We look back at the medal winners for India in the history of Olympic Games!
With the summer Olympics slated to begin from July 24 in Paris, we look back at the history of India in the Olympic Games, a story of courage, talent, and, of course, inspiration.
We will look at the accomplishments of the medal winners, beginning with the first seven Olympic medals. From Norman Pritchard's early attempts to the men's field hockey team’s domination and Khashaba Jadhav's prowess, the building blocks of India's Olympic history were laid.
Norman Pritchard, first Indian to win an Olympic medal.
Photo Credit: Olympedia.org/historical picture collection of Knut Gulbrandsen
- Norman Pritchard (1900 Paris Olympics)- 2 Silvers.
Norman Pritchard, an Anglo-Indian, was the first Indian to win an Olympic medal. Pritchard, who took part in the 1900 Paris Olympics, secured two silver medals in athletics, one in 200m and the other in 200m hurdles. He clocked 22.8s in the 200m race and 26s in the hurdles. This was history in the making, as this was the first time India was going to stand on the Olympic podium.
2. Men's Field Hockey Team (1928 Amsterdam Olympics) - Gold
India's domination in Olympic hockey began at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, where they clinched their first gold medal. Jaipal Singh led the team, and the team earned appreciation as they won all their games and did not let the opponents score even a single goal. This outstanding achievement involved beating Austria 6-0, Belgium 9-0, Denmark 5-0 and Switzerland 6-0 in the preliminary round and then cruising past the Netherlands 3-0 in the final.
This was the beginning of the golden era of Indian hockey. This win ensured that the team won the hearts of all hockey players and was indeed a great source of pride to the nation.
1928 Indian men's hockey team. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Olympics.com
3. Men's Field Hockey Team (1932 Los Angeles Olympics) - Gold
Indian men’s field hockey team clinched gold and retained the championship to emerge winners in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Owing to Lal Shah Bokhari’s leadership and strategy, the team defeated the United States of America and Japan. Also gaining prominence was a name that would shine brightly in the hockey world. Dhyan Chand. The Indian team outplayed Japan 11-1 and the United States of America 24-1. This victory consolidated India’s dominance in field hockey.
Indian hockey team at the 1932 Olympics. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Olympics.com
4. Men's Field Hockey Team (1936 Berlin Olympics)- Gold
India's men’s field hockey team retained the championship title in the Berlin Olympics in the year 1936 for the third time. Dhyan Chand was the captain of the team, and the team gave a splendid performance even though the competition was very intense.
The team won the final against Germany, defeating them 8-1. Dhyan Chand, who by now had earned the moniker as the ‘Wizard of Hockey’, scored three goals in the final match alone. This victory was proof of India’s hegemony in hockey. Thus, the team’s success demonstrated the importance of commitment, organisation, and confidence.
Indian hockey team at the 1936 Olympics. Photo Credit: Getty Images/The Hindu
5. Men's Field Hockey Team – 1948 London Olympics - Gold
The Indian men’s field hockey once again grabbed the limelight in 1948 at the London Olympics, which was held after a break because of World War II. The team, captained by Kishan Lal, clinched another gold medal, India’s fourth consecutive gold medal after the team defeated Great Britain in the final match with a score of 4-0. It was even more special as it happened soon after India got its freedom.
It was a win for the new independent nation and a cause for celebration. It was much appreciated in India and marked a change in fortune while proving that Indian athletes are capable of competing at the international level. Balbir Singh Sr. gave outstanding performances; he was an excellent goal-getter who helped the team achieve a lot.
Indian hockey team at the 1948 Olympics.
Photo Credit: Wills Book of Excellence - Hockey/Bharatiyahockey
6. Men’s field hockey team of the 1952 Helsinki Olympics - Gold
In 1952 Olympic Games held in Helsinki, Finland, India further cemented its men’s field hockey supremacy by claiming yet another gold medal.
The Indian team, with K D Singh Babu as their captain, played brilliantly throughout the tournament. They got to the final, where they met the Netherlands and won with a convincing 6-1 score. The player of the match, Balbir Singh Sr., scored three goals. This victory ensured that India’s skill and gameplay was second to none.
India rode on the path to the gold setting up wins over Austria 4-0, Great Britain (3-1). The victory in Helsinki was celebrated all over India as a symbol of Indian unity, and hockey became one of the most valued sports in the country.
Indian hockey team at the 1952 Olympics.
Photo Credit: Balbir Singh Sr.'s Personal Collection/Bharatiyahockey
7. Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav 1952 Olympics in Helsinki - Bronze
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav of Maharashtra holds the distinction of being independent India’s first individual Olympic medallist. He bagged a bronze in the freestyle wrestling event in Helsinki in 1952. Fighting in the 57 kg bantamweight category, Jadhav’s victory was huge; it helped highlight that India was not only a hockey-playing nation. Although Jadhav was an amateur and had few resources and no proper training facilities at his disposal, he rose through the ranks to become one of the legends of Indian sports.
In the Helsinki championship, Jadhav beat wrestlers from Mexico, Canada, and Germany before facing the Brazilian in the bronze medal match. His victory was not only for Indian wrestling but also for future generations of Indian athletes.
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav at the 1952 Olympics.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/This day
The initial years of India’s association with the Olympics can be termed as years of debut and the formation of sports stars who brought glory to the nation. They laid the foundation for Indian sports history, starting from Norman Pritchard to the hockey team’s dominance and Khashaba Jadhav’s accomplishments. In the subsequent parts of this series, we will bring you more such stories of the medal winners and how they contributed towards the growth of the sports culture of our nation.
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