The two athletes were badminton player and world junior champion Saina Nehwal, who became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic bronze medal in the women's singles, and boxer Mary Kom, who lost to Great Britain's Nicola Adams in the semi-final match and received a bronze medal in the first ever women's flyweight event.

[11] India has been most successful in this category this year with Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumar winning bronze and silver medals respectively.

[16] Key: An unknown woman in civilian attire was seen walking at the head of the Indian Olympic team's march past during the Parade of Nations.

[24] Boxer Sumit Sangwan lost a closely contested bout 14–15 against Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino of Brazil in the light heavyweight category round of 32.

[25] India's acting chef-de-mission Brigadier P. K. M. Raja, on the insistence of Sports Minister Ajay Maken, lodged an unsuccessful appeal against the judges' decision believing he had won.

[27] The decision was overturned citing the nine holding fouls committed by the Indian boxer in the third round and for spitting out the gumshield intentionally.

India through its Acting Chef de Mission Brigadier PKM Raja approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)[28] but the appeal was rejected.

[29] Boxer Manoj Kumar lost his pre quarterfinal light welterweight bout against Great Britain's Tom Stalker in a controversial manner.

Prior to India's final group game, the Japanese partnership of Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa lost to Chinese Taipei's Cheng Wen Hsing and Chien Yu Chin.