This Independence Day, we celebrate ten historic moments when Indian sports achieved glory, from India's first Olympic medal in 1948 to Prakash Padukone’s All England Championship win in 1980. Published: August 15, 2024 7:00 AM IST By Edited by Seventy years back, on 15 August 1947, India got freedom from the ‘Rule of the British’. Since then, the country has covered a lengthy path, struggling through a lot of hindrances, to stand on the doorsteps of glory.
Time and again, in those phases of communal turmoil, sports made its presence felt as a strong bond, binding the nation as one. The games have silently evolved into becoming a source of immense joy and a prideful feeling of patriotism for the entire nation. This Independence Day, let’s glance into ten times the entire country tasted victory and glory.
The Indian hockey team won three gold medals at the Olympic Games before 1948 but India was a British Colony at tat time. The 1948 Olympics in London became the first occasion when India won its first medal as an Independent nation. The grit and determination was at it’s peak as the side won all their games and then edged out great Netherlands by 2-1 in the semi-final clash to make their place in the final.
In the final, India locked horns with Great Britain at Webley, where Balbir Singh’s beautiful brace helped the side to ace the final by 4-0. India was looking to dominate other disciplines as well other than hockey where country got success in making a niche fo.