Historically, India is the strongest nation in men's Olympic hockey, winning 11 medals between 1928 and 1980, including a record eight gold medals, and the sport has dominated the country's Olympic successes over the years. It had an exclusive hold on Olympic hockey tournaments between the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, Netherlands and the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, winning a remarkable six consecutive gold medals and remaining undefeated in 30 matches during this golden period. In recent times however India has not done so well and hasn't won another hockey medal since taking gold at the 1980 Games in Moscow, Soviet Union. Compounding the decline, India's men missed qualification for the 2008 Games, the first time it had failed to do so in 88 years.

In events away from the hockey pitch, highlights have been rare. It wasn't until the 1952 Games in Helsinki, Finland that freestyle wrestler Kha-Shaba Jadav earned the country its first non-hockey Olympic medal, a bronze in the 60kg division, and it wasn't for another 44 years after that before tennis player Leander Paes earned the country another bronze in the men's singles event at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, United States.

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari became India's first female Olympic medallist when she won bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia. Shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who won silver in the double trap event at the 2004 Games in Athens. India wins first ever individual Gold at Olympics - Abhinav Bindra in 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Games in China. Sushil Kumar won a bronze medal in men's 66kg freestyle wrestling at the Beijing 2008 Games in China.Vijender Kumar won a bronze medal in Men's 75 kg category Boxing at the Beijing 2008 Games in China.