India will be celebrating its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. In these 77 years, India has achieved so many milestones in different sectors including sports. Throughout the years, there have been several iconic moments in the history of Indian sports post-independence.
Although India also achieved significant milestones before independence which include three gold medals in hockey at the Olympics, debut in Test cricket, dominant era of Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, who was fondly called 'The Great Gama'.
However, the Indian sport reached a higher level after independence, and most importantly, the players and team stepped into the field representing the Indian flag. In the following listicle, we will discuss how independence has influenced the growth and development of sports in India.
Indian sports after Independence
Symbol of national pride
After the independence, sports became a symbol of patriotism and representing India at international level. The players took more pride in stepping on to the field donning Indian jersey and representing the national flag, unlike the British era where the Indian team used to represent the British flag.
Promotion of national games
After independence, the Indian government and different sports bodies focused more on emphasizing the growth of national games like hockey. India made a significant name in sports world where hockey has played a major role.
Investment in Infrastructure
After independence, there was a focus on providing more opportunities for the aspiring Indian sports players and athletes. The Indian government and sports authorities invested in the establishment of sports academies, training programs, and funding for athletes which prepared India to compete in different sports at international level.
Increased participation at international events
After getting free from British rule, India had freedom to participate in different sporting events across the world. The Indian team took part in various events including the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Cricket World Cup, Hockey World Cup and many more.
Becoming champions in major sporting events
The Indian sports saw an immense growth after independence which can also be seen in performance by the players. Post independence, the hockey team won five gold medals in the Olympic Games and also won the Hockey World Cup in 1975. On the other hand, the Indian cricket team won the Cricket World Cup in 1983.
Emergence of new and local sports
The games like cricket, hockey and football were introduced in India by the British people and had gained popularity during the British era. However, after independence, the government focused more on promoting new and local sports which used to represent Indian culture.
Commercialisation of sports
After independence, sports have now become a significant part of India and some of the sports have an immense fan following in the country. With the years passing by, we saw commercialisation of different sports that not only helped India to earn a significant identity, but also opened options for many young children who want to make a career in sports. In today’s time, we see different league in India like Indian Premier league, Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League and many more which are big examples of commercialisation of sports in India.
Grassroot Programs
After independence, this was also a focus on the development of grassroot sports. Due to this, we see many local tournaments in different parts of the country where we witness some exciting talents who have the potential to represent India at international level.
Focus on Olympic sports
Before independence, India had three gold medals in the Olympic Games. However, all three medals came in a single sport, hockey. After independence, India also focused on other sports and invested in sports science, coaching, and athlete preparation.
