When Indian Cricket Team won the 1983 Cricket World cup, the country celebrated in a chorus. Once my father is telling the story about how people are arranging the TV and batteries to see the live matches of the world cup. In villages, the scenario is that everyone is stuck to commentaries on the radio.
In the first article of this series, Read first five Indian Sports Achievements are elaborated.
After winning the 1983 World cup, Cricket as a sport is touching the heights but in other sports, we are struggling.
Next big milestone came in 2000 Olympics when Karnam Malleswari won the bronze medal in Weightlifting.
6. Olympics, Bronze Medal 2000 :
Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari wrote a new chapter in Indian sport as she became the first Indian woman to stand on an Olympic victor's podium.
Her bronze in the 69 kg category was the first medal for India at the Sydney Games. Six years ago, she had become the first Indian woman to win a world title in any sport.
In what was a stunning performance in the wake of recent reports of her form going down, Malleswari fought like a champion. The fact that she only recently moved up in her weight category had even led to many saying she was overweight and in no condition to compete.
In the end, it seems it all worked out as the 69 kg category had one of the weakest Chinese competitors. With the Bulgarian duo, Milena Trendafilova and Daniela Kunkelova also failing, the stage was set for Malleswari to find her place in the sun.
7. All England Badminton 2001 :
PULLELA GOPICHAND sprang one of the biggest surprises in the world's oldest tournament by becoming the first Indian in more than 20 years to win the Yonex All-England Open Championships.
The 10th seed was a slight favorite to beat Chen Hong but, by delivering such an emphatic 15-12, 15-6 victory after taxing wins over Olympic champion Ji Xinpeng and world No 1 Peter Gade, Gopichand's achievement will be long remembered.
8. Ist Afro Asian Games, 2003 :
The first Afro-Asian Games came to a close with a glittering finale in Hyderabad. President APJ Abdul Kalam was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Three golds in tennis, two in boxing and a memorable win against Pakistan in hockey on Friday helped India finish second behind China. India ended the games with 19 gold, 31 silver and 21 bronze for a total of highest 71 medals by any country.
9. Rathore's Silver Medal at Athens:
India won its first-ever silver medal in the individual event at the Olympics when its ace shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore struck it on the fourth day at the 28th Olympic Games in Athens bringing good news to millions of sports fans back home.
Shooter Rathore finished second in the final of the men's double-trap shooting event. Rathore scored 44 out of 50 in the final round. His score of 179 gave him the silver medal, India first individual silver ever at the Olympics.
10. Twenty20 World Cup Cricket, South Africa 2007 :
Team India snatched the inaugural Twenty20 world title after defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five runs in a rousing final on 24th September 2007 at South Africa.
The Indians, restricted to 157-5 after electing to take the first strike in good batting conditions, fought back to bowl out valiant Pakistan for 152 before a sellout crowd of 32,000 at the Wanderers.
11. One Gold and two Bronze Medals in Beijing 2008
12. XVI Asian Games Guangzhou 2010
13. XIX Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010
14. World Cup Cricket, India 2011
15. 2012 London Olympics, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals
For more information about the milestones, Stay tuned to "Sports Social Blog: Chase Your Sport".
