On the occasion of the 77th Independence Day, let’s take a view on greatest achievement in sports by Indian sportsperson. We have seen enormous growth in sports with our great athletes and national teams proudly representing the country at the world’s major sporting events. Since its independence, India has evolved as a sporting superpower, carving a niche for itself with great exploits. There have been numerous magnificent moments in Indian sports history that are worth remembering and will be remembered for a long time. In the last seven decades, India has had many highs and lows. From World Cup victories to Olympic gold medals, Indians have been honoured all around the world, yet there have been instances when they have come up short on the losing side. Let’s take a look at the top 5 sporting achievements by India after August 15, 1947.
1) First Olympic medal, London Olympics 1948
A big achievement for Indian sports happened in 1948, just one year after Independence when the men’s hockey team won gold in London. It was a huge step forward for the nation, which was still healing from the wounds of partition in 1947, towards becoming a powerful country in the sphere of sports. 2) Abhinav Bindra Shoots Gold in Beijing OlympicsOne of India’s most priceless Olympic moments occurred in 2008, when Abhinav Bindra earned a historic gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle. The Indian shooter finished with a near-perfect 10.8, guaranteeing India’s first individual Olympic gold medal. 3) Indian cricket team winning the 1983, 2007 and 2011 World Cups
Many consider the 1983 Cricket World Cup in England to be India’s finest triumph. No one expected India to win the coveted title, and the Men in Blue were not even considered a contender for the knockouts. In the final, Kapil Dev and his devils defied all expectations, defeating the unbeatable West Indies squad led by Clive Llyod. This triumph marked the beginning of a new era in Indian sports, forever altering the landscape. Cricket became a household favourite, and this was the beginning of the emergence of our modern cricketing superstars.
MS Dhoni led India to the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, followed by the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
4) Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal in Javelin Throw, Tokyo Olympics 2020
With his gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at Tokyo 2020, Neeraj Chopra became India’s second individual Olympic winner after Abhinav Bindra. It was India’s first Olympic medal in track and field.
