Indian heroes at Olympics

LEANDER PAES Bronze in tennis in 1996 Olympics
 
Still playing, Rio will be his seventh turn at Olympics. After winning his Bronze in 1996 Olympics, Paes has won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open (2015). 

Tennis is not his only forte; the Kolkata-born sportsman has also acted in a movie named Rajdhani Express. He has endorsed several brands and his most recent association is with Legendari, a sports management company that picked him as its face just before the Olympics.

 (By Sameer Mulgaonkar)

Leander Paes, Bronze in tennis in 1996 Olympics 

KARNAM MALLESWARI Bronze in Weightlifting in 2000 Olympics 
The first woman from India to win an Olympic medal, Karnam Malleswari was the sole medalist in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She won the bronze in the 69 kg category with an overall lift of 240kg, finishing just behind winner Lin Weining of China and Hungary's Erzsebet Markus. 

Although, she was disappointed with her medal, as she felt that she could have easily swung a gold, had it not been for some poor advice from her coaches.

Karnam Malleswari, Bronze in Weightlifting in 2000 Olympics 

RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE Silver in shooting in 2000 Olympics Won the Silver medal in Men’s Double Trap event in 2004 Athens Olympics. The same year he won the world shooting championship in Sydney, Australia. In 2006, he won a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne and another at the world shooting championship in Cairo. 

Rathore has over 25 international medals in Double Trap championships held in different countries between 2002 and 2006. In 2013, Rathore joined the BJP and is currently the minister of state for information and broadcasting.

Rajyavardhan  Rathore, Silver in shooting in 2000 Olympics 

ABHINAV BINDRA Gold in shooting in 2008 Olympics Still shooting, won the Gold medal in the 10 m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is the first Indian to win an individual Gold medal at the Olympic Games. Heinz Reinkemeier has been his coach for 16 years, ever since Bindra was a 16-year-old boy and believes that what sets his protégé apart is his attitude. 

In May 2016, the Indian Olympics Association appointed Abhinav Bindra as the goodwill ambassador for Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Abhinav Bindra, Gold in shootin in 2008 Olympics 

Abhinav Bindra, Gold in shooting in 2008 Olympics

VIJENDER SINGH Bronze in boxing in 2008 Olympics Vijender's win at the quarter finals at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, helped him claim a bronze medal, the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer. He has won one Olympic, three Commonwealth, two Asian games, two Asian championship and one world championship medal so far. 

Vijender’s brawn won him a few modeling assignments and he was also part of a popular reality show. He has also acted in a Bollywood film Fugly (June 2014). 

Singh has had to fight controversies and doping allegations and has finally turned professional with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions through IOS Sports and Entertainment. On July 16 He defeated Australian Kerry Hope for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title.

Vijender Singh, Bronze in boxing in 2008 Olympics 

SUSHIL KUMAR Bronze/Silver in Wrestling in 2008/2012 Olympics Sushil Kumar is the only Indian to win two individual Olympic medals at Beijing and London. At the 2010 World Wrestling Championships, he became the first Indian to win a world title in wrestling. 

He was in news recently over his bid to represent the country in Rio but was turned down.

Sushil Kumar, Bronze/Silver in Wrestling in 2008/2012 Olympics 

VIJAY KUMAR Silver in shooting in 2012 Olympics Kumar won the Silver Medal in the 25 m rapid fire pistol event at 2012 Lonodn Olympics. 

He has five Commonwealth Gold medals under his name and was chosen to be the Indian flagbearer at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Vijay Kumar, Silver in shooting in 2012 Olympics 

SAINA NEHWAL Bronze in Badminton in 2012 Olympics Still playing, Saina Nehwal former world no.1 badminton player was the first Indian to win a medal in badminton, which she did at the London Olympics in 2012. She was the first Indian woman to become world number 1. 

She is the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships and was also the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament. She won silver at 2015 BWF World Championship, again becoming the first Indian to do so.

Saina Nehwal, Bronze in Badminton in 2012 Olympics

MARY KOM Bronze in boxing in 2012 Olympics Mary Kom is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning the bronze medal. 

She is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships and also become the first Indian woman boxer to get a Gold medal in the Asian Games in 2014 in South Korea. 

She has a biopic to her name where Bollywood diva Priyanka Chopra played her on screen. In April 2016, she was nominated by the President of India as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Mary Kom, Bronze in boxing in 2012 Olympics 

GAGAN NARANG Bronze in Shooting in 2012 Olympics
 Won the Bronze Medal in the Men's 10 m Air Rifle Event at the 2012 London Olympics. In August 2010, Narang had publicly expressed his displeasure after being ignored for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award thrice. 

He had had threatened to skip the 2010 Commonwealth Games due to lack of motivation. However he was persuaded otherwise and Narang was conferred with the Padma Shree Award in 2011.

Gagan Narang, Bronze in Shooting in 2012 Olympics 

YOGESHWAR DUTTA Bronze in wrestling in 2012 Olympics
 Won the Bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the Men's 60kg Freestyle wrestling. In 2003 he had won his first medal, a Gold in the Commonwealth Games 2003. 

He has suffered from aggravated physical injuries throughout his career. He was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2012 and the Padma Shri in 2013.