Independence Day 2023: Know how sports changed India’s position in world arena

After India’s independence on August 15, 1947, the country achieved its first glory in sports during the London Olympics in the very next year. For a newly independent India, the London Olympic Games of 1948 was much more than a mere sporting event. The event was a great opportunity for the nation to showcase itself as a successful sporting nation. It was also a platform for an infant politically free nation to compete with its former ruler and give vent to years of frustration and discontent. 

Using the platform to its optimum potential, the Indian hockey team won its fourth straight Olympic gold. They had already won top honours at Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936. The golden journey of Indian hockey continued in Olympics until 1964. However, there was a brief silver interlude in 1960, when India had to lose the top spot to arch-rivals Pakistan.

India’s Dominance in Hockey & Cricket

If it was hockey in 1948, it was cricket’s turn in 1971 and 1983. The year 1971 was the foundation on which the present superstructure of Indian cricket was built. It allowed the Indians to believe in Little Master Sunil Gavaskar’s sacrifices and successes. It also inspired Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar to play the game. The victory against England against all odds in 1971 was arguably the best-ever triumph in the history of Indian Test cricket.

If 1971 was the foundation, 1983 was the superstructure. On June 25, 1983, Indian cricket changed forever. The sport was transformed into a lucrative career option and cricketers turned into national icons. Nothing can compare with India’s Prudential Cup victory on June 25, 1983, which altered the face of Indian cricket for all time. It also affected the overall sports arena in the country to a great extent.

The victory paved the way for corporate sponsors to invest in the sport, as they anticipated rich dividends. It gave the media an opportunity to hype sports. The realisation that playing sports could bring fame and money encouraged families. As a result, they motivated their children to pursue sports as a serious career option. 

While it was all about team sports before 2000, the new millennium brought new promise for Indian individual sport. Especially, two defining moments helped Indian sport transform up to a great deal. It was shooter Abhinav Bindra’s feat in 2008 and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s grand success in 2021.

Abhinav Bindra’s Gold Medal in Beijing Olympics

Bindra’s gold medal triumph in Beijing Olympics 2008 suddenly awakened the country to the significance of the Olympics as a great sporting extravaganza. Indian sportspersons realised that they could win Olympic medals as well. It helped satisfy a national yearning for success in sports. In the process, it also made a statement about the significance of sport in an era of escalating political turmoil. For the very first time in Indian Olympic history, the media appropriated this victory in a manner associated commonly with cricket.

Moreover, with Bindra going on to add an Asian Games silver in 2010, a CWG gold in 2014 and two more medals at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon in 2014, the development unleashed a revolution of sorts in individual sports in the country.

Neeraj Chopra’s Gold Medal in Tokyo Olympics

Independent India had never won any medal in track and field events in the Olympics. After the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 due to Covid-19, when it started the next year, sailing and soaring through the sky, Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra’s javelin landed at 87.58m and the moment got recorded forever in India’s sporting history as it was enough to get India its first ever podium finish in athletics at Olympics. Neeraj clinched the gold to make history for India.

Neeraj’s feat in the Olympics has encouraged many more to take up athletics. Indians have now started to believe that they can win in athletics on the global stage. With Neeraj’s legacy, the Indian sporting revolution has reached such a height from where things can only get better and better in future.