New Delhi: While India haven’t had consistent top-level success since Independence but have churned out quite a number of sporting heroes.
With India claiming six medals (five bronze and a silver), let’s take a look at the 10 foremost sporting heroes, who have achieved success in the international stage for the country.
Neeraj Chopra
He might have fallen just short of defending his javelin crown at Paris Olympics, but Chopra remains the golden boy of Indian athletics.
The man who has the ‘golden arm’, Chopra created history by becoming the first Indian track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, following it with a silver at Paris 2024.
The reigning World champion, Diamond League winner, two-time defending champion at Asian Games, former CWG gold medal winner, the consistent Chopra has won all major trophies in track and field and has been often been dubbed the greatest athletics star the country has ever produced.
Milkha Singh
Much before the arrival of Chopra, Milkha Singh was deemed to India’s finest athlete.
The ‘Flying Sikh’ burned the track in the 200m and 400m races, famously finishing fourth at 1960 Rome Olympics with a timing of 45.73s that remained a national record for four decades.
India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medallist (440-yard win at Cardiff 1958), the late Singh won gold in 200m and 400m at 1958 Asian Games, defending his 200m title in Jakarta four years later while being at the top of the podium with the men’s 4x400m relay team.
Prakash Padukone
He might be in the headlines for his blunt of assessment of India’s medalless badminton campaign at Paris 2024. But it also brought into focus the achievements of Padukone on the badminton court.
The first Indian to win the prestigious All England title, considered the unofficial world championships, in 1980 and become the World No.1, breaking the glass ceiling for a sport that was born in India.
PV Sindhu
With a silver medal at Rio 2016 followed by a bronze at Tokyo 2020 with a World Championships gold in between them in 2019, PV Sindhu is undoubtedly the most successful Indian shuttler in major events.
Sunil Chhetri
Miles India are miles away from the top in football, Sunil Chhetri’s name has consistently cropped up in the most prolific international scorers’ list along side bonafide legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo till his retirement from international football in June with 94 goals in 151 matches, an Indian record.
Mary Kom
Mary Kom never won an Olympic gold but that hardly diminishes her aura as she remains a six-time world champion who rose from humble surroundings of Manipur to global stardom. She is an extraordinary tale of resilience and determination.
Sushil Kumar
The first and so far the only Indian to win World Wrestling Championships gold, Sushil entered the country’s sporting folklore when he claimed bronze and silver in the 66kg category at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 respectively.
Sachin Tendulkar
Famed for carrying India’s hopes on his shoulders single-handedly for years in the 1990s, Sachin Tendulkar remains the highest run scorer in Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426).
Regarded as one of cricket’s finest ever, Tendulkar is the only batter to have scored a century of centuries and has totalled 2278 runs in six ODI World Cups, both records.
Kapil Dev
Before his arrival in the Indian cricket team in 1978, the job of the pacers was just to wean the polish of the ball. But not only did he change that to become the highest wicket taker in Test cricket with 434 scalps in 1994, he also led the team to an unlikely victory in the 1983 ODI World Cup against the mighty West Indies.
Leander Paes
Former World No.1 in doubles, Leander Paes won 18 Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles and mixed doubles, holding the record for most victories in doubles in Davis Cup (43). His career has also the glitter of an Olympic bronze medal at Atlanta 19996, which made him India’s first individual medallist since 1952 and ended the country’s barren run of 16 years without a medal.
A look at India’s 10 foremost sporting heroes, who have achieved success in the international stage for the country. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
