The Olympic Games have been a long and changing experience for India, a country with a rich social and athletic inheritance. Its history in the tournament is loaded with all kinds of emotions from disappointment to hope. This article examines the nation’s ups and downs and future in the competition.
Early Years and Initial Struggles of India’s Olympic Journey
India kick-started its journey in 1900 under British rule where Norman Pritchard became the first-ever athlete of the free country to participate in the competition. He competed in 5 athletic events and won two silver in 200 meters and 200 meters hurdles. However, after freedom, the nation found it challenging to secure a significant victory due to poor management and lack of resources.
The country sent its first official team to the competition in 1920. Purma Bannerjee became the first athlete to bear the flag of the free nation though the team could not win any medal.
The next most memorable season happened in 1928 when the national men’s hockey group won 6 gold medals consecutively till 1956. The nation did not perform well in other sports except wrestling in 1952 when Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav won a bronze medal.
The country’s decoration declined by the 1980s, as the country was managing a serious sports emergency. The primary issues of this fall were outdated preparation techniques, a lack of funds for competitors, and an absence of fitting grassroots improvement drives.
Another Day Break: Renaissance of India’s Olympic Journey
A significant defining moment happened in the mid-2000s. The athletes started to establish a connection with the world stage thanks to improved taxpayer-supported initiatives, business sponsorships, and brandishing offices. So let’s take a look at the most memorable achievements.
2008 in Beijing: The most memorable individual gold award in shooting was won by Abhinav Bindra, leaving a mark on the world.
2012 in London: Sushil Kumar (wrestling), Mary Kom (boxing), and Saina Nehwal (badminton) all made huge commitments to contribute to the best-ever six-award appearance.
2016 in Rio: Sakshi Malik won bronze in wrestling and P.V. Sindhu won silver in badminton, supporting their goals.
2020 in Tokyo (held in 2021): Neeraj Chopra became the most celebrated athlete after winning a gold in the javelin throw, giving the nation its most noteworthy performance.
2024 in Paris: Aman Sehrawat clinched bronze in wrestling.
Future Possibilities: The Street Ahead for India’s Olympic Journey
With various projects and youthful competitors creating across a scope of disciplines, the nation’s future is brilliant. Various youthful competitors are supposed to have a massive impact at the following Olympics and here is the list:
Neeraj Chopra: The defending gold medalist in the men’s javelin throw from Tokyo 2020. At the Paris 2024 edition, Chopra won a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw.
Mirabai Chanu: She won a silver medal in women’s weightlifting at the Tokyo 2020.
Sift Kaur Samra: She holds the record in women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Asian Games.
PV Sindhu: Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win two medals, a silver in 2016 and a bronze in 2020 in Tokyo.
Also Read: Why Are The Olympic Games Held After Every 4 Years?
