India at the 2016 Summer Olympics — Participation of India in the 2016 Summer Olympics
India sent 117 athletes to Rio 2016, winning two medals both by women, marking the first time all Olympic medals were won by female athletes.
Key Facts
- Total athletes
- 117 (63 men, 54 women)
- Sports represented
- 15
- Total medals won
- 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze)
- P. V. Sindhu achievement
- First Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal
- Sakshi Malik achievement
- First female wrestler from India to win an Olympic medal
- Leander Paes
- Competed at a record seventh Olympics
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
India qualified a historically large delegation for Rio 2016, boosted by the return of the women's field hockey team after 36 years, a surge in track and field qualifiers, and debut appearances in golf and women's artistic gymnastics, reflecting expanded investment and development in Indian sport.
India competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro from 5 to 21 August 2016, fielding 117 athletes across 15 sports. Notable participants included flag bearer Abhinav Bindra, seven-time Olympian Leander Paes, gymnast Dipa Karmakar, and badminton player P. V. Sindhu, who reached the women's singles final.
India concluded the Games with two medals, both won by women for the first time in the nation's Olympic history. P. V. Sindhu took silver in badminton and Sakshi Malik claimed bronze in freestyle wrestling, while Indian shooters and boxers failed to medal for the first time since 2004 and 2008 respectively.