In which Olympic Games did Leander Paes win a bronze medal in tennis?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Answer: 1996 Atlanta.
Explanation —
Indian tennis legend Leander Paes created history by winning a bronze medal in the men's singles event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. This marked India's first achievement of winning an individual Olympic medal since 1952. Paes defeated Brazil's Fernando Meligeni in the bronze-medal match. This medal was a watershed moment for Indian tennis, generating immense enthusiasm for the sport across the country. Leander Paes is also the only Indian and the first tennis player in the world to have participated in seven consecutive Olympic Games (1992–2016).
Additional Points —
1992 Barcelona: Paes made his Olympic debut in the doubles event alongside Ramesh Krishnan.
2000 Sydney: Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal in weightlifting, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.
2004 Athens: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won a silver medal in shooting, marking independent India's first individual silver medal.
Potential Exam Questions & Answers —
Question: Who was the first athlete from independent India to win an individual Olympic medal?
Answer: K.D. Jadhav (1952 Helsinki Olympics, Wrestling).
Question: In which year was Leander Paes conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) award?
Answer: In the year 1996–97.