At a time when match results and national league tables are not being updated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve decided to update your memory and recall some of the most successful Indian athletes. People from this list were and still are India’s best sports ambassadors in the world.
Unfortunately, a lot of Indian athletes are currently quarantined, and a few cricket players were infected with COVID-19. Until they recover and the world of sports comes to life again, we will present legendary individuals who left their mark on Indian sport and continue to impress with their successes and achievements.
Sachin Tendulkar
Probably the most beloved athlete India has ever had, known by the name ‘Little Master’ – Sachin Tendulkar is a huge legend. No other cricketer has had as many hits as he has. Not only did Tendulkar earn the respect and popularity of his fans, but he also earned the respect of his colleagues. He came into the spotlight when he was only 16 years old, and for millions of Indians, Tendulkar is not only a hero but also an idol and authority that millions of Indians reflected on.
Dhyan Chand
Given that cricket is arguably the No. 1 sport in India for many years, it’s hard to guess that field hockey has been India’s national sport for a while. At one time, India even dominated the field hockey and Dhyan Chand was at the centre of all these victories. He helped India win three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He was nicknamed the “Wizard” for outstanding goal-scoring skills, and he is still considered the best athlete to play this game.
Pankaj Advani
Pankaj Advani has managed to win the World Billiards and Snooker Championships 18 times. He won the first world title when he was only 18 years old. He is the only person in the history of the game to win both the billiards and snooker IBSF World Titles, as well as the World Professional Billiards Championship. Although mastering only one format of the game is difficult enough, Advani specializes in both billiards and snooker.
Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand, or Vishy, is not only India’s biggest chess player, but he is also considered one of the best chess players in the world. He became the first chess master in India when he was only 20 years old. The five-time world champion lost the crown to Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen in 2013. Anand is the first to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Award, the highest sports honour in India.
Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal became the only Indian badminton player to reach the top spot in the overall world rankings, back in 2015. She has won several international tournaments and Nehwal is most credited for making badminton popular in India.
Abhinav Bindra
Abhinav Bindra is the first Indian individual athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics. He won first place in the meth shooting competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. India has not won a gold medal at the Olympics since the men’s field hockey team won a gold medal at the 1980 Olympics.
Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik made history at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games when she became the first Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal – a bronze medal in the 58kg category. Professional wrestlers like Malik and sisters Geeta and Babita Phogat deserve credit not only for the courage to enter „men’s sports“, but for achieving world-class results.
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