, 1 bronze) are at the top of the list.

However, a gold medal is the highest and most prestigious medal at the Olympics, which has only been won by two individuals from India - Abhinav Bhindra (10m air rifle shooting at Beijing 2008) and Neeraj Chopra (Javelin throw at Tokyo 2020).

Here is a list of Indian Olympians, ranked by number of medals:

RankOlympianEventMedals
1Norman PritchardAthletics (200m hurdles, 200m sprint)2 Silver (Paris 1900)
2Manu BhakerShooting (Women's 10m Air Pistol, Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol)2 Bronze (Paris 2024)
2PV SindhuBadminton singles1 silver (Rio 2016), 1 bronze (Tokyo 2020)
3Sushil KumarWrestling1 silver (London 2012), 1 bronze (Beijing 2008)
4Abhinav Bhindra10m air rifle shooting1 gold (Beijing 2008)
5Neeraj ChopraJavelin Throw1 gold (Tokyo 2020)
6Rajyavardhan Singh RathoreMen's double trap shooting1 silver (Athens 2004)
7Vijay Kumar25m rapid fire pistol shooting1 silver (London 2012)
8Mirabai ChanuWomen's Weightlifting1 silver (Tokyo 2020)
9Ravi Kumar DahiyaMen's wrestling1 silver (Tokyo 2020)
5KD JadhavMen's wrestling1 bronze (Helsinki 1952)
6Leander PaesTennis singles1 bronze (Atlanta 1996)
7Karnam MalleswariWomen's weightlifting1 bronze (Sydney 2000)
9Vijender SinghMen's Boxing1 bronze (Beijing 2008)
10Gagan Narang10m air rifle shooting 1 bronze (London 2012)
12Saina NehwalBadminton singles 1 bronze (London 2012)
13Mary KomWomen's Boxing1 bronze (London 2012)
14Yogeshwar DuttMen's wrestling 1 bronze (London 2012)
15Sakshi MalikWomen's wrestling 1 bronze (Rio 2016)
17Lovlina BorgohainWomen's welterweight boxing 1 bronze (Tokyo 2020)
19Bajrang PuniaMen's wrestling 1 bronze (Tokyo 2020)
20Sarabjot SinghMixed Team's Shooting1 Bronze (Paris 2024)

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Author(s)
Saino Zachariah Photo

Saino Zachariah is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.