The Paris Olympics 2024 presented a blend of triumphs and tribulations for India, characterized by deep disappointment and unexpected victories. The soul-wrenching disqualification of Vinesh Phogat thwarted what could have been one of the greatest comebacks on the grandest stage. A silver medal, though commendable, felt like a setback rather than a success. The joy and optimism came from Manu Bhaker’s surprise double in shooting, which offered a glimmer of hope amid a slew of six fourth-place finishes that left a lingering sense of frustration. 

At the outset, a double-digit medal tally seemed overly ambitious. However, near misses prompted reflections of ‘what if’. What if shuttler Lakshya Sen had not experienced an inexplicable collapse in the bronze medal match? What if archer Deepika Kumari had not missed a crucial shot against Korea in the quarterfinals? What if Mirabai Chanu had lifted just one more kilogram? The unexpected absence of medals around the necks of shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, coupled with the surprising skeet medal win by the relatively unknown Swapnil Kusale, highlighted the unpredictability of the Olympics.