The year 2024 was a thrilling ride for Indian sports fans as athletes excelled across disciplines, leaving an indelible mark on history. The highlight of the year was the grand spectacle of the Olympics held in August, which captured the nation’s attention. Over a billion enthusiastic viewers tuned in to cheer for India’s sporting heroes as they competed on the global stage.
Manu Bhaker’s stunning individual performance and the Indian men’s hockey team’s electrifying victory against Great Britain in the quarterfinals stood out as defining moments of the Paris Games. However, the overall campaign proved underwhelming, as India concluded the Olympics without securing a gold medal.
Top five incidents that shocked Indian sports in 2024.
5. Archery Disappointments at the Paris Olympics
India’s archery team fell short of expectations at the Paris Olympics despite promising performances in the qualifying rounds. In the women’s team event, Bhajan Kaur stood out with a consistent average of 9.33 points, but her efforts weren’t enough to secure a medal. During the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, a solid start in the second set was undone by crucial errors, with Bhajan and Deepika Kumari shooting scores of 6, leading to a 49-54 loss. Ankita Bhakat’s opening score of 4 in the following series ended any hopes of a comeback as India lost 6-0.
In the mixed team event, Ankita and Dhiraj Bommadevara narrowly missed out on a historic medal, finishing fourth after losing the bronze match to the USA. Dhiraj, who excelled in the singles qualifying rounds with a fourth-place finish, was also eliminated in a tiebreaker in a close contest. Despite glimpses of brilliance, Indian archers lacked composure in critical moments, prolonging the wait for their first Olympic medal in the sport.
4. Nishant Dev’s Controversial Exit
Indian boxer Nishant Dev suffered a heartbreaking quarterfinal loss in the 71kg category, missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics. Dev started strong, winning the first round 4-1 and dominating the second round with powerful jabs. However, a controversial split decision awarded the second round to Mexico’s Marco Verde Alvarez, shifting momentum. Despite his efforts, Nishant lost the final round, leading to his exit. The decision sparked outrage among Indian fans, who criticized the judging system and demanded a review of its criteria. This loss marked another missed opportunity for India in boxing.
3. Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification and Retirement
India’s joy turned to shock at the Paris Olympics when wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had secured a spot in the final, was disqualified for failing to meet the 50kg weight requirement. Hours later, Phogat announced her retirement and accused Indian authorities of negligence and foul play. She later joined the Congress Party, alleging systemic issues within Indian sports management. Fellow athletes, including Bajrang Punia, supported her claims. Phogat’s unexpected exit sparked debates about athlete support and governance in Indian sports.
2. Rishabh Pant Released by Delhi Capitals
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction saw Rishabh Pant headline the list of players released by their teams. Delhi Capitals, who made Pant their captain in 2021, opted not to retain him despite his leadership and batting credentials. Pant was initially bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹20.75 crore. However, DC used their Right to Match (RTM) card, only for LSG to raise their bid to ₹26 crore, which the Capitals couldn’t match. In a like-for-like swap, KL Rahul, the former LSG captain, joined Delhi for a lower sum, marking a major reshuffle in IPL captaincy.
1. India Bowled Out for 46 Against New Zealand
India’s Test cricket fortunes hit a historic low as they suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand—a feat not seen in 24 years. The series began disastrously in Bangalore, where India was bowled out for 46, their lowest Test score since the infamous 36-all-out. Despite Sarfaraz Khan’s valiant effort in the second innings, India couldn’t recover.
New Zealand capitalized on spin-friendly conditions in Pune, with Mitchell Santner outsmarting India’s experienced batters. At Wankhede, India crumbled again on a dust-bowl wicket, falling 25 runs short of the target. The series raised concerns about the team’s performance, putting immense pressure on senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.