The whole India is celebrating the 79th year of independence on August 15, 2025. In the last 78 years, Independent India has achieved several significant milestones in different fields and went on to make
its own identity in the world. One of the fields, where individuals have made the country proud several times is sports.
In the 78 years of independence so far, India went on to rule different sports and gave a chance to the fans to witness some of the memorable moments in the sports over the years. From an Olympic gold in hockey to the maiden Cricket World Cup win, let's have a look at the 10 sporting milestones of Independent India.
10 sporting milestones of Independent India
Gold medal in hockey in 1948 Olympic Games
The first major sporting milestone for Independent India came just a year later in the 1948 Olympics Games in London. The Indian hockey team was a world dominating side in the decade of 1930s and 40s. Under Major Dhyan Chand, the team registered a hat-trick of Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936 respectively. However, they had to wait for 12 years for another Olympic hockey gold and that moment came just in the next edition a year after the Independence. With the gold in the 1948 Olympics, the dominance of the Indian hockey team started again as they registered another hat–trick of gold medal finishing in the first position in the 1952 Olympics and the 1956 Olympics respectively.
1983 Cricket World Cup win
A win that revolutionised Indian cricket forever. Coming as an underdogs in the third edition of the Cricket World Cup, India stunned everyone after they defeated the previous two-time champions West Indies in the final at Lord's to lift their maiden World Cup title. This win made a huge impact on the growth of Indian cricket as the game went on to become the most popular sport in the country. The players of the Indian cricket team are considered as superstars and also get a huge pay from the BCCI which is now the richest cricket board in the world. After the 1983 World Cup win, India also emerged as champions in the 2002 Champions Trophy (jointly), 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy respectively.
Gold medal for Abhinav Bindra in 2008 Olympics
During the Olympics Games in Beijing, 2008, Abhinav Bindra ended up winning a gold medal in the 10m air rifle event. This turned out to be a major milestone for the country as it was the first-ever individual gold for India in the Olympic Games. This was also the first Olympics gold for India after 28 years after they last won a gold in hockey in the 1980 Olympics.
Vishwanathan Anand winning FIDE Chess Championship in 2000
Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand is known for bringing the Chess revolution in India after his win in the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000. He defeated Spain’s Alexei Shirov in the best of six final held in New Delhi. Anand went on to win seven straight matches in that tournament and began his journey to become one of the greatest Chess players in the world.
Thomas Cup win in 2022
The Indian dadminton team created history by winning the BWF (Badminton World Federation) Thomas Cup for the first time in 2022. India defeated then defending champions Indonesia by 3-0 in the final to register a historic win. This was also a special win for India as the squad selected for the Thomas Cup was playing their first-ever season and ended up becoming champions of the tournament.
Gold for Neeraj Chopra in 2021 Olympics
Neeraj Chopra ended a 13-year wait for an Olympic gold for India after he emerged a champion in javelin throw during the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Neeraj made a throw of 87.58m and became talk of the town by winning the gold. After that, Neeraj Chopra gained immense popularity across the country and became a sporting superstar in India. He also ended up winning a silver medal in the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Gold medal for Indian football team in 1951 Asian Games
One of the most significant milestones for the Indian football team came in the year 1952 when they ended up winning a gold medal in the inaugural edition of the Asian Games, held in New Delhi. However, this was not the only gold for Indian football in the Asian Games and as they emerged as champions in the 1962 edition - held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Apart from that, they also ended up winning the bronze in the 1970 Asian Games in Thailand.
Mary Kom became first female Indian boxer to become World Champion
Regarded as one of the greatest boxers in the world, Mary Kom went on to become legend of the sport which is mostly dominated by men and is among the few names who are considered as legends of Indian boxing. With one bronze in the Olympics and one gold in the Commonwealth Games, in the year 2002, Mary Kom became the first Indian female boxer to win the World Championship. However, this wasn’t the last time she won the World Boxing Championship as she went on to win the title again in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018.
Gold for Milkha Singh in 1958 Commonwealth Games
In 1958, Milkha Singh became the first and only sprinter till now to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. He emerged as a champion in the 440 yard during the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. He went on to become one of the greatest sprinters of India who was famous with the title of the Flying Sikh.
Avani Lekhara became first Indian woman to win Paralympic gold in 2021
In 2021, para rifle shooter Avani Lekhara scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. After suffering from a paraplegia following a car accident in 2012, Avani started her shooting career in 2015. After that, she made the nation proud by winning a gold in the 10m air rifle SH1 during the 2021 Paralympics. In the next Paralympics edition in Paris, 2024, Avani achieved another feat as she ended up winning a gold and a bronze in that season becoming the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Paralympics.
