India at the Olympics

The Beginning

Most of us know India as a diverse country with its diverse culture. So is our presence at the Olympics. Most of us who are unaware of the beginning of Indian participation at the Olympics would think that the summer of 1948 was supposedly our first appearance. To your very awareness we first showed our appearance at the Olympics in 1900. We first embarked our way at the Olympics with a British national who was born in India named “NORMAN PRITCHARD “ . In addition, he was the first Asian to win a medal at the Olympics. As we found our way to the Olympics we participated in several formats including the “Summer Olympics” , the “Winter Olympics” and the “YOG(Youth Olympic Games) & Paralympics”. As we were just beginners we did not possess the assets to send a whole team to compete at the Olympics until 1920.

The Change

It was until 1920 that we had not sent a team to the Olympics but our country was ready to expedite the change which beheld several powerful names that fueled the process and cause.  “Sir Dohrabji Tata” and “George Lloyd ” (the governor of Bombay) were the powerful names behind the progress and process of securing a spot for the Indian team. There forth we sent our team to the 1920’s Olympics. The team consisted of “two wrestlers”,  “three athletes” (Purma Bannerjee (100m and 400m), Phadeppa Chaugule (10000m and marathon), Sadashiv Datar (marathon), Kumar Navale and Dinkkarao Shinde (both wrestling)) and the two managers namely “Sohrab Bhoot” and “A.H.A Fyzee”. Although our team did not win any medals, it was still a great accomplishment to reach the milestone of forming a team. It was  this historical moment of improvement that led to several moments of pride and struggle.

Struggles and movements

After the Antwerp Olympics, we headed on to making massive progress by holding several domestic and national level sports to form a better team. The prominent names involved in building the association were Dorabji Tata, A.G. Noehren (Madras College of Physical Education), H.C. Buck (Madras College of Physical Education), Moinul Haq (Bihar sports associations), S. Bhoot (Bombay Olympic Association), A.S. Bhagwat (Deccan Gymkhana), and Guru Dutt Sondhi (Punjab Olympic Association); Lt. Col H.L.O. Garrett (from the Government College Lahore and Punjab Olympic Association) and Sagnik Poddar (of St. Stephen’s School). A provisional committee was formed by 1923. Now it was time for the 1924’s Olympics and India had its team of “ 7 athletes” and  “ 7 tennis players” along with their manager Harry buck ready to set goals for the future. The 1924’s Olympics was also the very first Winter Olympics. Unfortunately for India it was again a year of disappointment but as an individual  India had now achieved a better system and support to carry on the journey of betterment at the Olympics. As in 1927  the provisional Indian Olympic Committee formally became the Indian Olympic Association.

We Indians for a fact are crazy cricket fans. Whereas our Olympics hockey team equally deserved the love and support as they were the actual heroes of Olympics. Their journey is an inspiring one. The Indian hockey team is considered as one of the most successful teams not just  at the Olympics but also at the Asian games. The team first participated in the 1928’s Olympics. The Indian hockey team won a gold medal in 1928 and kept on winning for the next 8 Olympics namely in the year 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980. The team has won about 12 medals in total, which includes  8 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. The beautiful golden history is something to be proud of. 

The independent India

Our independent history speaks of fights, struggles, conquer and loses. There are several famous and underrated  personalities who participated, worked hard and acquired the pride to wear those medals. Several such names consist of names like: wrestler K. D. Jadhav, Jarema Stanisław Bujakowski (a Polish–Indian alpine skier), Tennis player Leander Paes, Karnam Malleswari, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Abhinav Bindra, Vijender Singh, Wrestler Sushil Kumar, Saina Nehwal,  Mary Kom, Gagan Narang,  Vijay Kumar, Sakshi Malik, P. V. Sindhu,  Saikhom, Mirabai Chanu, Neeraj Chopra,  Ravi Kumar Dahiya,  Bajrang Punia and so many other great names have made us proud.