The history of sports in India dates back to the Vedic era. Physical culture in ancient India was fuelled by religious rights. The mantra in the Atharvaveda, says, "Duty is in my right hand and the fruits of victory in my left." In terms of an ideal, these words hold the same sentiments as the traditional Olympic Oath: "For the Honour of my Country and the Glory of Sport."
In the history of Indian sports development, India has achieved some milestones in those moments we celebrated as a nation, stood in unity and restored the confidence in us.
List of most important milestones in the history of Indian sports development:
1. 1st Asian Games 1951 -
The Second World War had ended and Asia experienced a new awakening. The collapse of colonialism generated an upsurge and thrust for freedom, friendship, and fraternity among the peoples of Asia. It happened when the Asian Relations Conference took place in New Delhi. Prof. Guru Dutt Sondhi felt that this might be a good time to invoke the cooperation of other Asian leaders in the new sports venture, Which is currently we know as “Asian Games”.
2. Olympics Bronze Medal, Helsinki 1952:
Shri Khashaba Jadhav had represented the country in the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games and created a history in 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games in Wrestling. It was difficult for him to adjust to the mat surface & after two fouls he has to satisfy with Bronze Medal. But an Olympic medal is an Olympic medal and first is always special.
3. World Cup Hockey, Malaysia 1975:
India won the hockey World Cup for the first time in 1975.
The much neglected Aslam Sher Khan saved the day for the Indians in the semi-final against the massively supported Malaysians. Then came the hour of reckoning - the showdown for the World Cup with none other than the traditional rival Pakistan. Surjeet Singh slammed in a penalty corner for the desperately sought equalizer, while the enormously gifted son of Hockey Wizard Dhyan Chand scored the World Cup-winning goal. It was probably Indian hockey's finest hour. India had conquered the World
4. IX Asian Games, New Delhi 1982:
The sports world was astounded and Asia was thrilled by the magnificent staging of the IX Asian Games in New Delhi from November 19 to December 4, 1982. More than a million people jam-packed the seventeen sports venues each day, to applaud the 4,595 young sportsmen and women, from 33 countries, who competed in the biggest Asiad ever, since the inception of the Asian Games, thirty-one years ago.
India placed 5th. The host country won 13 gold, 19 silver, and 25 bronze in an overall total of 57 medals.
5. World Cup Cricket, England, 1983:
The Indians in this tournament showed that they had mastered the one-day game, bowling tightly, fielding better than any Indian team in the past, and never giving up. Binny with 18 (still a record for most wickets in a World Cup tournament), and Madan Lal with 17 wickets were their leading bowlers, and Kapil Dev topped the batting averages. Overall Gower, Richards, and Fowler were the most successful batsmen, all with over 350 runs, and averages in the 70s.
6. Olympics, Bronze Medal 2000
7. All England Badminton 2001
8. Ist Afro Asian Games, 2003
9. Rathore's Silver Medal at Athens
10. Twenty20 World Cup Cricket, South Africa 2007
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 information about the milestones, Stay tuned to "Chase Your Sport: Sports Social Blog".
