Did you know …
India was one of the first Asian countries to sent female athletes to the Olympic Games. This country had sent 4 sportswomen -swimming & athletics- to Helsinki in 1952.
Indian sprinter Norman D. Pritchard, who lived in England, became the first athlete from Asia to win an Olympic medal. In 1900, he won two Olympic silver medals (200m and 200m hurdles). For this reason, India -the most poorest country in the 1900s- became the first Asian country to win an Olympic medal.
In 1976, OPMehra -president of the Indian Olympic Association-refused to join the Tanzania-led boycott of the Montreal Olympic Games protesting the participation of New Zeland-country rugby team visited South Africa. During the Apartheid years, South Africa was expelled from the International Olympic Committee. India -whose prime minister Indira Gandhi fought against the apartheid in the 1970s- sent 26 athletes to Montreal (Canada).
This country sent 1 athlete (skier) to the Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck (Austria) in 1964. For the first time, India competed in the Winter Olympics.
India -it is the second most populous nation of the world-boycotted the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games.
KD Jadav (wrestler) became the second Indian to win an individual Olympic medal. At the Summer Olympics in Helsinki (Finland), Jadav won a bronze medal.
Leander Paes is India's most renowned tennis player. He won the men's singles bronze at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the United States. He can only be compared with Vijay Amritraj, who led India to the finals of the Davis Cup in 1974.
The Indian Olympic Association and the city of New Delhi plans to invest close to US $ 800 million to prepare New Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
From 1900 to 1976, 486 athletes competed in the Olympic Games. During these years, India won Olympic medals in the following events: track & field (2 silvers), wrestling (1 bronze), field hockey (7 golds, 1 silver, 2 bronzes).
Jawaharlal Nehru supported the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi.
PT Usha was one of the best female athletes in Asia. In 1986 she became the first Indian athlete to win 4 gold medals at a single Asian Games. She won golds in the 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay.In the 1990 and 1994 Asian Games she also won four medals. Usha once said: "Of all the medals I won at the Asian Games, I cherish the 200m gold I won at Seoul in 1986 where I beat Lydia De Vega of the Philippines in a close race".
The Indian men's field hockey team won the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. In the final, India defeated Germany 8-1.
This country sent 49 athletes to the 1972 Munich Olympics.Track & field: Suresh Babu, Parvee Kumar, Kamaljit Sandhu, Edward Sequeira, Chauhan Singh, Gill Singh, Jagraj Singh, Sriram Singh. Boxing: Sing Mehtab, Cha Narayan, Muniswa Venu. Wrestling: She Birajdarhar, Ram Chandgi, Harishchandra, Singh Jagrup, Adkar Maruti, Singh Mukhtiar, Prem Premnath, S. Satpaisingh, S. Sudeshkumar. Weightlifting: Anilku Mondal. Shooting: PK Chatterjee, S. Choudhary, Karni Singh, Randhir Singh. Badminton: Suresh Goel. Field hockey: Singh Ajit, Singh Ajitpal, Kumar Ashok, K. Aslamsher, Govin Billimogaputtas, Cornelio Charles, Singh Harbinder, Singh Harcharn, Singh Harmik, Singh Kulwant, Frederick Manuel, Kindo Michael, Galesh Mollerapoovayya, Singh Mukhbain, Krishnamurty Perumal, Vj, Paes Vece, Singh Virinder. Sailing: Ahmed Basith, S.Contractor, Tehmas Mogul, Uberoi Satish, P. Vijaishwar.
Vijay Singh -one of the world's best golfers- has Indian origin.
India -it is the second largest Asian nation-won the silver medal at the Asian Cup Soccer in 1964.
Sania Mirza is one of the best female tennis players in Asia. She was born in Mumbai, India. Sania became the first Indian female to win at the Wimbledon Junior. Larry Scott, president of the WTA, said: "She's gained iconic status culturally and politically, as a role model for women, and what she represents in being a Muslim in India. Being quite confident in herself as a person, she has shaken up Some people but that resonates with youth. Some of the establishment are not so sure about her-she likes to be a bit cute and cheeky and some personality- but that adds fuel to her popularity … "
Visakhapatnam (India) hosted the 2005 FIVB Men's Junior World Championship.
This Asian country took part in 22 editions of the Olympic Games: Paris 1900, Antwerp 1920, Paris 1924, Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932, Berlin 1936, London 1948, Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968 , Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008.
India won 5 gold medals at the 1986 Summer Asian Games in Seoul (South Korea).
The Indian men's soccer team won the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games in 1962.The Asian tournament was won by India for the second time.
Sir Dorabji J. Tata became the first president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in 1920.
This nation won gold in women's hockey at the 1982 Asian Games.
muslim singles
Interesting Facts About Olympic Nations – India