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Follow UsPARIS OLYMPICS 2024
India's gold dreams at the Paris Olympics 2024 were dashed as Neeraj Chopra settled for silver in the javelin throw final. However, the name 'India' made waves in a surprising turn of events in the sport of Breaking. Contrary to initial impressions, 'India' is not an Indian athlete but 18-year-old India Sardjoe from The Hague, Netherlands.
Competing under the stage name 'India', she made headlines by defeating B-girl Talash from the refugee team in the opening match of the women's Breaking event. Sardjoe, who was placed in Group A alongside competitors from China, the United States, and Portugal, went on to become the first-ever winner of a breaking battle at the Olympics.
India Sardjoe, who began her journey in football before transitioning to hip-hop and eventually breakdancing, won the Dutch national championship in the Under 12 category at just 10 years old. By 2022, she had clinched titles as Dutch, European, and world champion within a mere six months.
The confusion over India's involvement in Breaking at the Paris Olympics has been clarified. The country fielded 117 athletes across various sports and brought home six medals—five bronze and one silver.
The Breaking competitors at the Paris Olympics 2024 included teams from Canada, Japan, France, Lithuania, China, and the United States. Breaking, a dynamic dance style originating from 1970s hip-hop culture in the Bronx, New York, was introduced at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games and made its Olympic debut in Paris 2024.
Ms. Sardjoe highlighted the significance of her achievement, noting, “It’s a highlight for the Breaking world that Breaking is featured in the Olympics for the first time.”