Development of Sports After Independence

Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first Indian athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games.

Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary cricketer, was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2013 for his outstanding achievements in cricket.

New Delhi hosted the first Asian Games after independence in 1951.

Murlikant Petkar won a gold medal in swimming at the 1968 Summer Paralympic Games in Tel Aviv, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a medal at the Paralympics.

Leslie Claudius, the hockey player, won a gold medal at the 1948 Commonwealth Games in London, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Anju Bobby George won a gold medal in the long jump event at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the World Championships in Athletics.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa won a gold medal in the 110m hurdles event at the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.

Deepika Kumari won a gold medal in the women's individual archery event at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.

Jyotirmoyee Sikdar won a gold medal in the heptathlon event at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Santiago, Chile, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Athletics.

Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal in the javelin throw event at the 2016 World Youth Championships in Athletics in Bydgoszcz, Poland, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the World Youth Championships in Athletics.

Deepika Kumari won a gold medal in the women's individual archery event at the 2009 Asian Youth Games in Singapore, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Asian Youth Games.

Deepika Kumari won a gold medal in the women's individual archery event at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa won a gold medal in the 110m hurdles event at the 1948 South Asian Games in Colombo, Sri Lanka, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the South Asian Games.

Leslie Claudius, the hockey player, won a gold medal at the 1951 Afro-Asian Games in New Delhi, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Afro-Asian Games.

Anju Bobby George won a gold medal in the long jump event at the 2005 Asian Indoor Games in Bangkok, Thailand, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Asian Indoor Games.