The year 2024 has been extraordinary for Indian sports, setting a new benchmark with remarkable victories. From a long-awaited T20 World Cup win in cricket to athletes across various disciplines securing medals at the Paris 2024 Games, this year has provided Indian sports fans with unforgettable memories.

Cricket glory

The Indian cricket team ended its 17-year wait by lifting the T20 World Cup on June 29, 2024. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the team posted 176/7 to defeat South Africa in the final. Kohli’s stunning 76 runs off 59 balls, including six fours and two sixes, and Bumrah’s tight bowling brought the victory home.

This victory marked a historic milestone for India, as it was their second T20 World Cup win, following their first victory in 2007. It was India’s first ICC title since the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and their first World Cup title since the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Paris 2024 triumphs

India shone at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, with 117 Indian athletes participating across 16 sports at the Paris Games. India clinched six medals at the Paris Olympics, one silver and five bronze. Pistol shooter Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete in the post-Independence era to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Games.

At the Paralympics, India finished 18th in the medal tally with seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze to their name with a record total of 29 medals. The contingent shattered the record for India’s best-ever medal haul that was set at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics (19).

Chess dominance

In a historic triumph, India’s men and women teams clinched gold for the first time in the 45th Chess Olympiad on September 22. India’s D Gukesh made history on December 12 by becoming the youngest-ever World Champion in chess. Gukesh is the second Indian to win the World Chess Championship title, claiming the title in just over a decade after five-time Champion Viswanathan Anand lost the title in 2013.

Koneru Humpy, India’s top-rated female chess player, also secured her second World Rapid Championship title, finishing the tournament with 8.5/11 on December 29. 

Hockey brilliance

India, the bronze medallists in hockey at Tokyo, achieved back-to-back Olympic podium finishes for the first time in 52 years, since the Munich 1972 Games, by rallying from a goal down to defeat Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal playoff. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was the leading goal-scorer at the Olympics as he netted 10 goals in 8 games.

Tennis champions

India’s Rohan Bopanna made history in 2024 by becoming the oldest man in the Open Era to win a major men’s doubles title, teaming up with Australian Matthew Ebden to win the Australian Open. The 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden overcame Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5 to clinch the crown at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

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