Olympic Glory Rekindled: Inside IOA’s Heartfelt Tribute to Paris 2024 Medal Winners

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) hosted an elegant felicitation ceremony at the Taj Man Singh Hotel in New Delhi on October 13, 2025, honouring the athletes who brought India glory at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The event was attended by IOA President P.T. Usha, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, senior officials, sponsors, and members of the sporting community.

India concluded its highly successful Paris campaign with six medals—one silver and five bronze. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra further cemented his legacy with a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw, becoming India’s most successful individual Olympian to date. Due to his training commitments in Switzerland, he was represented at the ceremony by an Athletics Federation of India (AFI) official.

Shooter Manu Bhaker made history by claiming two bronze medals — in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. Young wrestler Aman Sehrawat secured bronze in men’s freestyle 57 kg, becoming one of India’s youngest Olympic medallists. Swapnil Kusale earned a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. The Indian men’s hockey team proudly returned to the podium with a bronze medal, capping their campaign with a 2-1 win over Spain.

Important Points

IOA President P.T. Usha congratulated the medallists for their dedication, resilience, and inspiring performances that brought immense pride to the nation.​

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised the athletes’ stellar efforts and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting sports and athletes.​

Cash awards were presented to all medallists and their coaches in recognition of their achievements, with Neeraj Chopra receiving ₹75 lakh, Manu Bhaker ₹1 crore (individually and team combined), Aman Sehrawat ₹50 lakh, and others accordingly.​

The ceremony highlighted the broader vision to uplift Indian sports and inspire the next generation of Olympians.​

Manu Bhaker expressed joy at the felicitation, calling it a moment of inspiration as she prepares for upcoming championships.​

Coaches received awards recognizing their crucial role in guiding athletes to Olympic success.​

Sources: Olympics.com, The Bridge, Times of India, Hindustan Times, ANI, Moneycontrol.