Neeraj Chopra Wins Second Olympic Gold, India Claims Historic 15-Medal Haul

Paris: Neeraj Chopra wrote his name in history books again on Sunday, launching the javelin to 92.5 metres to claim his second consecutive Olympic gold - the first Indian track-and-field athlete ever to defend an Olympic title.

PV Sindhu added a silver in badminton and Bajrang Punia a bronze in wrestling, contributing to India's unprecedented 15-medal total of three gold, seven silver, and five bronze.

Prime Minister Modi called each medallist personally, announcing a ₹25 lakh cash award for gold winners and ₹10 lakh for silver and bronze, in addition to government jobs and lifetime free train travel.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur attributed the performance surge to the Khelo India programme and the national coaching pipeline established after the 2020 Tokyo disappointments.

India's Gukesh Dommaraju also claimed a gold in rapid chess, an event making its debut at the Paris Games, rounding out a medal haul described by IOC President Thomas Bach as 'a turning point for Indian sport'.