Top 10 Indians with the most appearances in the Olympics

The Olympics is the grandest sporting event in the world. With over 200 nations and nearly 42 disciplines, it is one of the most prestigious tournaments ever organized. Since the Olympics are held every four years, athletes need a long career to participate multiple times.

Qualifying for the Olympics is a huge challenge. Competing against top-level athletes for a spot requires tremendous skill and dedication. Those who qualify earn the title of Olympian. The athletes on this list have qualified and represented India at multiple Olympics.

These remarkable players have participated in the Olympics more than three times. Let’s discover their names and achievements at the Games.

1. Sania Mirza (4)

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has played in four Olympics during her impressive career. She competed in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, Rio in 2016, and Tokyo in 2020. Unfortunately, her Tokyo campaign ended in the first round of the women’s doubles, where she and Ankita Raina lost to the Ukrainian Kichenok sisters. Despite winning the first set 6-0, they were defeated with a final score of 6-0, 6-7 (10-8).

Sania’s most notable Olympic achievement was in Rio, where she reached the mixed doubles semi-finals with Rohan Bopanna. They narrowly missed a medal, losing the bronze match to the Czech pair Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka in straight sets (6-1, 7-5).

2. Seema Punia (4)

Veteran discus thrower Seema Punia is another athlete on this list. Seema has won gold and silver medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games multiple times. Like Sania, Seema is a four-time Olympian, having participated in the 2004, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympics.

A recurring knee injury prevented her from competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her best Olympic performance was in London in 2012, where she threw a distance of 61.91 meters, finishing in 13th place.

3. PT Usha (4)

India’s legendary track and field athlete, PT Usha, is often compared to Milkha Singh, the male icon in Indian athletics. As a pioneer in women’s athletics, she became a household name after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Usha finished 4th in the 400m hurdles, narrowly missing a bronze medal. She clocked a time of 55.42 seconds, setting an Asian record.

Usha’s remarkable achievement was considered one of India’s best track and field performances until Neeraj Chopra’s emergence. Known as the Payyoli Express, Usha’s career is adorned with gold medals from the Asian Championships and Games.

Despite her many accomplishments, her 4th place finish in Los Angeles remains significant in Indian sports history, drawing parallels to the late Milkha Singh’s near-miss at the Olympics.

4. Gagan Narang (4)

Indian shooter Gagan Narang consistently attended the Olympics from 2004 to 2016. Specializing in air rifle shooting, he competed in the 10m, 50m, and 50m three-position events. His standout performance came at the 2012 London Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle category.

Gagan also had notable performances at other Olympics, finishing 9th in Beijing in 2008 and 12th in Athens in 2004. In addition to his Olympic achievements, Narang is a multiple-time gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games.

5. Dhanraj Pillay (4)

Hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay is another remarkable multi-time Olympian. Known for his incredible career, Pillay played in 339 matches and scored around 170 goals. His 15-year career was filled with memorable moments and achievements.

Pillay is unique for having participated in four Olympics, four World Cups, four Champions Trophies, and four Asian Games. Under his captaincy, India won the Asian Games in 1998 and the Asia Cup in 2003.

6. Leslie Walter Claudius and Udham Singh (4)

Leslie Walter Claudius and Udham Singh are two iconic figures from India’s golden era in hockey. During this time, India dominated the sport and won several Olympic medals.

Leslie Claudius, the team captain, won gold medals in 1948, 1952, and 1956 and secured a silver medal in 1960. Udham Singh, on the other hand, earned gold medals in 1952 and 1956, a silver in 1960, and another gold in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympics.

7. Achanta Sharath Kamal (5)

India’s table tennis legend, Sharath Kamal, will compete in his fifth Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. His Olympic journey started in Athens in 2004, and he has also played in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Tokyo 2020. Throughout his career, Sharath has been a key player in Indian table tennis and has earned many international awards.

8. Abhinav Bindra (5)

Abhinav Bindra may have retired from shooting, but his legacy lives on. He was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal, scoring 700.5 points in the 10m air rifle event at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he nearly won a second gold but finished in 4th place with 163.8 points. Bindra, from Dehradun, has consistently performed well on the biggest stage. His autobiography, A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold, details his journey to winning gold and the challenges he faced along the way.

9. Karni Singh (5)

Maharaja Karni Singh, the last Maharaja of Bikaner and a World War II veteran, was also a skilled pilot. But his notable achievements in shooting are the focus here.

Singh was the first Indian to represent India in five Olympic Games from 1960 to 1980. He finished in eighth place at the 1960 Rome Olympics; at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, he placed 10th. Singh was known for his expertise in Clay Pigeon Trap and Skeet events and was a distinguished figure in Indian shooting sports.

10. Leander Paes (7)

Leander Paes holds the unique distinction of being the only tennis player in the world to compete in seven consecutive Olympic Games from 1992 to 2016. He also made history as the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in tennis, securing a bronze in Atlanta in 1996 by defeating Fernando Meligani of Brazil with scores of 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Known for his success in doubles and mixed doubles, Paes achieved numerous titles throughout his career. He officially retired from professional tennis in 2020. Paes had hoped to represent India one last time in Tokyo, but his impressive Olympic journey remains a significant career highlight.

Conclusion

In the grand history of the Olympics, a select few Indian athletes have made multiple appearances on the world stage, showcasing remarkable skill and dedication across various sports. These individuals pridefully represented India and made significant contributions to their respective disciplines.

From Sania Mirza’s impressive tennis career to Dhanraj Pillay’s legendary hockey achievements, each athlete on this list has left an indelible mark. Their repeated participation in the Games underscores their exceptional talent and perseverance. Whether through individual sports like shooting and table tennis or team events like hockey, these Olympians have proven their enduring commitment to excellence.

As we celebrate their remarkable achievements, it’s clear that these athletes embody the spirit of the Olympics, inspiring future generations to strive for greatness. Their stories are a testament to the power of hard work and the pursuit of excellence on the global stage.

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