Independence Day 2023: Five all-time sporting stars for India

Independence Day 2023 In a country of sports lovers where people stick to their screens for hours to watch Olympic events or travel miles away to catch a cricket match live there is no dearth of names who have justified the passion for this fieldThe history of Indian sports is replete with legendary players who have represented the country internationally and excelled in their respective sports Although this list is extensive on the occasion of Independence Day we take a look at five alltime sporting stars for IndiaDhyan Chand ndash HockeyDhyan Chand Pic Getty ImagesRecognised as the Wizard of Hockey Major Dhyan Chand is an unforgettable name in the history of Indian field hockey He was wellknown for his smooth stickwork and goalscoring ability He made it to the Indian hockey team during the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam where they won a gold medal on their debut appearance Dhyan Chand won three Olympic medals in his glorious career His contribution to Indian sports is so significant that his birthday 29th August is commemorated as National Sports Day in the countrySachin Tendulkar ndash CricketSachin Tendulkar Pic AFPThe God of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar has taken India to new heights in cricket There are very few batting records lists which do not have his name at the top He carried the nationrsquos expectations throughout his international career spanning over two decades becoming the highest runscorer for India His unparalleled legacy unravelled in front of millions of fans as his teammates lifted the legend on their shoulders to celebrate their victory at the 2011 World Cup which was Tendulkarrsquos last before he retiredKarnam Malleswari ndash WeightliftingKarnam Malleswari Pic AFPKarnam Malleswari whose remarkable achievements remain relatively unnoticed in todayrsquos world was the first woman to win a medal for India at the Olympics She won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the Sydney Games in 2000 She achieved a significant milestone in a major boost for sportswomen in the country Malleswari was also the first Indian woman weightlifter to win a gold at World ChampionshipsPT Usha ndash AthleticsPT Usha Pic AFPPT Usha who dominated the track and field athletics for almost two decades is an important figure in the history of Indian sports An year after she missed a historic medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics she went on to win five gold and one bronze medal at the 1985 Asian Championships ndash a feat that is still unachieved by any other Indian sprinter She has won 11 Asian Games medals and 23 Asian Athletics Championships medals The Payyoli Express as she was fondly called was a crowd favourite and an idol for many youngsters In 2022 she also became the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association IOAAlso Read 2023 Asian Games Full list of qualified Indian athletes at the quadrennial eventMary Kom ndash BoxingMary Kom Pic AFPThe boxing queen of India Mary Kom has several achievements to her name Not only did she rightfully own a place in a sport once considered maledominated but also inspired other women to pursue it The legendary boxer won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics In 2018 she became the first woman boxer to win six World Championships titles Her career is also studded with continental success ndash seven medals at Asian Championships and two medals at the Asian Games She also added a Commonwealth Games medal to her achievements in 2018