The Indian sports landscape in 2024 was a mix of highs and lows, with moments of triumph being overshadowed by disappointments. The Indian cricket team's victory in the T20 World Cup was a standout moment, but their subsequent defeat at home served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports. The state of Indian football remained tumultuous, while the Olympics in Paris yielded moderate success, failing to surpass the medal count from the previous Games in Tokyo. Despite these challenges, there were numerous athletes who captivated audiences with their incredible performances. As we reflect on the year in sports, we celebrate the standout performers who kept us on the edge of our seats: 

Indian Athletes or Sports Stars Who Delivered Iconic Performances in 2024 

Neeraj Chopra 

Neeraj Chopra had a stellar year in 2024, continuing his dominance in the field of javelin throw. He became the first Indian athlete to win multiple golds in the Olympics after he bagged silver in the javelin in Paris. Neeraj's consistency remains unparalleled. He also won silver in the Brussels Diamond League final, thus solidifying his position as one of the top athletes in the world. 

Manu Bhaker 

Manu Bhaker had a breakthrough year in 2024, as she became the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in the same edition of the Olympics. After clinching bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event, she emulated this performance in the mixed category as well, alongside Sarabjot Singh. 

Lakshya Sen 

Lakshya Sen made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals of the men's singles event. While he ultimately finished fourth, after losing to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in three games, Sen's performance at the Olympics showcased his immense talent and potential. He is considered one of the rising stars of Indian badminton and is expected to continue to achieve great things in the years to come. 

Harmanpreet Singh 

Harmanpreet Singh led the Indian men's hockey team to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, showcasing his exceptional leadership and drag-flicking skills. He scored two crucial goals in the bronze-medal match versus Spain to guide India to their second consecutive Olympics medal in hockey, a feat never achieved in last 52 years. Harmanpreet was the top scorer of the tournament with 10 goals, highlighting his crucial role in India's success. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal 

While his exploits in the shortest format of the game were well known, thanks to his prolific batting for Rajasthan, Yashasvi Jaiswal proved that he is not a one-trick pony by amassing piles of run in Test. He is the leading run-scorer for India in this calendar year, and also scored a century in what was his first match in Australia, in Perth. 

Aman Sehrawats 

Aman Sehrawat made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the youngest Indian Olympic medalist ever, winning a bronze medal in the men's 57kg freestyle wrestling category. Sehrawat, 21, broke PV Sindhu's record of being the youngest medallist 

Swapnil Kusale 

Swapnil Kusale became the first Indian to win bronze in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions, taking India's medal tally to 6 in Paris. Kusale is only the third man, after Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang, to win a medal in shooting. 

Shreyas Iyer 

Despite being a standout performer in India's 2023 World Cup campaign, Shreyas Iyer was axed out of the team. But he didn't let the disappointment affect his game. He marshalled Kolkata Knight Riders to the Indian Premier League title in 2024, and recently won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai. 

Neeraj Goyat 

Neeraj Goyat secured a decisive victory against Brazilian opponent Whindersson Nunes in a six-round super-middleweight bout. This high-profile fight on the undercard of the highly anticipated Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event provided Goyat with significant exposure on a global stage. 

Jasprit Bumrah 

Jasprit Bumrah was instrumental in India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign where he was also named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional performances throughout the tournament. He also achieved the number one spot in the ICC Men's Test bowling rankings for the first time in his career and has been the most threatening bowler for India Down Under.