India’s Top 10 Most-Appearing Olympians You Must Know About

Who are India’sTop Ten Most-Appearing Olympians in India? The longevity of a sports career is one of the most prized facets of the sport. Consistency and longevity determine their legacy. The Indian delegation at the Olympics is no different. A total of four people have appeared in more than five Olympics in the nation’s history. We will look at India’s top ten most-appearing Olympians.

1. Sania Mirza (2008-2020) – 4 Times 

Sania Mirza, who has won six Grand Slam titles and is a former No. 1 in Women’s Doubles, is going to represent India at her fourth Olympics. Currently, No. 1 in India, Ankita Raina, will partner with Sania in Tokyo. She is eager to add an Olympic medal to her already impressive trophy cabinet. In 2016, she stumbled short of reaching the podium by a whisker while competing in the mixed doubles with Rohan Bopanna at the Olympics in Rio.

2. Seema Punia (2004, 2012-2020) – 4 Times 

Seema Punia, an Indian discus thrower, has booked her tickets to Tokyo for her fourth Olympic appearance. Throughout her career, the veteran star has achieved national and international recognition. In 2006, she won silver medals in the Discus Throw event at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne, 2014 in Glasgow, and 2018 in Gold Coast. Incheon hosted the Asian Games in 2014, and Punia took home the gold medal. Her Olympic performance in London in 2012 was 13th.

3. PT Usha (1980-1988, 1996) – 4 Times 

The queen of Indian track and field, PT Usha is perhaps the most legendary name in Women’s Athletics in India. AWomen’s athletics in India is synonymous with PT Usha, arguably the most legendary name in the sport. Most people in this country recall her astonishing run at the 1984 Olympics and her heartbreaking fourth-place finish in the 400m Hurdles. The Los Angeles record set by Usha still stands today. India’s Payyoli Express has participated in four Olympics. 

4. Gagan Narang (2004-2016) – 4 Times 

Between 2004 and 2016, Gagan Narang represented India at every Olympics. The medal he won at the London Olympics in the Men’s 10 m air rifle event was his best moment at the Games. In 2010, Narang won three gold medals at the ISSF World Cup and was awarded the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

5. Dhanraj Pillay (1992-2004) – 4 Times  

Among the greatest players in the history of hockey is former Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay. He competed in four Olympics while on the Indian national team. His career spanned 15 years. He played in 339 matches for the national team and is the only player to have participated in four Olympics, four World Cups, four Champions Trophies, and four Asian Games.

6. Leslie Walter Claudius (1948-1960) and Udham Singh (1952-1964) – 4 Times 

Both Udham Singh and Leslie Walter CThe only field hockey players who have won four Olympic medals in their careers are Udham Singh and Leslie Walter Claudius. Claudius won three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze as a captain of the team in 1948, 1952, and 1956. Udham Singh won gold medals in 1952 and 1956 as well as a silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he won a second gold medal.

7. Abhinav Bindra (2000-2016) – 5 Times 

Between 2000 and 2016, Abhinav Bindra has appeared in the five Olympics as India’s only individual gold medalist. Bindra, one of the greatest air rifle shooters in history, scaled the highest peak in his career when he won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The Indian wrestler came close to making the podium in his final Olympics appearance in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 but finished in fourth place. He is also one of the Most-Appearing Olympians in India.

8. Randhir Singh (1968-1984) – 5 Times  (Most Appearing Olympians)

In 1968, Randhir Singh became the second Indian after Karni Singh to compete in five Olympic games in mixed trap shooting. Randhir Singh’s highest Olympic finish came in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics where he finished 17th. Later, he worked as a sports administrator and India’s representative on the International Olympic Committee.

9. Karni Singh (1960-1972, 1980) – 5 Times (Most Appearing Olympians)

Former Maharaja of Bikaner State, Karni Singh was a clay pigeon and skeet champion of the world. His participation in the five Olympics made him the first Indian to do so. The 1959 Rome Olympics saw Maharaja Karni Singh finish eighth, and the 1968 Mexico City Olympics saw him place tenth. In addition to being a politician, he served in the Lok Sabha for 25 years. He is the second Most-Appearing Olympians in India.

10. Leander Paes (1992-2016) – 7 Times (Most Appearing Olympians)

The greatest Indian tennis player of all time, Leander Paes is also regarded as one of the greatest Tennis players in Doubles. Paes also holds the distinction of winning eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. Leander Paes brought glory to India by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in Tennis at the Olympics. Moreover, his bronze win at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics was an incredible moment in India’s sporting history. Paes hoped to make it to Tokyo this time around as well but the pandemic and his low world ranking foiled those plans. He is also one of the Most-Appearing Olympians in India.

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