India has grown immensely as a sporting nation since the country’s Independence. Indian athletes did very well in the recent Commonwealth Games. India won 61 medals and secured the 4th position in the medals tally. 

On the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, let’s have a look at some of the memorable moments from India’s sporting history. 

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Hockey Olympic Gold 

India won gold in the Men’s Hockey Olympics in 1948. This event was held soon after WWII, and India beat Great Britain to win the match. This was India’s first Gold, soon after Independence. This event still stands out as one of the landmark moments in Indian sporting history. 

India’s win in the 1983 Cricket World Cup 

India won the Cricket World Cup in 1983.  Eight countries including India participated in the tournament and it was held in England and Wales. India won the World Cup by defeating West Indies by 43 runs in the finals under the captaincy of Kapil Dev. 

India’s first Chess GrandMaster

Vishwanathan Anand is India’s first chess grandmaster and is considered one of the world’s greatest chess players. In 1985, he won the title of International Master and in 1988, he became the first-ever Grandmaster from India with a record of winning five world chess championships. 

Karnam Malleswari, the first Indian woman Olympic winner

Karnam Malleswari is the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Olympics of 2000. She won the bronze medal for weightlifting in the 69-kg category. She is also the recipient of various sporting honors like the Arjuna Award, Khel Ratna Award, and the Padma Shri.

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Abhinav Bindra’s first Gold medal in Shooting

Abhinav Bindra brought the first gold medal in an individual event at the Beijing Olympics. On August 11, 2008, he created history by scoring 10.8 on his last shot in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event. 

Neeraj Chopra’s Gold Medal in Olympics 

Neeraj Chopra is the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in Men’s Javelin throw. He made a Javelin throw of 87.58m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and became the first track and field athlete from the country to win an Olympic medal.