Independence Day 2023: India's Top 5 Sports Achievements After Independence

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India celebrates it's 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023, which mark a a huge day for the country which has seen enormous growth in sports with our great athletes and national teams proudly representing the country at the world's major sporting events.

Since its independence, India has evolved as a sporting superpower, not only in cricket, but in various sport, creating numerous magnificent moments in Indian sports history that are worth remembering and will be remembered for a long time.

In the last seven decades, India has had many highs and lows. From Olympic gold medals to Badminton glory, Indians have been honoured all around the world, while there have been instances when they have come up short on the losing side.

As the nation celebrates Independence Day 2023 today, here we take a look at the top 5 sporting achievements by India after August 15, 1947 in Olympics and other events.

1. First Olympic Gold in London Olympics 1948

A big achievement for Indian sports happened in 1948, just one year after Independence when the men's hockey team won gold in London. It was a huge step forward for the nation, which was still healing from the wounds of partition in 1947, towards becoming a powerful country in the sphere of sports.

2. Abhinav Bindra Shoots Gold in Beijing Olympics

One of India's most priceless Olympic moments occurred in 2008, when Abhinav Bindra earned a historic gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle. The Indian shooter finished with a near-perfect 10.8, guaranteeing India's first individual Olympic gold medal.

3. Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal in Javelin Throw in Tokyo Olympics 2020

With his gold medal in the men's javelin throw at Tokyo 2020, Neeraj Chopra became India's second individual Olympic winner after Abhinav Bindra. It was India's first Olympic medal in track and field. It was also the only gold for India in their best-ever Olympic medal haul.

4. Best Ever Medal Haul in Tokyo Olympics 2020

In Tokyo 2020, India achieved their best-ever medal haul by winning seven medals, starting with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won the silver medal in the women's 49kg category at Tokyo Olympics 2020.

PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman and only the second Indian athlete (after Sushil Kumar) to win two individual Olympic medals. Sindhu won the bronze medal in the women's singles by defeating China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15.

In Wrestling, India won two medals. Ravi Kumar Dahiya secured a silver medal in men's 57kg freestyle wrestling when he defeated Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev in the semi-finals, while Bajrang Punia settled for bronze in men's 65kg freestyle wrestling.

The Indian men's hockey team earned an Olympic medal for the first time in 41 years, after winning gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. India came from behind to defeat Germany 5-4 and win the bronze medal. In Boxing, India won a bronze thanks to Lovlina Borgohain's run in women's welterweight.

5. Men's Badminton Thomas Cup Glory

The Indian men's badminton team lifted the Thomas Cup title for the first time ever with a resounding 3-0 win over defending champion Indonesia in the final in Bangkok, Thailand in 2022.

The high-flying Indian team beat the record 14-time champions Indonesia to win the Thomas Cup 2022 trophy in their maiden final appearance. Before the feat, India had won only bronze medals in 1952, 1955 and 1979.

The Indian team's glorious feat was mastered by Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth and the doubles team of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. India had also beaten Malaysia and Denmark on route to the final and title.