India's Olympic Champions Celebrated At First-Ever India House

India's athletes had a remarkable day at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday (August 6) with Neeraj Chopra and Vinesh Phogat delivering memorable performances in the morning. The celebrations continued into the evening at the first-ever India House.

The event saw multiple medalist shooter Manu Bhaker and bronze medal-winning shooter Swapnil Kusale being honoured by Mrs Nita M Ambani, IOC member and Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation.

Mrs Ambani praised Manu Bhaker, saying, "Last week in Paris, a 22-year-old girl from a village in Haryana created history and showed the world the power of her dreams, passion, and hard work! She became the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics! Every Indian is inspired and every girl in India feels empowered by your achievements."

Celebrating Athletes' Spirit

Mrs Ambani emphasised that every athlete should be celebrated regardless of their results for their exemplary spirit. "Beyond medals and records, Sport is a celebration of the human spirit, of character, of hard work, of our ability to confront all odds and never give up! Each and every one of our athletes has shown that spirit in Paris. Today we celebrate all of you, the CHAMPIONS of Team India!"

The atmosphere at India House was filled with loud cheers and jubilation as athletes were felicitated by an enthusiastic crowd. The athletes present included badminton player Lakshya Sen who finished 4th in an impressive display as well as world champion boxer Lovlina Borgohain and skeet shooters Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka, who finished 4th in the mixed team event.

Athletes Honoured

During her address to the athletes, Mrs Ambani stated, "Today, most of our athletes are here. No matter what the outcome of the Games, we will celebrate each and every one of them! We have gathered here today to celebrate your talent, resilience, hard work, ethics, and values!"

Also present were shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anjum Moudgil, Sift Kaur Samra, Esha Singh, Raiza Dhillon, Anish Bhanwala and Vijayveer Sidhu; boxer Nishant Dev; and athletics contingent members Akshdeep Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht, Vikash Singh, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Ankita Dhyani, Jeswin Aldrin and Parul Chaudhary.

The athletes felt immense love and appreciation from fans while enjoying food and programs at India House. These offerings have been very popular among both fans and athletes alike.

The celebrations at India House marked a significant moment for India's Olympic contingent. The event highlighted not just their achievements but also their perseverance and dedication to sport.