India first participated at the Olympic Games in 1900, with a lone athlete Norman Pritchard winning two medals – both silver – in athletics and became the first Asian nation to win an Olympic medal.[1] The nation first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games in 1920 and has participated in every Summer Games since then. India has also competed at several Winter Olympic Games beginning in 1964.
Despite being under British rule until 1947, India participated in the Olympic Games separately from the British Olympic Team. India sent its first athlete to the Summer Olympics for the 1900 Games, but an Indian national team did not compete at the Summer Olympics until 1920. Ahead of the 1920 Games, Sir Dorabji Tata and Governor of Bombay George Lloyd helped India secure representation at the International Olympic Committee, enabling it to participate in the Games (see India at the 1920 Olympic Games)
From the 2016 Summer Olympics, Olympic medallists and their coaches have been given advance consideration for the National Sports Awards if they have not already received one.[41] As of 2021, the Indian Olympic Association recognises Olympic medallists with the following cash prizes: ₹7.5 million (US$100,000) for gold medallists, ₹4 million (US$53,000) for silver and ₹2.5 million (US$33,000) for bronze. Coaches of Olympic medallists receive ₹1.25 million (US$17,000), ₹1 million (US$13,000) and ₹0.75 million (US$10,000), respectively.[42]
Olympic medallists are rewarded by the Government of India with the following cash prizes as of 2021: ₹7.5 million (US$100,000) for gold medallists, ₹5 million (US$66,000) for silver and ₹3 million (US$40,000) for bronze.[43]
At the state/territorial level, Olympians receive cash awards of various amounts, depending on their home region.
– Most matches played : 134 – Most wins : 83 – Most goals scored : 458 – Least goals conceded in a single tournament