Top five incidents that shocked Indian sports in 2024
The year 2024 proved to be exhilarating for sports enthusiasts in India, as athletes excelled in numerous disciplines, leaving an indelible mark in the annals of history. This year was highlighted by the spectacular Olympics that took place in August. The event captured the attention of the entire nation, with more than a billion enthusiastic viewers captivated by their screens, fervently supporting India’s sporting luminaries as they demonstrated their skills on the global stage.
Manu Bhaker's remarkable performance, along with the outstanding display by India's men's hockey team against Great Britain in the quarterfinals, stood out as a highlight of the Paris Games. This came during a campaign that ultimately proved disappointing for Team India, as the nation concluded its participation without securing a gold medal.
However, the disappointment of the Games was overshadowed by a wave of jubilation in cricket, the nation’s most beloved sport. India ended their 13-year-long drought by clinching the T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados, delivering a moment of pride and celebration for millions of fans.
The year 2024 was indeed a rollercoaster ride for Indian sports, filled with triumphs, heartbreaks, and unforgettable moments. Although there were moments of joy, numerous results did not meet the elevated expectations set by supporters, resulting in a mixed emotional response.
In light of this, let’s examine the five most shocking incidents in Indian sports in 2024.
5. Archery disappointments at the Paris Olympics

Following a commendable performance in the qualifications, the archery team was anticipated to break its prolonged medal drought. Unfortunately, this expectation was not realized. In the women's team competition, Bhajan Kaur, the youngest member, emerged as India's sole consistent performer, achieving an average of 9.33 points. In the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, after conceding the first set, the Indian team commenced the second set strongly, scoring 28 points, with Deepika contributing 10, 10, and 8.
The Dutch archers responded with 26. Unfortunately, the Indian women’s team was unable to maintain their momentum, as both Bhajan Kaur and Deepika Kumari recorded a score of 6, exacerbating the situation for India. Consequently, India lost the second set with a score of 49-54. Just when it appeared that the Indian women’s team might stage a comeback, Ankita commenced the series with a score of 4, effectively extinguishing any remaining hopes for the Indian team.
India was unable to make a comeback, concluding the match with a score of 6-0. Ankita Bhakat recorded an average of 7.33, while Deepika's average stood at 8. Both athletes fell short of expectations, missing a crucial chance to secure an Olympic medal for the team. In contrast, Kumari delivered an impressive performance in the singles event but ultimately lost in the quarterfinals to a top archer from Korea.
Dhiraj Bommadevara, having performed admirably in the qualifying rounds by securing fourth place, experienced disappointment in the singles competition. Despite achieving a score of 10 in the tiebreaker, he faced elimination in a fiercely contested and closely fought match.
The pairing of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara narrowly missed out on securing a historic medal in archery, ultimately finishing in fourth place after being defeated by the American duo of Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison in the bronze medal match of the mixed team event. In the semi-finals, the Indian team encountered formidable opponents in the form of two-time Olympic finalists Siheye Lim and Wo Jin Kim from Korea. Although they initially established a 2-0 lead, they were unable to sustain their momentum and ultimately lost the match.
Hence, it was a case of so close yet so far for all Indian archers, who failed to show composure in nervous moments and will have to wait for India’s maiden Olympic medal in archery to continue.
4. Nishant Dev’s controversial decision

Nishant Dev narrowly missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics, experiencing a poignant defeat in the quarterfinals. The Indian boxer faced a split-decision loss to Mexico's Marco Verde Alvarez in the 71kg category.
He was merely one victory away from securing another medal for India at the Paris Olympic Games. Dev triumphed in the first round with a score of 4-1 and appeared to dominate the bout in the second round, delivering a succession of powerful jab hooks against the Mexican opponent. However, the judges unexpectedly awarded the round to Alvarez, placing him ahead 3-2 in the match. Despite having previously defeated his Mexican rival, the Indian boxer ultimately lost the final round as well.
Nishant, visibly distressed, expressed his inability to comprehend his defeat in the match and accused the judges of partiality regarding the outcome. This contentious ruling incited outrage among Indian supporters, who called upon the Olympic governing body to reassess the sport and its erratic judging standards. Nishant Dev's loss resulted in India departing without a medal in the boxing category.
3. Vinesh Phogat retires after being disqualified from the Olympics

Shortly after rejoicing one of the greatest sporting moments in Indian history, when Vinesh Phogat secured her place in the finals and guaranteed at least a silver medal, the country was taken aback by the startling announcement of her disqualification from the competition due to not meeting the minimum weight requirement of 50 Kg. This incident ignited considerable controversy, particularly beyond the realm of sports.
Phogat promptly declared her retirement from sports and transitioned into politics by joining the Congress Party, the principal opposition party in the nation. Other wrestling athletes, including those from Bajrang Dal, expressed their support for her as Phogat accused Indian authorities of failing to provide adequate care and alleged misconduct that led to her disqualification.
2. Rishabh Pant released by Delhi Capitals

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction witnessed heavy splurging by all 10 teams with massive spending on the big-name Indian superstars. The retention decisions prior to the auction surprised both experts and fans, as several high-profile players were not retained, with Rishabh Pant being the most notable omission. The Capitals had designated Pant as their captain in 2021, parting ways with Iyer, who had delivered two outstanding seasons with the Delhi franchise.
During the auction, Pant was initially acquired by Lucknow for ₹20.75 crore. However, Delhi Capitals opted to utilize their Right to Match (RTM) option. Shortly thereafter, Lucknow Super Giants astonished all by increasing their bid to ₹26 crore, a figure that the Capitals could not match. In a direct player exchange, former captain of Lucknow Super Giants, KL Rahul, will now transfer to Delhi Capitals for a comparatively lesser amount.
1. India bowled out for 46

India's men's cricket team experienced a historic setback in Test cricket, suffering a 0-3 defeat against New Zealand on home soil. This loss marked their first home whitewash in 24 years, as a relatively inexperienced New Zealand team managed to dominate the formidable Indian side in their own territory. The series commenced with a disappointing batting display in Bangalore, where New Zealand capitalized on favorable bowling conditions, skillfully utilized by Matt Henry and Tim Southee, who dismantled India's batting lineup, leading to a record low score following the infamous 46-all-out.
Despite an excellent knock by Sarfraz Khan in the second innings, India went down in Bangalore. A turning pitch was prepared in Pune, yet New Zealand emerged victorious over India once more, with the unexpected inclusion of Mitchell Santner, who left the seasoned Indian batsmen at a loss.
A similar tale followed on a dust-bowl-like wicket at the Wankhede as Ravichandran Ashwin was largely ineffective throughout the series. Although Washington Sundar was able to limit New Zealand's scoring to some degree, it ultimately proved insufficient, as India once again faltered in their second innings, falling short of their target by 25 runs.
This series has created turmoil within the Indian team and its coaching staff, with much depending on the outcome of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The stakes are high, particularly for senior players such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and head coach Gautam Gambhir, as they face increasing pressure regarding their careers.
Cover Credits - BCCI Official
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