The past seven decades saw India going through lots of ups and downs. Be it its international status of first as a poor nation to now as the most powerful developing country or the wars it has been constantly fighting with its neighbours like China and Pakistan, India has indeed experienced some path-breaking moments in almost all the fields be it technology, nuclear science, economics or sports.
The country has struggled to create internationally dominating sports people but in the last few years, India has managed to attract global attention in this field too.
Won Olympics Gold Medal in Hockey
India won its first-ever gold medal in hockey in the 1948 Olympics held in London. India defeated England 2-1 to win its first gold after independence.
Football gained roots in India
While football is the most followed sport worldwide, in India it is still to get recognition at that level. But in some parts of the country especially in West Bengal football is the biggest sport. Surprisingly, the country bagged gold two times in the Asian Games held in 1951 and 1960.
First Indian to win Olympics medal
KD Jadhav became the first Indian athlete to win a medal at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 when he clinched a bronze medal in the bantamweight category giving the country the first Olympic medal in wrestling.
The Flying Sikh wins gold
Milkha Singh is one of the best athletes India has ever produced. He became a superstar after winning first gold at the Commonwealth Games in 1958 coming first in the 440 yards category.
Ramanathan Krishnan reached the semi-final of Wimbledon
Even today, tennis is not played by many Indians. Names like Sania Mirza or Leander Paes are there but very few. It was Ramanathan Krishnan who made the game known to many in India when he reached the semi-final of Wimbledon in 1960 and in 1961.
Prakash Padukone wins Badminton Championship
Although today he is known more as the father of Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, Prakash Padukone first shot into fame when he became the first Indian to win the England Open Badminton Championship in 1980.
India won World Cup in 1983
India’s win in the Cricket World Cup in 1983 has shaped the future of cricket in India and it won’t be an exaggeration to state that this win by the Kapil Dev-led team has inspired many Indians like Sachin Tendulkar to become a cricketer. Thereafter, India won the world cup again in 2011 and also the T-20 world cup.
When Vishwanathan Anand won World Championship
He was the first Indian to win a World Chess Championship in 2000 and has won it five times.
First gold for India in Olympics
While Vijender Singh was the first boxer to win a medal for India it was Abhinav Bindra who was the first ever Indian to win a gold at the Olympics in 2008. Later on, it was Neeraj Chopra who won another gold for India after a gap of more than a decade in the Javelin Throw in 2021.