18 iconic images which define India's sporting history

Sports in India might not be the most desired of professions, but its achievements at the international stage is second to none. Despite facing financial and infrastructural barriers as compared to western countires, India has held its own to defy the odds and triumph atthe highest echelon of various sports.The countrys success is not just limited to the post independence period.Even before there was any prevalent media coverage, sportspersons were driving throughthe channels of success solely based on their passion to don the tri-colour.From 1900 to 2015. here are the moments, which helped define Indias sporting history till date.

#1 Norman Pritchard

Pritchard was India’s first ever Olympic medal winner

India’s first ever Olympic medal winner, Norman Pritchard won two silver medals at the 200m event and the 200m hurdles event. Pritchard would eventually move back to England in 1905, but not before kick-starting India’s Olympic journey.

#2 Indian hockey team

Six consecutive gold medals were won by the Indian national hockey team

When India was taking fledgling steps towards growing as a sporting nation, one sport helped them transition to a power-house – Hockey. From 1926 to 1956, India would go on to win every Olympic gold medal the sport had to offer. They would also win two gold medals from 1956-1980.

#3 Dhyan Chand scoring in the 1936 Berlin Olympics final

Arguably one of the best hockey players in the sport, Dhyan Chand was once asked by Adolf Hitler, after the 1936 Berlin Olympic on whether he would like to represent Germany. He promptly declined, but not before putting in a man of the match performance.

#4 K D Jadhav\'s bronze medal in 1952

K D Jadhav was Independent India’s first medallist

Jadhav became the first ever post independent Individual medallist for India, when he won the bronze medal in wrestling at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

#5 Milkha Singh at the 1960 Rome Olympics

Milkha Singh narrowly missed out on the bronze medal

No one expected a man from a tiny village in India to reach an Olympic final, but Milkha Singh did just that by reaching the final of the 1960 Olympics in Rome. However, there was to be heartbreak in the final, after leading the first 200m, Singh registered a time of 45.74, 0.1 seconds behind the bronze medallist.

#6 Prakash Padukone winning the All England Badminton Championship

Prakash Padukone was the number one ranked badminton player in the world

In 1980, little did India’s sporting landscape know that it was on the verge of producing a world champion. In 1980, Prakash Padukone defeated Liew Swie King from Indonesia to lift the most prestigious title in badminton. He became the first Indian to do so.

#7 India hosts first \'commercial\'

The 1982 Asian Games was a landmark event

India’s newly found Olympic Council of Asia announced itself with a grand opening to the 1982 Asian Games. The entire capital of New Delhi was revamped with sporting infrastructure and new roads. A total of 74 records were broken on the day.

#8 Indian cricket announces itself to the world

Kapil Dev lifting the 1983 cricket world cup

A cataclysmic event, which would go onto capture the imagination of India’s population was the 1983 Cricket World Cup victory. It came at a time, when India needed a sporting hero the most. A young team defeating the world’s finest is all that was needed to complete a fairy tale of sorts. Ever since, cricket has replaced hockey as the country’s most popular sport.

#9 P T Usha: Repeating the Milkha Singh feat

P T Usha, like Milkha Singh, missed out on the bronze medal by 0.1 seconds

Around two and a half decades, after Milkha Singh narrowly missed out on a medal, it was P T Usha’s turn to do the same. However, her feat of reaching the finals would make her the first ever Indian woman to do so in an Olympic event (400m).

#10 Leander Paes: The rise of an Indian tennis stalwart

Paes won the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics

India had to wait 44 years for an Indian to win another individual Olympic medal, little did we know that Leander Paes would change the face of Indian tennis. He won the bronze medal at the singles event in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, to announce his arrival to the tennis world.

#11 Abhinav Bindra: Shooting his way to Olympic Gold

Bindra shot a perfect score to win his gold medal

India’s first ever Olympic gold medal was won by Abhinav Bindra in the 2008 Beijing Olympics (10m air rifle). This would go onto inspire several shooters to take the sport seriously like Vijay Kumar, who won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

#12 2010 Commonwealth Games

2010 Delhi CWG was a marquee event for India

Despite several corruption charges levied on the organisers, the event not only gave the capital city of Delhi a much needed face-lift, but it also improved the standard of Indian sports. A total of 101 medals and 38 golds saw India finishing second, their best at the event.

#13 2011 Cricket world cup

India defended the title in their own backyard

Not only did India win the title, after a 28-year gap, they also did in front of a home crowd, which turned out in record numbers. Dhoni winning the Cup with a six at the end, highlighted the dominance of the team throughout the event.

#14 2011 Indian Grand Prix

2011 Grand Prix was a milestone for Indian motosport

Despite having several representatives in F1, India never managed to host an event. However, that dream came true on October 30, 2011, when the world’s best drivers came down to Noida to battle it out for Championship points. The race would continue till 2013, before being pulled out by the FIA citing bureaucratic indiscripencies in the country.

#15 Honorary mention: Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan winning the World Chess Championship

Anand won the world title a record 5 times, he held the position for two years from 200-2002, before winning it undisputedly in 2007. He retained the crown in 2008 and again in 2010. Truly, one of the most consistent champions in Indian sport.

Edited by Staff Editor