The Olympics is the greatest sporting event. Over 200 countries participate in it. India debuted in the Summer Olympics in 1900. From 1900 till now, there have been many Indians who have represented India and hold titles in various sports. To qualify for the Olympics mega event is not an easy task. However, many Indian players appeared in the Olympics many times. Today, we bring you a list of Indians with the most appearances in the Olympics till now. Here is the list-
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List of Top 10 Indians with the Most Olympic Appearances | Legends of Indian Sports
| No. | Name | Sport | Olympic Appearances | Medal Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leander Paes | Tennis | 7 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) | Bronze in Men’s Singles (1996 Atlanta) |
| 2 | Karni Singh | Shooting | 5 (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1980) | None |
| 3 | Randhir Singh | Shooting | 5 (1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984) | None |
| 4 | Abhinav Bindra | Shooting | 5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) | Gold in Men’s 10m Air Rifle (2008 Beijing) |
| 5 | Leslie Claudius & Udham Singh | Field Hockey | Leslie Claudius – 4 (1948, 1952, 1956, 1960); Udham Singh – 4 (1952, 1956, 1960, 1964) | Leslie Claudius: 3 Gold (1948, 1952, 1956), 1 Silver (1960); Udham Singh: 2 Gold (1952, 1956), 1 Silver (1960), 1 Bronze (1964) |
| 6 | Dhanraj Pillay | Field Hockey | 4 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) | None |
| 7 | Gagan Narang | Shooting | 4 (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) | Bronze in Men’s 10m Air Rifle (2012 London) |
| 8 | PT Usha | Athletics | 4 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996) | None |
| 9 | Seema Punia | Discus Throw | 4 (2004, 2012, 2016, 2020) | None |
| 10 | Sania Mirza | Tennis | 4 (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) | None |
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Top 10 Indians with the most appearances in the Olympics:-
1. Leander Paes:
Leander Paes is the only tennis player who participated in all seven consecutive Olympic Games. In addition, he is the only player who won the first Olympic medal in tennis. Paes is known for his exceptional career in both singles and doubles tennis. His bronze medal in 1996 was India’s first Olympic tennis medal and a major milestone in Indian sports history. He represented India seven consecutive times in the Olympic games. He also wants to represent India for the last time in Tokyo. But it was rescheduled due to Covid.
- Sport: Tennis
- Olympic Appearances: 7 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
- Medal Won: Bronze in Men’s Singles (1996 Atlanta)
2. Karni Singh:
Karni Singh was a pioneer in Indian shooting. He represented India in five consecutive Olympics, a testament to his skill and longevity in the sport. Karni Singh is not an ordinary man. He was the last Maharaja of Bikaner state and holds an achievement in the Olympic games too. He is also a Second World War veteran in the Middle East.
- Sport: Shooting
- Olympic Appearances: 5 (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1980)
- Medal Won: None
3. Randhir Singh:
Randhir Singh is known for his participation in trap shooting events. He participated in the Olympics five times and now also serves as an influential sports administrator and contributed significantly to the development of sports in India. Besides the Olympic games, he also participated in the four Asian Games and won all medals, gold, silver and bronze. Randhir Singh is the one Indian who won gold in the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand in 1978. He belongs to the royal family.
- Sport: Shooting
- Olympic Appearances: 5 (1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984)
- Medal Won: None
4. Abhinav Bindra:
Abhinav Bindra is the first individual Olympic gold medalist. He represented India in shooting for five times. Bindra’s gold medal in 2008 was historic as it was India’s first individual Olympic gold medal, marking a major achievement for Indian shooting and sports. He scored a total of 700.5 points and won gold in the 10m air rifle event in Beijing. During the Olympic Games 2016, he was close to winning again but got fourth position with 163.8 points.
- Sport: Shooting
- Olympic Appearances: 5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
- Medal Won: Gold in Men’s 10m Air Rifle (2008 Beijing)
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5. Leslie Walter Claudius & Udham Singh:
Leslie Walter Claudius & Udham Singh are instrumental in India’s dominance in field hockey during the mid-20th century. Their contributions helped India secure numerous medals and maintain its status as a powerhouse in hockey. They won many Olympic medals in their time and gave an achievement to India. They represented India four times in the different Olympic games.
- Sport: Field Hockey
- Olympic Appearances: Leslie Claudius – 4 (1948, 1952, 1956, 1960); Udham Singh – 4 (1952, 1956, 1960, 1964)
- Medal Won:
Leslie Claudius: 3 Gold (1948, 1952, 1956), 1 Silver (1960)
Udham Singh: 2 Gold (1952, 1956), 1 Silver (1960), 1 Bronze (1964)
6. Dhanraj Pillay:
Notable Achievements: Dhanraj Pillay was a key player for India and led the team in numerous international tournaments. He is known for his speed and skill, which took him to the Olympics many times. He might not win an Olympic medal, but his impact on Indian hockey is significant. He is the only player who participated in the four Olympics, four World Cups, four Champions Trophies and four Asian Games. Under his supervision, India won the Asian Games (1998) and Asia Cup (2003).
- Sport: Field Hockey
- Olympic Appearances: 4 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
- Medal Won: None
7. Gagan Narang:
Gagan Narang is the Indian shooter who represented India in the Olympic Games many times from 2004 to 2026. Narang’s bronze medal in 2012 added to India’s growing success in shooting sports and highlighted his consistent performance at the highest level. His outstanding performance was in Beijing in 2008 where he got the ninth position and in Athens in 2004 where he got the twelfth position. He is also a winner in the Commonwealth Games and won many gold medals for India.
- Sport: Shooting
- Olympic Appearances: 4 (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
- Medal Won: Bronze in Men’s 10m Air Rifle (2012 London)
8. PT Usha:
PT Usha, is often referred to as the “Queen of Indian Track and Field,”. He is Milkha Singh in the women. After her performance in the 1984 US Olympics, she became the pioneer of women’s athletics. Usha narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, finishing fourth. But with her timing, she set an Asian record. Her career inspired many young athletes in India. She might not win the Olympic Games, but she holds gold medals in Asian Championships and Asian Games.
- Sport: Athletics (Track and Field)
- Olympic Appearances: 4 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996)
- Medal Won: None
9. Seema Punia:
Seema Punia is a consistent Indian performer in the discus throw. She has represented India in multiple international events and continues to be a significant figure in Indian athletics. She participated four times in the Olympic games and her performance is very close to winning. She might not win in the Olympic Games, but she holds gold in the Asian Games, and silver in the Commonwealth Games.
- Sport: Discus Throw
- Olympic Appearances: 4 (2004, 2012, 2016, 2020)
- Medal Won: None
10. Sania Mirza:
Mirza is one of India’s most successful female tennis players. She is a star and maybe everyone knows her. She is known for her achievements in doubles and mixed doubles at various international competitions. Her participation in the Olympics has brought significant attention to tennis in India. She participated in the Olympics four times.Â
- Sport: Tennis
- Olympic Appearances: 4 (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
- Medal Won: None
FAQs:-
- Who is the Indian athlete with the most Olympic appearances?
- Leander Paes has the most Olympic appearances for India, participating in seven consecutive Games from 1992 to 2016.
- Which Indian athlete won the first Olympic medal in tennis?
- Leander Paes won the first Olympic medal in tennis for India, a bronze in Men’s Singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
- Has any Indian shooter won an individual Olympic gold medal?
- Yes, Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Who are the Indian field hockey players with the most Olympic appearances?
- Leslie Claudius and Udham Singh each participated in four Olympic Games, contributing significantly to India’s success in field hockey.
- Which Indian athlete is known as the “Queen of Indian Track and Field”?
- PT Usha is often referred to as the “Queen of Indian Track and Field” for her outstanding achievements in athletics.
- How many times did Gagan Narang represent India in the Olympics?
- Gagan Narang represented India in the Olympics four times (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and won a bronze medal in 2012.
- What notable achievement does Dhanraj Pillay have in field hockey?
- Dhanraj Pillay is known for his leadership and participation in four Olympics, World Cups, Champions Trophies, and Asian Games, significantly impacting Indian hockey.
- Which Indian discus thrower has participated in four Olympic Games?
- Seema Punia has participated in four Olympic Games (2004, 2012, 2016, 2020) and is known for her consistent performance in discus throw.
- How many Olympic Games did Randhir Singh participate in as a shooter?
- Randhir Singh participated in five Olympic Games (1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984) and is a notable figure in Indian shooting.
- Did Sania Mirza win any medals in the Olympics?
- No, Sania Mirza did not win any medals in the Olympics, but she is one of India’s most successful female tennis players with significant international achievements.