India’s Olympic journey is simply inspiring, from the initial days of competing under colonial rule to emerging as the national pride on the global stage. This journey is not just about the medals but also about the spirit of sports, aspects of grit in athletes, and dreams of a nation.
While we look back at what India has managed so far, we also look ahead and ponder over the future the country has in the world’s biggest and most high-definition sporting arena. For those who like to add a bit of excitement to their Olympic viewing experience, you can click here to bet on your favorite games, as well as athletes and events as India continues to strive for greatness on the global stage.
The Early Days
India participated in the Olympics for the first time in 1900 at the Paris Games. A British-Indian sportsman, Norman Pritchard, won two silver medals in athletics. The achievement was extraordinary at that time but did not do much for the Indian people. The wish to love the Olympics only started in 1928 when they won their first gold medal in field hockey.
The golden era of Indian hockey started with the 1928 Amsterdam Games. New Olympic glory followed swiftly for the Indian men in hockey as they romped to six consecutive golds between 1928 and 1956 in three decades. This period was not just proved to be an era portraying India as a threat but an entity of pride and self-identity for the nation. The likes of legends like Dhyan Chand still seem to be almost deified and nostalgically longed for by sports fans in general.
After-Independence Challenges
The year 1947 was a new beginning for India. India played in the Olympics as an independent nation, and the aspirations of the country to clinch medals in the tournament increased manifold.
That time was not that smooth for Indian athletics, though. The country’s dominance in field hockey started to fade, and in other sports, it was not able to leave its mark. The drought of medals in the Olympics became a huge concern and invariably led to a debate about the status of sports within the country.
The Turnaround
The 21st century finally saw a twist in India’s Olympic fortunes. In the Games of the XXVII Olympiad held in Sydney in the year 2000, lifter Karnam Malleswari scaled her way to a bronze, which in turn made it possible for India to see, for the first time, an Indian woman on the Olympic medal podium.
The eureka moment came in 2008, when Abhinav Bindra, the shooter, shot his way into fame by winning the first individual gold medal in the 10m air rifle category in the Beijing Olympics. The win was truly a game-changer that stated the message that an Indian sportsperson could not only just rub shoulders with the world’s best but even upstage them.
It was followed by a continuous volley of medals in the subsequent Olympics by the likes of Sushil Kumar, Vijender Singh, Mary Kom, and P.V. Sindhu, all household names.
The Road Forward
India was hopeful of glory amidst victory. The government also went into overdrive preparation of more sports facilities, enhanced training activities along with different sports bodies, and initiated sporting activities at the grassroots. The Khelo India program and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) are also meant to identify and groom young talents to give them the resources and support those at the very top level.
But much remains to be done. Whenever India’s performance in the Olympics is placed against its more than a billion population, this has the most debated talk of inculcating a sports culture in the country. As usual, performance is highlighted due to academic achievement, resulting in an automatic relegation in sports. There is a need for a change in the sports culture in India.
Besides, there is a strong case to shift sports like athletics, swimming, and gymnastics—where, as a general rule, India has done poorly—into the fast lane. All these do offer plenty of medals, and in case the disciplined grooming is channelized accurately, then the day is not far off when India will increase its medal tally many notches higher.
A Journey of Hope and Determination
The journey of Indian sports at the Olympics reflects persistence and determination on the part of its athletes. The road from the era of early struggles all the way to the recent successes could very well be long, yet the progress is vivid. With every next Olympics, one can only look forward to a much better generation of athletes setting the bar once higher, bringing more glory to the country.
