5 of the greatest achievements by Indians at the Commonwealth Games

Indians athletes set the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on fire. They bettered their performance in the 2014 Games in Glasgow and finished third in the medals' tally.

India has had a long and illustrious association with the Games that begun way back in 1934. There are certain moments when India's athletes scripted a new chapter in sporting history and claimed success against overwhelming odds.

We take a look at a few of these occasions which inspired a generation.

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#1 Milkha Singh wins gold in 1958

It is befitting that the greatest athlete India has produced till date won India's first gold medal as an independent nation at the Commonwealth Games, then still known as the British Empire Commonwealth Games, a nomenclature that signified the colonial legacy of the event.

That year, the event was held in Cardiff, Wales, and Milkha won gold in the 400m (440 yards) event at a blistering pace, giving his opponents no chance.

Milkha had already broken two national records that year and won easily at the Asian Games; this victory was the icing on the cake. India's next individual gold in track and field at CWG came only in 2010, through Krishna Poonia.

#2 Saina Nehwal strikes gold in 2010, Kashyap in 2014

Saina Nehwal

Some would rate Prakash Padukone's 1978 gold as a bigger achievement and rightly so. But India's rise as a true badminton superpower was signalled by the twin gold in singles that Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap won in two consecutive Commonwealth Games. Since then, India's ascent in the sport has been meteoric.

While Saina saved a match point to beat Wong Mew Choo, coming from behind in an epic final at Siri Fort in New Delhi, Kashyap played out of his skin in Glasgow, winning the final against Derek Wong of Singapore.

India had won the men's singles gold after 32 years since Syed Modi's victory. A new generation had been inspired by the twin triumphs of Nehwal and Kashyap.

#3 Rashid Anwar wins bronze in 1934, India claim first medal

Rashid Anwar in practice.

In 1934, India was still colonized by the British and battling for freedom. The Commonwealth Games was called the British Empire Games and was a show of British might and the greatness of the empire.

An athlete from an impoverished, subjugated nation rose against all odds to win a medal. The name is Rashid Anwar, a wrestler participating in the welterweight category.

Details about his performance vary, but what we know for certain is that he made Indians proud when no one gave him a chance. A legacy in wrestling was created and India remains a global powerhouse in the sport.

#4 Krishna Poonia ends long wait for gold in athletics

Krishna Poonia

The 2010 Commonwealth Games was hosted by India, however, a truly momentous occasion for Indian sports was tainted by allegations of corruption in the build-up.

The Games itself was a success and Indian athletes put up a stellar show, none more than Krishna Poonia, who defeated all odds to win gold in the women's discus throw, leading an Indian clean sweep with a throw of 61.5 meters.

This is a remarkable achievement because not since Milkha Singh had India won an individual gold in track and field event at CWG, a wait of more than 50 years!

#5 Women power in Gold Coast TT

Manika Batra

The Singapore women paddlers had never lost since the sport was introduced into the Games in 2002. Their women's team had won four straight gold medals in four editions and were the defending champions. This did not deter the Indian ladies who pulled off an unprecedented triumph in the final matches.

Manika Batra was the wrecker-in-chief, defeating world No. 4 Feng Tanwei as well as Zhou Yihan, as Mouma Das and co. clinched a truly historic triumph.

The two teamed up for another outstanding performance later, winning a silver in the women's doubles and showing how far India have come in the sport.

However, the icing on the cake was Batra claiming gold in the women's singles match after decimating Singapore's Mengyu Yu. This was clearly the dawn of a new era in Indian table tennis as Batra, in the form of her life, became the first woman to win gold for India in the singles table tennis event at the Commonwealth Games.

This was possibly the standout performance by an Indian at this year's games, amidst so many highs, that is no mean feat.

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Honorable mention in 2018

15-year-old shooter Anish Banwala scripted history by becoming the country's youngest ever gold medallist while 35-year-old Mary Kom scripted a remarkable comeback by winning gold in the 45-48 kg category.