Cricket may have held its fort as India’s reigning sport but athletics are now seeing a welcome surge in recent years. Sayali Karade says, athletics, earlier a symbol of physical prowess, has seen subtle and refined changes as structured efforts were made to promote track and field events. Indian athletics is undergoing a renaissance, fuelled by the passion and determination of its athletes. Verdict: The future holds promise for further glory on the global stage.
India, a nation deeply entrenched in cricket fervour, has seen a remarkable surge in its passion for athletics in recent years. Track and field events, often overshadowed by the glitz of other popular sports, are experiencing resurgence, propelled by the stellar performances of athletes both nationally and internationally.
The history of athletics in India too, like many other sports, can be traced back to the ancient era where physical prowess was celebrated in the form of sports like wrestling, archery, running, martial arts, etc.
However, it was in the modern era, particularly post-independence, that structured efforts were made to promote track and field events. The establishment of institutions like the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) laid the groundwork for nurturing talent and organising competitions at various levels.
AFI is the apex body for running and managing athletics in India and affiliated to the World Athletics, AAA and Indian Olympic Association. It was founded in 1946 and organises national events, selects Indian athletics teams for other tournaments and competitions such as Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympics, etc.
SAI, on the other hand, is the foremost national sports body of India established by Government of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1984, with the aim to further the legacy of the IXth Asian Games (1982) held in New Delhi. SAI has been instrumental in transforming Indian sports by executing schemes for identifying young sports talent and by training athletes.
Diversity in athletics
Track and field events encompass a wide array of disciplines, ranging from sprints to long-distance running, from jumps to throws. In recent years, Indian athletes have excelled across multiple events, showcasing their versatility and determination on the global stage.
Sprinters like Hima Das, nicknamed ‘Dhing Express,’ and Dutee Chand have brought glory to the nation with their electrifying performances in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m races. Their speed and agility have earned them accolades both nationally and internationally. In July 2018, Hima Das created history in Tampere, Finland and became a world-class track and field star when she won gold in the 400 m at the IAAF World U20 Championships.
One of the most decorated athletes of India, Neeraj Chopra became India’s first Olympic gold medallist in athletics when he won the gold medal for javelin throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This made him the second-ranked athlete internationally in the men’s javelin throw.
Also, Neeraj became the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal. The first one being Abhinav Bindra who won the gold medal in men’s 10 m air rifle in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Presently, Neeraj Chopra is the reigning Olympic champion and World champion in men’s javelin throw. Athletes like him have set new benchmarks for Indian athletes.
Taking on the world
India’s journey in athletics has been punctuated by moments of triumph and resilience on the international arena. Over the years, several athletes have carved a niche for themselves. Milkha Singh, fondly remembered as the ‘Flying Sikh’ was one of the most renowned Indian athlete.
His exploits on the track during the 1950s and 1960s laid the foundation for Indian athletics. His fourth-place finish in the 400 m race at the 1960 Rome Olympics remains etched in the annals of Indian sports history.
P T Usha, known as the ‘Queen of Indian Track and Field’ dominated the sprint events during the 1980s and inspired a generation of athletes. Her near-miss for a medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics catapulted her to legendary status. She had clocked 55.42 seconds in the women’s 400 m hurdles, came fourth and missed out the bronze by a mere 1/100th of a second.
Long Jumper Anju George is India’s first and only World Championship medallist in athletics. Her silver medal in long jump at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics, Paris brought her international acclaim and paved the way for future aspirants.
Indian athlete from Uttar Pradesh, Parul Chaudhary specialises in 5000 m and 3000 m steeplechase. She was the first-ever female athlete in the Asian Games to win a medal in the women’s 3000 m steeplechase (silver) and 5000 m race (gold). Avinash Sable specialises in 3000 m steeplechase and is a record holder in the 5000 m long-distance running.
Hurdles athlete from Mumbai Siddhanth Thingalaya holds the record for 110 m hurdles. The national record holder for the fastest timing in men’s category is Muhammed Anas as he ran 400 m at 45.21 seconds at the Czech Athletics Championships in 2019.
Hurdles and opportunities
Despite the remarkable progress, Indian athletics faces its share of challenges, including infrastructure limitations, funding constraints, and the need for grassroots development programmes. However, initiatives like the Khelo India Programme and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) are striving to address these issues and provide a conducive environment for budding athletes to flourish.
TOPS was initiated in 2014 with the goal to improve India’s performance at Olympics and Paralympics. Started by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the scheme is supporting athletes in training, coaching, procuring equipment and offering stipends as well.
In the 2016 Paralympic Games, athletes from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme won two Gold, one Silver and one Bronze Medal affirming the scheme’s effectiveness. And, of the 70 athletes who won medals at the Commonwealth Games, 47 were supported by TOPS.
The Khelo India programme was introduced ‘to revive the sports culture in India’ by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country. The programme, implemented by SAI includes – State Level Khelo India Centres, Annual Sports Competitions, Talent Search and Development, Sports for Women, Support to National/Regional/State Sports Academies, Promotion of Sports among persons with disabilities, Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games, and Physical Fitness of School going Children.
The Khelo India School Games, part of Khelo India programme, are for the following sports – Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
The renaissance
Indian athletics is undergoing a renaissance, fuelled by the passion and determination of its athletes. As the nation continues to celebrate the triumphs of its track and field stars, the future holds promise for further glory on the global stage.
With concerted efforts from stakeholders and continued support from the government, India’s journey towards becoming a powerhouse in athletics is well underway, with each stride bringing the nation closer to its sporting aspirations.
The nation has seen a remarkable surge in its passion for athletics in recent years and track and field events are gaining popularity.
The government has taken several initiatives to address issues plaguing athletics. For example, introducing capacity building programmes, allocating sufficient funds, expediting decision-making, creating equal opportunities for women and girls to participate and excel in various sporting disciplines, supporting athletes through schemes and programmes, encouraging participation from and initiating interests in sports among children, and more.