Independence Day 2022: Images that define independent India's sporting history

From Sourav Ganguly's shirtless celebration to Kumble's broken jaw, there are several images that speak for themselves. And, here we are looking back at 10 images that have defined Indian Sporting history since the Independence.

India's 1st major sporting event

India hosted the first-ever Asian Games which took place in Delhi. The week-long event started on 4th March 1951. India stood 2nd in the marquee event and collected as many as 51 medals which included 15 gold, 16 silver, and 20 bronze.

Olympic Glory for New India

KD Jadhav brought home independent India's 1st ever Olympic medal. The Maharashtra-born star won the bronze medal in the Bantamweight category of wrestling at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.

India's 1st World Champion

Wilson Jones who won the World Amateur Billiards Championships in 1958 and 1964 was the first to win a world championship across sports in independent India. He was awarded Arjuna Award in 1963, Padma Shri in 1965, and the Guru Dronacharya award in 1996.

The Big Heartbreak

India’s first legend of the track, Flying Sikh Milkha Singh had missed out on a Bronze medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics by just 0.1s in the 400m race. Though he won at Commonwealth, and Asian Games and made multiple national records, the Olympic medal eluded him endlessly.

A new dawn in Indian cricket

Underdogs India defeated the legendary West Indies who entered the campaign as hot favourites and lifted their first-ever World Cup. The moment that changed Indian cricket forever.
Captain Kapil Dev received the trophy from Prince Charles.

A broken jaw - No problem!

Bowling with a broken jaw, Indian ace Anil Kumble dismissed Brian Lara in the Antigua Test in May 2002. On the following day, he underwent surgery for his jaw.

Shirtless Dada at Lord's

Sourav Ganguly took off his jersey, swung it in the air at Lord's, and celebrated the historic NatWest triumph against England. While the win was special, cricketers, management & audience were apparently allowed to maintain the dress code of Lord's. But, Dada flouted the norm as he celebrated the iconic victory in the most iconic way.

'India win the World Cup'

It took another 28 years for India to win another World Cup. In 2011, the MS Dhoni-led team defeated Sri Lanka to lift the trophy again. Team India dedicated the World Cup victory to 'God of Cricket' Sachin Tendulkar

Farewell, Little Master!

A billion Indians had tears in their eyes when Sachin Tendulkar walked out for one final time in Mumbai's Wankhede. Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket after his 200th Test which was against West Indies.

Bigger than 1983 triumph?

For the first time in the Thomas Cup's 73 years of existence, India were crowned the Champions. The Indian men's team defeated the 14-time winners Indonesia who were the 14-time winner