This month, let’s recall India’s major firsts across various sports
79 years ago, India achieved its freedom from the British Raj on August 15. Since achieving independence, India has made significant progress in various areas, including geopolitics, trade, economy, industrialisation, defence, movies, and even sports.
As we celebrate the country’s Independence Day, let us recall India’s major firsts across sports.
Let us begin the Olympic Games, as this is where India first achieved glory in sports, long before the nation became a cricket-crazy nation. The Indian hockey team gave India its first gold in the 1948 edition, followed by K.D. Jadhav’s medal in Helsinki, which was India’s first individual medal. Leander Paes won the country’s first medal in tennis, Karnam Malleswari earned the first medal as a woman, and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore started a shooting revolution with his silver.
Abhinav Bindra won India’s first gold, and in 2021, Neeraj Chopra finally earned India’s first gold in a track and field event (javelin). Meanwhile, India recorded its best medal total of seven in 2020.
In cricket, India has no dearth of achievements. It all started with India's World Cup victory in 1983, followed by the Champions Trophy in 2002. In 2007, India won the inaugural T20 World Cup. In total, India has won seven ICC trophies, showcasing the nation’s journey from being an underdog to a dominant force in cricket.
(Credit- The Bridge)
The current state of Indian football can be described as dire at the moment. However, when the country had achieved its freedom, Indian football enjoyed a golden period under manager Syed Abdul Rahim. The team won its first Asian Games in 1951, followed by another in 1962. India also reached the semifinals in the Olympics in Melbourne in 1956 and in the AFC Asian Cup, finishing as the runner-up in 1964.
(Credit - MensXP)
After cricket, hockey is another game where India has registered consistent victories. The hockey team won its first major trophy, i.e., a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics, whereas the nation won its first World Cup in 1975. India registered its first Asian Games victory in 1966, followed by the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy in 2003 and 2011, respectively.
Leander Paes started a revolution with India’s first medal in the Olympics, followed by Mahesh Bhupati, who became India’s first Grand Slam winner in mixed doubles at the French Open. Sania Mirza took the game forward for women by winning the first WTA tournament. India has also won other Opens in mixed and doubles categories, but an individual Open victory remains unscripted.
(Credit- Live Mint)
India has achieved several accolades in badminton. In terms of major firsts, Prakash Padukone and Saina Nehwal were the first male and female to grab the world no. 1 spot in their respective gender categories. Saina Nehwal was the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton, whereas P.V. Sindhu was the first Indian to become a world champion.
(Credit – RCB)
In 79 years, India has achieved multiple accolades in various sports, including motorsports, kabaddi, and chess. However, the country still has a long way to go in becoming a dominant nation in sports other than cricket and hockey.
