After a historic 4th-place finish in Hangzhou 2023 with 107 medals, Team India is struggling to replicate that glory; with just 4 golds in 10 days and sitting at 12th in the medal table. The worrying part? Out of 16 gold-medal events from 2023, India has already failed to defend 11; including big names like Neeraj Chopra (javelin), shot put, and multiple shooting disciplines. Even though cricket, kabaddi, and air pistol mixed team delivered, the gaps in athletics and shooting are glaring. Experts are now asking: Was Hangzhou 2023 a peak; or a fluke? With 14 more gold events still to go, is a comeback possible; or is this the beginning of a deeper crisis in India’s Olympic pipeline? The next 72 hours could tell us a lot.