On India’s 78th Independence Day, let’s revisit 10 such instances when Indian athletes made a mark at the Olympic stage.
Thursday marks 78th anniversary of Indian Independence. In the past seven decades, there have been quite a few occasions when Indian athletes waved the Tricolour high at the Olympics. From India’s first Olympic medal as an independent nation in 1948 Games to first-ever Olympic medal for the country in an individual event in 1952 to Abhinav Bindra becoming India’s first-ever individual Olympics gold medallist, there have been several instances where Indian athletes stood tall. India.com revisits 10 such instances on Independence Day.
1948: India’s first Olympic Gold Post Independence
Before 1948, the Indian men’s hockey team were already champions at Olympics with three gold medals. But the victory in 1948 Summer Games in London will always remain special as it was India;s first Olympics gold post-independence. After winning all their round-robin games, India defeated Netherlands in the semifinal to set a epic finale against Great Britain. At the Wembley in final, India rode on Balbir Singh Dosanjh’s brace to record a thumping 4-0 victory.
1952: KD Jadhav Wins India’s First Individual Olympic Medal
Four years after India’s historic Olympic hockey triumph in London, KD Jadhav won a bronze medal in men’s freestyle bantamweight wrestling competition – India’s first-ever medal in an individual event at the Olympics. He defeated Japanese Shohachi Ishii in the medal round.
1956: So Near Yet So Far For Indian Football
The Indian football team competed at the Olympics only four times and the closest they came to a medal was in 1956 in Melbourne. Before the final draw, five of the 16 qualified teams withdrew, thus making it a bit easier for India who went through the quarterfinals without any sweat. In the last eight, India defeated Australia 4-2 to enter the semifinals. However, India lost to Yugoslavia 1-4 in the semifinals to be pitted against Bulgaria in the bronze medal match. India lost to Bulgaria 0-3.
1980: India’s Last Olympic Hockey Gold
The 1980 Olympics in Russia was the last time India had won a hockey gold medal at the Summer Games. India entered the final by the virtue of their second-place finish after the round-robin stage. In the final, India defeated Spain 4-3.
1984: PT Usha Finishes Fourth In Los Angeles
Referred as Payyoli Express, PT Usha was so near yet so far when she narrowly missed on a medal at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by finishing fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles final. She missed on the bronze medal by just 1/100th of a second to Cristieana Cojocaru of Romania.
1980s :: P.T.Usha , Udan Pari of India
In 1984 Los Angeles Olympics P.T Usha Lost Bronze Medal by 1/100 Second In Photo Finish In 400 M Hurdles Final pic.twitter.com/RJp3ZtZmp6
— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) August 7, 2021
1960: Milkha Singh Pays Price
Milkha Singh will be best remembered for his fourth-place finish at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Starting as one of the favourites in the final of men’s 400m, the Indian led the race till the 200m mark before easing off to eventually finish fourth.
2000: Karnam Malleswari Scripts History
Karnam Malleswari is a driving force for all Indian females in the country who took up sports as a career. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Malleswari lifted 110kg in snatch and 130kg to grab a bronze in the women’s 69kg event. She became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal and also the first Indian weightlifter – male or female – to win an Olympic medal.
2008: Abhinav ‘Gold’ Bindra
Abhinav Bindra brought India into the global map when he won the country’s first-ever individual gold medal at the Olympics in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event. Bindra was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order by the International Olympic Council (IOC) at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris.
2020: Neeraj Chopra’s Golden Arm
Neeraj Chopra scripted history at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when he threw his spear to a distance of 87.58m to become India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medallist in athletics and second after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the sports’ grandest stage.
Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I’ve always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country 🇮🇳 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8U6sHOLulR
— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) July 30, 2024
2024: Double Delight For Manu Bhaker
After her a equipment malfunction at the Tokyo Olympics, shooter Manu Bhaker etched her name in the history of Indian sports, by becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal. She won bronze in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event before winning another bronze two days later in the mixed 10m Air Pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh. With this feat, she also became the first Indian post-Independence to win two medals in a single Olympics.