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Best sports books: Read the amazing journey of India's top Olympians

From champion Abhinav Bindra's tale to Mary Kom's story, here are some of the best Indian sports books to read on Indian Olympians.

Nothing can match live sport and the drama that unfurls on the field. But the stories can be relived through movies or books. 

While sports movies are often limited by time and depend on artistic license to dramatise the story, books can provide the complete picture of the athlete or sporting events that are now stuff of legends.

Here’s a look at a few books on India’s Olympic triumphs that tell the best tales.

A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold and Beyond

A Shot at History is a story that charts the journey of Abhinav Bindra , India’s first and only individual Olympic gold medallist till date. The book journals Abhinav Bindra’s history-making career that saw him become the first Indian to win a world championship gold besides his Olympic gold. A tale of triumph emerging from heartbreak, it offers insight into how he became a great shooter after a freak occurrence denied him gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Defeat at Athens transformed Abhinav Bindra as a shooter who was hell-bent on redemption following heartbreak in the 2004 Olympics. Authored by Rohit Brijnath and Abhinav Bindra himself, the book also details how he became a scientist who was ever ready for any experiments, including mapping his own brain.

Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder

A story of passion, toil and dedication, Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder , tells us the story of the first-ever Indian woman to participate in gymnastics at the Olympics. Winner of the Biography of the Year at the Ekamra Sports Literature Awards in 2019, the book authored by Bishweshwar Nandi, Digvijay Singh Deo and Vimal Mohan provides a vivid account of Dipa Karmakar ’s life.

The book documents her journey from lows as a child to competing at the Olympics in Rio 2016, where she landed the fearsome Produnova vault. It also shows how her fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics became a defining moment for the sport in the country.

Dipa Karmakar’s journey from Tripura to the heart of a nation is one of inspiration and determination to battle against all odds. Her struggles saw her receive India’s highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

My Olympic Journey: 50 of India's Leading Sportspersons on the Biggest Test of Their Career

Authored by Digvijay Singh Deo and Amit Bose, My Olympic Journey chronicles the stories of 50 leading Indian Olympians. It brings a first-person point of view through the lens of some of the best sportspersons that the country has produced. Some of the accounts in this book include that of Sushil Kumar , Leander Paes , Karnam Malleswari , Abhinav Bindra and Balbir Singh . This alone makes it one of the best Indian books on sports.

Pioneers of Indian sport like Milkha Singh , PT Usha and Anjali Bhagwat also reveal their hopes, superstitions and challenges in the pages. While some of these stories are certain to invoke a hearty laugh, others could see you shed a tear by opening your eyes to the struggles that a few of these athletes had to overcome.

Dreams of a Billion: India and the Olympic Games

Boria Majumdar and Nalin Mehta put together a collection of India’s finest moments at the Olympic Games over the years. Dreams of a Billion: India and the Olympic Games features the stories of legends like MC Mary Kom, PV Sindhu and Abhinav Bindra.

The book also asks pertinent questions like how does a country of a billion and more have so few achievements to show for itself at the Olympics.

Besides a quick recap of India’s past at the Games, it also offers a realistic insider’s view of what goes on behind the scenes in the Indian Olympics world and assesses India’s preparation for Tokyo 2020. It's one of the best Indian books centred around the Games.

Unbreakable

The story of the legendary MC Mary Kom , Unbreakable gives readers an idea about the journey that the six-time world champion has undertaken. Born to a family of limited means, this book tells us about the struggle and passion that Mary Kom possessed to make it to the pinnacle of the sport.

From her tough childhood and navigating through the politics that come with Indian boxing, this book has it all. Marriage, winning the world championship and, of course, what it takes to make it as a woman in what many – incorrectly – deem as a man’s sport, are just a few interesting topics in this first-hand account of her journey that’s authored by Mary Kom.

Whatever hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh reads

Known as the prankster in the Indian men’s hockey team, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is more often than not the life of the dressing room. When away from the sport, though, the man from Kerala makes the most of his time. The keeper reckons that reading will help him in his career post retirement where he may have to hold an office job.

PR Sreejesh read over 50 books in 2020 finding comfort in them during a testing year

“All these books made me a calmer person,” PR Sreejesh told Firstpost . He found the book The 5 AM Club particularly impactful.

“I like to mix fiction and non-fiction books. I read motivational books in the morning, cause that’s the time you’re fresh,” PR Sreejesh said. “I read fiction at night because by then I am tired and need some sort of entertainment.”

PR Sreejesh also reads plenty of financial self-help books and even goes on to offer junior hockey players investment tips 

“I also read a lot of autobiographies to see how others dealt with their issues,” he added.

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• > 12 Sporting Autobiographies That’ll Inspire You To Chase Your Dreams

Dec 03, 2017 at 05:44 PM

12 Sporting Autobiographies That’ll Inspire You To Chase Your Dreams

Reading a book and following a sport are as different as any two activities can possibly be.

However, there’s one thing in common between them and it’s they’re highly addictive.

If you happen to be someone who likes both, sports autobiographies can be the perfect option for you. They mix the joys of reading a book and the thrill of watching an exciting match, with the added benefit of getting to know more about your favourite athlete.

Here are some of the best sports autobiographies you should lay your hands on, ASAP:

1. Playing It My Way- Sachin Tendulkar

Irrespective of whether you’re a cricket fan or not, Sachin’s autobiography is a must read simply because of the fact that he’s the greatest cricketer and arguably one of the best Indian athletes in history.

In his own words, “No autobiography can claim to document every detail of the author’s life,” but this is as close as we can get to know about his life and what kept him motivated through this glorious journey.

2. The Test of My Life- Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh’s battle with cancer and eventual triumph is stuff they make movies about.

The way he broke down on the field after India won the World Cup in 2011, still manages to break us into tears. More because of the fact that he was playing despite knowing that he is suffering from throat cancer.

In his autobiography, Yuvraj has documented his ‘journey from cricket to cancer and back’ and talked about the days he spent in Indianapolis alone during his treatment.

3. Touched by God: How We Won the Mexico ’86 World Cup- Diego Maradona

Of all the Football World Cups that have been played to date, FIFA 1986 is probably the most remarkable. Who can forget that controversial quarterfinal against England where Maradona scored both his most celebrated and most controversial goals?!

By hitting Hand of God and Goal of The Century in one match, Maradona registered his name in history, never, ever to be unwritten.

4. Sunny Days- Sunil Gavaskar

Did you know that the Little Master was switched after birth and was brought back by his uncle? Or that he almost broke his mother’s nose as a child?

His autobiography is a collection of many such interesting stories and an account of the beginning of his journey to becoming one of India’s greatest cricketers.

5. Ace Against Odds- Sania Mirza

Former world doubles number one in tennis, Sania Mirza is an inspiration for millions of women athletes who aim to make it big in the field.

In a sport not so famous in the country and dominated hugely by men, Sania made her mark and was ranked number one in India for 9 years straight.

The book is about the highs and lows of her journey and what went on in the life of the star even when everything appeared fine on the outside.

6. Playing To Win- Saina Nehwal

This book is about Saina’s “life, on and off the court”.

The first badminton player from the country to win an Olympics medal and hugely responsible for taking the sport from streets to televisions and beyond, Saina tells it all in her autobiography. This is a must-read for everyone who wishes to know more about her life.

7. The Greatest: My Own Story- Muhammad Ali

“Let them remember you as a winner, never come back beaten.”

Packed with quotes like this, Muhammad Ali’s autobiography will give you motivation, goosebumps and a peek into the life of The Greatest.

8. Why Soccer Matters- Pele

Without an ounce of doubt, Pele is one of the best athletes to have played The Beautiful Game and his autobiography is an interesting description of what all soccer can accomplish.

Read this one for knowing the recent history of the game and new insights into soccer’s role connecting and galvanizing players around the world.

9. Straight from the Heart: An Autobiography- Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev led us to our first World Cup victory and in a career spanning 17 years, contributed with bat and ball with equal excellence.

The book stands true to its name and touches your heart with its simplicity and honesty.

10. Unbreakable- Mary Kom

As if being a woman athlete wasn’t enough, Mary Kom had to also face difficulties of being from a family of landless agricultural labourers and playing a sport which comes with its own share of struggles.

She overcame adversities to become not only one of the most celebrated athletes and an Olympic medallist but also the champion of a sport thought of as that suitable for men.

Read the book for the overwhelming story of this rebel who fought against all odds, and emerged victorious.

11. The Race of My Life- Milkha Singh

His performance on race course fetched him the title of ‘Flying Sikh’ and truly, his entire life has been about running, sometimes from places and sometimes from circumstances.

As a boy who escaped death during partition and later escaped police after stealing, Milkha’s life changed once he joined the army.

He ran for the forces and then for the country, missing on an Olympic medal in 1960 as he stood fourth.

Milkha Singh’s life seems straight out of a movie and his autobiography is not one to be missed.

12. Golden Girl- The Autobiography of P.T. Usha

Another sprinter and another heartbreaking finish.

PT Usha missed a bronze medal in Olympics 1984 by 100th of a second but her efforts did not go in vain. She is and will forever remain the inspiration for every athlete out there.

Aptly named Golden Girl, PT Usha’s autobiography is packed with inspiration and should definitely be on your list of books to read.

Why choose when you can have best of both the worlds?

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Top 10 sports biographies of Indian athletes

DibyajyotiDas

The life stories of top athletes are always inspiring. Learning about their journey to the top is enough to motivate anyone to chase their dreams. And what better way to get an insight into the world’s best than to read their biographies or autobiographies? In Biographies we get to know about what makes these individuals the best in their business. We also get to know the thought process of these Champions.

Here is a look at the top 10 Indian Sports Biographies:

Playing it my way - Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the best cricketers to have ever graced the game and one of the best sportspersons to be born in India. A collaborative work of Boria Majumdar and the Little Master himself, the book tells us the story of Sachin’s early life and his playing career. Given his massive fanbase, it isn’t a surprise that the book was a bestseller. Sachin’s autobiography made it to the record books as the best-selling adult hardback in both fiction and non-fiction categories.

Ace against Odds - Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza is a former doubles World No. 1 and has won multiple titles in her career. She is arguably India‘s best female tennis player yet. Mirza has won all the grand slam titles at least once. Her biography Ace Against Odds chronicles her journey to being one of India’s and the World’s top tennis players.  Released in 2016 the book is the collaborative work of Sania Mirza, Shivani Gupta and Imran Mirza. The book also gives us an insight into the Tennis star’s personal life and her encounter with different people both on and off the court.

Playing to win - Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal is the only female Badminton player from India to become World No. 1 in the rankings. Considered to be one of the best Badminton players from India, Nehwal is credited for popularizing the game in India. After losing out in the quarter-finals in Beijing 2008, In 2012 Saina Nehwal became the first Indian badminton player to win a medal in the Olympics. The autobiography gives an insight into her life both on and off the court(as the cover of the book suggests). From her extreme workout routines to her love for shopping, everything that helps the Champion athlete tick is available in the book.

Unbreakable - Mary Kom

Mary Kom is the most successful woman boxer in the world and has won the World Amateur Record championships for a record six times. She is also the first Indian Woman Boxer to win a medal in the Olympics. However, Mary Kom’s life has always been a life of struggles. Born in a small village to landless agricultures, the former World No. 1 had to overcome many struggles to become the best in the World. Mary Kom and Dina Serto record all those struggles and triumphs in her autobiography Unbreakable.

The Race of My Life - Milkha Singh

A very famous Bollywood movie has already been made based on Milkha Singh’s autobiography The Race of My Life. Milkha Singh was an athlete who won Gold medals in Asian Games as well as the Commonwealth Games. The book gives us a portrayal of the legendary athlete’s life. From getting caught up in the violence of partition as a child to missing out on an Olympic medal because of an error in judgement.

Golden Girl - The Autobiography of PT Usha

P.T. Usha is one of the pioneers of Track and Field events in India. She has set many National and Asian records in her career and has also won multiple medals in Asian Games in multiple events. The Payyoli Express missed out on an Olympic medal by 1/100th of a second in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Golden Girl: The Autobiography of PT Usha is a collaborative work of P.T. Usha and Lokesh Sharma records the life and career of this legendary athlete.

A shot at History My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold - Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra created history when he won the Gold medal in the 10m air-rifle category in the 2008 Olympics. The win meant Bindra became the first Indian to win an individual gold in Olympic history. In the preceding Olympics Bindra finished seventh, this according to him was one of the darkest moments of his career. In his autobiography, Bindra talks about his obsession to win a Gold in the Olympics. He also talks about his coaches, inspirations and some of the memorable moments of his career. The book was co-written by Rohit Brijnath.

The Small Wonder - Dipa Karmakar

In the Rio Olympics 2016, Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian woman to compete in the Olympics. She was also the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games. Karmakar ended up finishing fourth in the Rio Olympics. Karmakar is credited for bringing gymnastics as a sport to the limelight in India. The book talks about how Gymnastics as a sport has been sidelined over the years in India. It also has a detailed account of all the stages of the athlete’s life.

Goal! -  Dhyan Chand

'Goal' is the autobiography of legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand written by the great man himself. Dhyan Chand is considered one of the best Hockey players to have played the game. The Padma Bhusan award winner has won three Olympic Golds in hockey. Playing as a centre forward Dhyan Chand has scored more than 550 goals for the Indian National team. In his autobiography, the legend talks about his journey as a hockey player. He also elaborates on the technicalities of the game.

Born again on the Mountain - Arunima Sinha

The real-life story of Mountaineer Arunima Sinha is no less exciting than a commercial movie. In 2013 Arunima became the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest. Sinha also played Volleyball for India. However, in 2011 in resisting some robbers, Sinha was pushed off a running train. She lost her legs in that accident. However, that unfortunate accident didn’t stop Arunima. The book portrays the story of her resilience and her story of triumph against all odds.

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5 Indian sportspersons’ autobiographies that’ll inspire you to chase your dreams

Reading an autobiography is like watching behind the scenes of a thrilling movie. We see the glitz and glamour of successful personalities. But the journey behind the making of these stars is often left unnoticed. It takes years of toil and discipline to become the name that the entire stadium chants, to become a poster and a hero in the eyes of a child who wants to play for his country one day. Indian history has indeed stood witness to some really inspiring sports icons who have braved the odds, overcame their battles, and rose victorious. Not just sports lovers but in fact, every single person can draw inspiration from the lives of these individuals who worked hard to make it big. While there are several Indian sportspersons who penned inked their journeys, we shortlisted 5 autobiographies that’ll surely inspire you to chase your dreams.

List of must-read autobiographies by Indian sportspersons:

#1 the race of my life by milkha singh.

If you haven’t seen “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” yet, this beautiful and emotional encapsulation of his life penned down by him and his daughter, Sonia Sanwaika is a must-read. His life has indeed been a race. The book chronicles his journey from running against trains to escaping death during the partition of India and from escaping the police to running in the army. It is no doubt that he was titled “The Flying Sikh.”

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#2 unbreakable by mary kom.

A six-time World Boxing champion and yes, it’s a she! Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom’s journey from a small village in Manipur to becoming one of the most globally acclaimed woman boxers is a story every girl in India should know. Her struggle and her passion can be seen throughout this crisp and flawless narration.

#3 ​The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back by Yuvraj Singh

Who can forget the man who hit six sixes in an over? Yuvraj’s “The Test of My Life” is definitely one of the most influential autobiographies ever written by Indian sportspersons. This heart rendering personal account of Yuvraj Singh ’s journey from cricket to cancer and back is a book of two stories. One talks about Yuvi’s childhood and blossoming career while the other sheds light on his battle against cancer. Who would have wondered that he had cancer brewing within him when he won the player of the tournament award in the 2011 world cup? With inspiring anecdotes from the life of the athlete, the book encompasses the story of struggle, survival, and immense human will.

#4 Playing to Win by Saina Nehwal

A former World No. 1 and one of India’s most successful sportspersons, Saina Nehwal writes an account of her life from a nine-year-old to becoming an Olympic medallist. This 117-page book is a complete insight into the making of a badminton champ right from the struggles of not just herself but her parents, coaches, and fellow players. It is without a doubt that she is credited for increasing the popularity of badminton in a country that worships cricket.

#5 Straight from the heart by Kapil Dev

Considered to be one of the greatest captains and all-rounders in the history of Indian Cricket, Kapil Dev shares a glimpse into his personal life with this book. Right from his controversial relationship with Gavaskar to the dark phase of match-fixing, this autobiography written right from Kapil Dev’s heart is indeed a treat to his diehard fans.

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Top 20 Sports Book You Should Add to Your Reading List

Sports are crucial to our all-round development. From teamwork to sportsman spirit, these competitive games teach us life lessons that will hold us in good stead. Whether you’re an active sportsperson or someone who religiously follows sports, these 20 books should definitely be on your TBR list!

Sachin by Suvam Pal

When he picks up the willow, cricket fans across the world hold their breath. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is not just a cricketer, but an inspirer of dreams, a statistician’s delight, and a treat for a cricket connoisseur. This book delves into the life of the milestone man, both on and off the field, through quizzes and a slew of factoids and trivia about him. The questions, encompassing various phases of Sachin’s life and cricketing career, try to unravel the enigma that is the man and gives a chance to his fans to test their knowledge about their idol. Ranging from his childhood to his days as a prodigy, to his baptism by fire in international cricket, to the making of the greatest modern-day cricketer and an iconic brand, the book covers a wide spectrum of interesting information and lesser-known facts about India’s biggest sporting icon.

Bhiwani Junction by Shamya Dasgupta

Vijender Singh’s one bronze medal in Beijing has changed the fortunes of an entire sport in India. At the very least, it dramatically transformed one town: Bhiwani. Or did Bhiwani transform Indian boxing? The nation now knows Bhiwani as being synonymous with the handsome Olympian heartthrob and then some. Boxing is the new sexy, Vijender is the face of it, and Bhiwani is its home. But inspiring as that tale is and considerable though India’s successes in the sport have been since his bronze, the story – as is true of everything in India – is more complex. The sport has a long and meandering history, a Raj connection and a nationalist one, and decades of Indian rule and misrule. There have been many boxing centres in the country, beginning with Calcutta and Mumbai. The state of Manipur has had a long, conflicted history with the sport, as has the Indian Army. Blood, sweat, tears, and a healthy dose of conspiracy: the story of Indian boxing is dramatic, simultaneously dispiriting, and inspiring.

Numbers Do Lie by Impact Index

Impact Index is a revolutionary new way of examining numbers in cricket. It is a deep dive into the very mechanics of the game, which results in the unearthing of truly surprising – sometimes shocking – stories. Within these pages are tales of cricketers who did not get their due, there are analyses of various aspects of the game and an examination of all formats of cricket. Impact Index is an attempt to challenge and enrich conventional readings, and ultimately to redefine it.

Think Like A Champion by Rudi V. Webster

Rudi Webster, a doctor who has done pioneering work in the field of sports psychology, draws up a fail-safe recipe for on-the-ground performance optimization in this remarkable book. He ropes in some of the world’s finest sportsmen to explain their own success techniques: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Clive Lloyd, Dennis Lillee, Wasim Akram, Jacques Kallis, and Sir Garry Sobers. They talk about the four interconnected pillars that performance in sport is built on fitness, technique, strategy, and mental skill – but, unanimously, they declare that the mental pillar is the most important. At the highest level of sport, it is this skill that determines how well the other components are combined and executed.

The Unquiet Ones by Osman Samiuddin

This book is the story of those fortunes and how, in the process, the game transformed from an urban, exclusive sport into a glue uniting millions in a vast, disparate country. In its narration, Osman Samiuddin captures the jazba of the men who played for Pakistan, celebrates their headiest moments and many upheavals, and brings to life some of their most famous – and infamous – contests, tours, and moments. Ambitious, spirited, and often heartbreaking, The Unquiet Ones is a comprehensive portrait of not just a Pakistani sport, but a national majboori, a compulsion whose outcome can often surprise and shock, and become the barometer of everyday life in Pakistan, tailing its ups and downs, its moods and character.

Out of the Blue by Aakash Chopra

When you are Rajasthan, last in the plate division, never having won the title, never even coming close to a final in over three decades, you don’t play to win the honour, you play to save what you can of yours. ‘ Ending up at the very bottom of the Ranji Trophy‘s lower-division shook Rajasthan up. The team staked all it had on the season of 2010-11; it became the player’s one shot at redemption. This is the inspiring true story of the player’s motivation, their passion for cricket, and of a cricket association that changed the rules of how domestic cricketers are groomed in India. Together, they resurrected the Rajasthan team – against all odds. This is the scintillating story of Rajasthan’s first Ranji Trophy win, written by the team’s highly successful opening batsman himself. If Aakash Chopra’s first book, Beyond the Blues laid bare the administrative apathy and corruption that domestic cricket is mired in, this one is a closeup of what it could be.

Anywhere But Home by Anu Vaidyanathan

Anu Vaidyanathan is the first Asian woman to complete Ultraman Canada: a punishing 10-kilometer swim, a 420-kilometer bike ride, and an 84.4-kilometer run. She placed sixth. Which is breath-taking. But what is your typical good Indian girl, super-nerd doing at the Ultraman? Anywhere but Home is the funny, heartbreaking, unexpected story of a woman who would not give up. As she followed her passion on the roads of Bangalore and across several Indian cities, coaches advised her to get married. She was stuck in sports facilities that lacked basic support systems, even toilets. If she wanted to compete, it would need to be on her own salary. All she could rely on were her own two feet and the seat of her bike. With self-deprecatory humor and characteristic curiosity, Vaidyanathan tells the story of how she found a triathlon, how she came to be training in one of the most challenging sports in the world. She writes of her many firsts in the Ultraman, Ironman, Half-Ironman, but also of motherhood and pushing the boundaries of what a body can do. Heart-warming and heart-breaking, this is most of all a tale of love: for a sport and for life.

Beyond The Blues by Aakash Chopra

When Aakash Chopra started to write his diary in September 2007, he had no idea that it was going to be an extraordinary year, both for him personally, and for the game of cricket. It began with a great run in the Ranji, culminating in Delhi’s victory. Delhi also went on to become North Zone champions, the North Zone won the Duleep Trophy, and in almost every game, Aakash was among the runs. He ended the season with 1339 runs from fifteen games, with five centuries that included three double centuries. Then came the IPL, with its glamorous tie-in with Bollywood. And Aakash found himself on the most talked-about side of them all: the Kolkata Knight Riders. A view from within of all that made 2007 such an exciting year for cricketers and cricket lovers, this fast-paced and often tongue-in-cheek account takes us behind the scenes with an honesty and forthrightness uncommon to Indian sport.

The Insider by Aakash Chopra

This insightful book by former international cricketer Aakash Chopra takes you inside the making and unmaking of cricketers: how they think, how they are likely to react to various match situations, and above all, why they react the way they do. From reading the bowler to gauging the batsman, from playing the bouncer to elding at short-leg, from the technical aspects of the game to the psychological, from the tangible to the abstract, The Insider shuts out the noise and hysteria to allow fans a rare peek into the cricketing brain. This compelling volume is a milestone in writing on cricket.

One Day Cricket: The Indian Challenge by  Ashish Ray

A panoramic view of one-day cricket… One-Day Cricket: The Indian Challenge chronicles the limit over the game from an Indian perspective. It traces its origins and covers every World Cup and Champions Trophy tournament and the 1985 Benson & Hedges ‘World Championship’. India’s victory in the 1983 World Cup finds pride of place. Some all-time great one-day internationals (ODIs) are highlighted as well as India’s intense rivalry with Pakistan. The book concludes with a preview of the 2007 World Cup, and also examines Saurav Ganguly’s previously controversial exclusion from the Indian side. An entire chapter is devoted to ‘the turning point for India in ODIs – a win against the then mighty West Indies in March 1983. The work also portrays the bumpy shift in the balance of power in world cricket from Anglo-Saxon control to Indian dominance. This mostly first-hand, anecdotal sweep of over 44 years of one-day cricket, blended with sharp analysis, is also an invaluable statistical guide. And it comes from the commentator who broadcast ball-by-ball on BBC, of India’s meteoric march in the 1983 World Cup.

Cricket Cauldron by Shaharyar Khan

A book that views Pakistan through an unlikely medium: cricket Authors show how understanding the state of cricket in Pakistan is the key to understanding the country itself. Cricket Cauldron tackles the controversies and scandals associated with the game in Pakistan head-on: ball-tampering, spot-fixing, match-fixing, player factions, increasing presence of religion in Pakistani cricket, Bob Woolmer’s mysterious death.

Eye on Cricket by Samir Chopra

In Eye on Cricket , Samir Chopra, a professor of philosophy and a long-time blogger at ESPNcricinfo, offers us a deeply personal take on a game that has entranced him his entire life in several lands he has called home. In these essays, Chopra reflects on a childhood centered on cricket, the many obsessions of fandom, the intersection of the personal and the political, expatriate experiences of cricket, historical regrets and remembrances, and cricket writing and media. Nostalgic, passionate, and meditative, this book is steeped in cricket’s history and its cultural significance and reminds the most devoted spectators of the game that they are not alone. It shows how a game may, by offering a common language of understanding, bring together even those separated by time and space and culture.

Enter the Dangal by Rudraneil Sengupta

Wrestling, kushti, rules the farmlands, as it has for centuries. It had pride of place in the courts of Chalukya kings and Mughal emperors. It was embraced by Hinduism and its epics, and has led its own untroubled revolution against the caste system. The British loved it when they first came to India, then rejected it during the freedom struggle. No, wrestling has never been marginal — even if it is largely ignored in modern-day narratives of sport and culture. From the Great Gama to Sushil Kumar — whose two Olympic medals yanked the kushti out of rural obscurity and on to TV screens — and the many, many pehalwans in between, Enter the Dangal goes behind the scenes to the akharas that quietly defy urbanization. It travels to villages and small towns to meet the intrepid women who fight their way into this ‘manly’ sport. Beyond the indifferent wrestling associations and an impervious media is an old, old sport. Enter the dangal, and you may never leave.

Sellotape Legacy by Boria Majumdar

The Commonwealth Games are Delhi’s biggest sporting event ever. As the promise of hosting them envelops Delhi there are questions that loom large, unasked and ominous: Who will emerge the winner in this contest to present Delhi as a true global city? Will Indian sport gain at all? How much is it costing the person on the street? Who has actually benefited from all the digging and window-dressing? And who has lost livelihoods, dreams, perhaps even lives? This book is the story of the politics of these Games, the money that is being spent and the priorities that have shaped it. With access to hitherto unused archives, including primary documents from the first-ever British Empire Games in 1930, this book is also the first and only attempt to place Delhi 2010 in perspective within the history of the Commonwealth Games, their meaning and indeed the larger question of why we need a Commonwealth at all. Explaining what all this means for India, it provides a unique understanding of the Delhi Games in its entirety.

Olympics The India Story by Boria Majumdar

At a time when historians around the world are increasingly recognizing global stories of Olympism as crucial to understanding the working of societies, there has been no detailed history of India’s Olympic experience. This is a glaring anomaly for a country that became the first colonized nation to join the Olympic movement, one that dazzled the world with its early hockey wins and one whose Olympic history contains within its folds hitherto unknown chapters of the development of Indian nationalism and identity…This monograph is unique because it is built on as yet virgin archive of Indian history. For the first time, we have unlimited access to the hitherto inaccessible ‘official’ archive of the International Olympic Committee at the IOC Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.’

If Cricket is Religion, Sachin is God by Shyam Balasubramanian

With hundred of centuries and over 34,000 runs in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run-getter in both Tests and ODIs, is the God of the religion called cricket. His exploits on the field have brought hope and joy to millions of fans. And yet, like God, he has his set of detractors always willing to remove him from the pedestal. In this revised and updated edition, the authors, who consider themselves fans and analysts in equal measure, follow the career of the cricketing demigod – his advent, his peak, his fall, his resurrection, and, finally, his retirement. They also talk about India’s sensational WC 2011 triumph and Tendulkar’s decision to retire from international cricket. Armed with irrefutable statistical data, which they contextualize and analyze with rigor, the authors seek to end all debate on Tendulkar’s status as the greatest cricketer of the modern era. They compare him with his peers in both forms of the game and provide the viewpoint of experts, players, and commentators so that the reader can independently draw conclusions. And if you still don’t believe that Sachin is God’s gift to the world of cricket, well, God help you!

Champions – How The World Cup Was Won by Suresh Menon

April 2011. After 28 years, the cricket World Cup returned to India when Dhoni’s boys beat Sri Lanka on a day that ended in a shower of champagne and confetti. They had started the tournament as favorites, but in the early stages had appeared shaky. Then came the turning point. India was a more purposeful side in the knockout stage, their fielding and bowling efforts now on par with the batting. Led by their captain cool, India took on Australia in Ahmedabad, Pakistan in Mohali, and then Sri Lanka in Mumbai with a palpable belief in their own ability. It meant they beat all the former champions. Suresh Menon, easily one of India’s best cricket writers, relives the roller-coaster that was the 2011 World Cup, taking us through the highlights, the disappointments, and doubts as well as the triumphs. From Virender Sehwag’s boundary off the first ball of the World Cup to Dhoni’s final six to the transformation of Yuvraj Singh, it’s all here. A running commentary as well as a historical document of one of India’s sporting epics.

Olympics – The India Story by Boria Majumdar

A pioneering and long-awaited book … a delightful read’ -Hindustan Times ‘The first detailed history of India’s Olympic experience … a valuable addition to contemporary knowledge’-India Today When and how did the Olympic movement take root in India? Who were the early players and why did they appropriate Olympic sport to further their political ambitions? In most accounts of Olympic history across the world, India’s Olympic journey is a mere footnote. Olympics: The India Story sets that right. Drawing on previously unused archival sources, it demonstrates that India was an important strategic outpost in the Olympic family. It explores why the Indian elite became obsessed with the Olympic ideal at the turn of the twentieth century and how this relates to India’s quest for a meaningful role on the international stage. First published to critical acclaim in 2008, this revised edition includes a new, incisive chapter on India’s medal prospects at the London Olympics, thus bringing India’s Olympic story up-to-date.

The Ultimate Olympic Quiz Book by Suvam Pal

The Olympics are much more than ‘citius, altius, fortius’ (faster, higher, stronger). They are a canvas on which myriad moments of grit and glory are drawn, and ballads of human endurance, perseverance, comebacks and heartbreaks are writ. The Ultimate Olympic Quiz Book celebrates the indomitable spirit and optimism of the Greatest Show on Earth through quizzes and factoids that encapsulate some of the most fascinating tales of success and failure, and those never-seen-before-or-after moments. From the ancient Olympiads to Coubertin’s modern Games; from the lesser-known facts about the Winter Games to India’s icons and forgotten heroes, this book has all the answers to every question you might have about the Olympics.

Brave New Pitch by Samir Chopra

Cricket as we know it may soon be no more. Thanks to Twenty20, technology, media, and the sheer financial power of Indian cricket, the gentleman’s game is on the brink of radical changes. Nation-based cups might give way to T20 professional leagues; umpires might be replaced by technology; and professional franchises, not national boards, might call the shots. Could cricket go the way of professional football? Will Test cricket survive in an entertainment-driven field? Will television rights deals determine the nature of the game? This upheaval has been accompanied by the conflict between the old guard – England and Australia – and the new boss, India. If the spirit of cricket is to survive these changes, it requires the balancing of economic, political, and sporting imperatives. The game must find a way to remain a financially solvent global sport that caters to the changing tastes of its fans and players by creatively using new media and limited-overs cricket. In Brave New Pitch , Samir Chopra takes a hard look at cricket’s tumultuous presence and considers what could and should lie ahead.

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Top 17 sports books on indian women that will inspire you.

Reading is the best hobby to have. Period! Reading doesn’t only fuel you with the tremendous development of your language but also it stimulates your ability to think and envision things which a movie always hinders.

So, begin your reading habit by reading these top 17 sports books on Indian women athletes. Grab these books, read them, and gift your loved ones.

As Henry Miller said, “ When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold.”

Complete list of top 17 Sports books on Indian women Athletes

1. golden girl – pt usha biography | best sports books on indian women athletes.

The book is a story of the Queen of Indian track and field, nicknamed ‘Payyoli Express’ – P.T Usha is an inspiration to every Indian girl rising from the shackles of poverty. At the age of 16, she became the youngest Indian sprinter to participate in the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Kerala born has won as many as 101 international medals including a silver at the 1982 Asiad games, 5 Golds and 1 bronze at the 1985 Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet, 4 Golds and 1 Silver at the 1986 Asiad Games.

The Golden girl is India’s first woman to reach a final of an Olympic event. However, she missed the bronze by just 1/100th of a second. P.T.Usha has been awarded the Greatest Woman Athlete in 1985. In 1984, she was felicitated with the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.

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2. Unbreakable- Mary | Sports Books on Indian women athletes

Priyanka Chopra’s movie ‘ Mary Kom ‘ did little justice to the greatness of ‘Magnificent Mary’ that she is. Born to a landless agricultural labourer in Manipur as Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, she has won six World Championship titles and an Olympic bronze in her illustrious career. Mind you she is 35 and a mother of three!

The boxer has been awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and Padma Bhushan in 2013 by the Indian government. Read ‘Unbreakable’ for its honest and raw writing where she tells about her poverty, struggle and her rise from the bottom.

READ | 50 Best Motivational Books on Athletes Everyone Should Read

3. playing to win – saina nehwal | best sports books on indian women athletes.

With over 23 international titles to her name, Saina Nehwal has contributed immensely in making the sport of Badminton popular in the country. In the 2008 Bejing Olympics, she became the first Indian woman to reach the quarterfinals. However, in the 2012 London Olympics she won the bronze becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in badminton at the Olympics. She has been awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award.

‘Playing To Win’ is about Saina’s “life, on and off the court”. Apart from the world-class athlete that we know her to be, she brings her other roles to life – of a daughter, sister, a student. She also talks about her rigorous training, diet, sacrifices, etc.

4. Ace Against Odds – Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza is the single most influential sportsperson of women’s tennis in India. The girl from Hyderabad has got many laurels for the country with her brilliant display of tennis . In a sport hugely dominated by men, she became world doubles number one. She was ranked number one in India for 9 years straight. She has been conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award. She has also received the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government.

‘Ace Against Odds’ is a behind-the-scenes access pass to her life. The book is a reader’s delight. It full of anecdotes and encounters with people that have shaped the champion.

5. Free Hit – A Story of Women’s Cricket in India

Cricket is still considered a gentlemen’s game, what about the women? India has produced cricket gods and geniuses of cricket namely Sachin Tendulkar , Kapil Dev , Rahul Dravid , Virat Kohli , etc. but never a goddess of cricket is mentioned. Her name is Mithali Raj and her contribution to Women’s cricket in India is far greater than anybody mentioned above.

‘Free Hit’ written by Surpita Das focuses on Raj, the world’s greatest female batsman, and Jhulan Goswami , the leading wicket-taker in women’s cricket. The author takes us into the lives of the spirited bunch of women who, across the years brought home laurels that are worth celebrating, the highest point being the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 where the team made it to the finals.

Free Hit is the untold story of how women’s cricket in India got here and casts light on the gender-based pay gaps, sponsorship challenges, and the sheer indifference of cricketing officials it faced along the way.

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No doubt, India has progressed in women sports more than before. I love to see Sania Mirza and Mithali Raj when they play tennis and cricket for India.

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The Untold but Inspiring Stories of These 8 Indian Sports Heroes Will Make Spectacular Biopics!

With Bollywood undergoing a biopic boom of sorts, its time the incredibly inspiring stories of these 8 Indian sports heroes were told on the silver screen.

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With Bollywood undergoing a biopic boom of sorts, its time the incredibly inspiring stories of these 8 Indian sports heroes graced the silver screen.

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The Most Famous Indian Sportspersons

In a country that is obsessed with a single sport, cricket, the achievements of those playing other games are often ignored. But apart from world-class cricketers, India has produced some of the finest sportsmen and women in every sport, from hockey to tennis and wrestling. These individuals deserve credit, not just for winning trophies and medals for the country, but for popularising sports, which are many times overshadowed by cricket. Here are the most famous Indian sportsmen and women you should know about.

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Dhyan Chand

With so much frenzy surrounding cricket, it’s hard to guess that hockey is the national sport of India. There was once a time when India dominated the international hockey circuit and Dhyan Chand was at the centre of all these triumphs. He helped India win three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Nicknamed the ‘Wizard’ for his extraordinary goal-scoring skills, Dhyan Chand is still considered to be the finest sportsman to have ever played the game.

Milkha Singh, also known as the ‘Flying Sikh’, is the most famous Indian sprinter and one of the first sporting icons of the country. Singh was the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. He won the top prize in the 400-metre competition in 1958. Singh was separated from his family and orphaned during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. During his time, he had but little resources to support himself as a sportsman, which makes Singh’s achievements even more admirable. He is said to have become disillusioned with life and considered becoming a dacoit but joined the Indian Army instead and brought laurels for the country.

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Sachin Tendulkar

The most beloved sportsperson India has ever seen also goes by the name of ‘Little Master’. Although short in stature and soft-spoken, on the cricket pitch, Sachin Tendulkar was a force to be reckoned with. No other cricketer has held so many batting records as he has. Tendulkar has not only earned his fans’ adoration but also his colleagues’ respect. He stepped into the spotlight when he was just 16 years old and for millions of Indians, Tendulkar is not just a hero, he’s almost a messiah .

Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj is the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. In a country where women’s cricket has very few takers, Raj has shown a steadfast commitment to the game despite all odds. She is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket and the only female cricketer to get more than 6,000 runs in one-day internationals. Raj lead the Indian team to finals in the Women’s Cricket World Cup in England this year. Although they lost to the host country, Raj and her team’s performance made the nation stand up and take notice.

Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand, or Vishy, as he is known as, is not only India’s greatest chess player but he is also considered to be one of the very best in the world. He became India’s first chess grandmaster when he was barely 20 years old. In an intensely fought battle, the five-time World Champion lost his crown to Norwegian chess prodigy, Magnus Carlsen, in 2013. Anand is the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour in India.

Mary Kom is the most famous Indian female boxer. Hailing from the northeastern state of Manipur , Kom is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics and a gold medal in the Asian Boxing Championship. Coming from a humble background to achieving so much, Kom has become an inspiration to aspiring sportswomen across the country. In 2014, actor Priyanka Chopra played the boxer in a Bollywood film based on her life.

Sania Mirza

Before Sania Mirza, there were a handful of famous male tennis players from India like Vijay Amritraj, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati. But no women had ever made a name for herself in the sport until Mirza stepped onto the scene. She reached the world number one ranking in the women’s doubles category when she was paired alongside tennis great, Martina Hingis. Mirza has won numerous grand slam titles playing in the doubles and mixed-doubles categories and is one of the highest paid sportswomen in India.

Saina Nehwal

In 2015, Saina Nehwal became the only Indian female badminton player to have attained the world number one ranking. In fact, she is only the second Indian to have achieved this feat. Prakash Padukone was ranked number one back in 1980. She has won over 21 international titles and a bronze medal in the Olympics. Nehwal is responsible for popularising the sport of badminton in the country.

Pankaj Advani

Pankaj Advani is an 18-time World Billiards and Snooker Champion. He won his first World Title at the young age of 18. He is the only person in the history of the game to have won both the billiards and snooker IBSF World Titles as well as the World Professional Billiards Championship. While mastering just one format of the game is hard enough, Advani has specialized in both billiards and snooker and has done it with aplomb.

Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik made history in the 2016 Rio Olympics by becoming the first ever Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal, the bronze medal in the 58 kg category. Professional wrestlers, like Malik and sisters Geeta and Babita Phogat, deserve credit for not just having the courage to enter an entirely male-dominated sport (at least in India) but doing the country proud by winning medals in sporting events like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra is the first Indian individual athlete to win a gold medal in the Olympic games. He won the 10 metre Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. India hadn’t won a gold medal since the men’s hockey team took first prize at the 1980 Olympics. Bindra is also a former World Shooting Champion and a gold medalist in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. His shooting career began early with Bindra becoming the youngest participant in the 1998 Commonwealth Games at just 15 years old.

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• Dimensions 28 x 22 x 0.74 cm
• Publisher Scholars Hub
• Publication date 1 January 2021
• ISBN-10 8195141951
• ISBN-13 978-8195141951
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholars Hub (1 January 2021); Scholars Hub, New Delhi. T- 011-41720543.
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Perfect Paperback ‏ : ‎ 124 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8195141951
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8195141951
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 16 years
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 240 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 28 x 22 x 0.74 cm
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ India
• Net Quantity ‏ : ‎ 1.00 Book
• Generic Name ‏ : ‎ Biographies Book
• #7,069 in Children's Reference (Books)

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Greatest Sportsperson of India Who Keep Inspiring Us

• Alternative-lifestyle
• Greatest Indians
• Indian Sports

Table of contents

Sports in india, great sportspersons of india, 1. major dhyan chand, 2. milkha singh and pt usha, 3. vishwanathan anand, 4. sachin tendulkar, 5. mithali raj, 6. mary kom, 7. pankaj advani, 8. leander paes, 9. saina nehwal and pv sindhu, 10. deepa malik.

Sports is a test of character. It might seem strange to some to glorify sports to a pedestal because at the end of the day it’s just a game. But, undoubtedly sports, no matter of which kind, are kind are one of the highest tests of character, grit and hard work. In competing for a medal or a trophy there is more than just a will to win. There are years of sweat, compromises and determination that culminate in not only a victory, but a lifetime of inspiration. There are many great sportspersons of India that are legends in their own fields. 

These great Indian sportspersons are inspirational for more than one reason. They, of course, are luminous in their own careers, each having exemplary titles and records to their names. But their true greatness lies in their overall dedication to their game. In fact, a true sportsperson is one who has immense respect for the game and his/her team. The one thread that binds almost all great sportspersons is their humility and respect for not only their own game, but for all sports in general. 

Before we get into the listing of the great sportspersons of India, a quick acknowledgement of all sporting personalities who have risen to meet various challenges and who have pushed themselves only further. They all may not have many accolades to their name but it is without doubt that a complete involvement in any sport is a sure way to help in the overall betterment of the mind, body and soul. That every sports person lifts up to become a better version of themselves when involved in a game. And thus, it is not always about a single game or tournament, but about the encompassing life change that builds a true sportsperson. 

India as a sporting nation has had its own shares of ups and downs. With a booming population and talent pool, sports in India is unfortunately not as up to the mark as seen in other nations. This is in terms of infrastructure, marketing, remuneration etc. However, things are beginning to change for the better. Where once only cricket seemed the most popular sport and its players the only well-known sporting icons, today the scene is a bit different. A lot of the other sports are getting their due recognition albeit slowly but steadily. Though there are many factors contributing to this shift, one of the other major reasons is that the country is finding its sporting idols. Badminton or wrestling for example have come into limelight after India won medals and championships. Supremely talented sportspersons in these respective sports brought the name and fame that helped push the sport to gain popularity. 

India is home to a number of great and legendary sports persons. With a huge population and many sports being played across the country, it is tough to list down only a few stalwart sportspersons. However, we have tried to bring across icons who have helped shape the love and understanding of the sport for generations to come. Their life story has inspired and will continue to inspire more youngsters to take sports seriously and make it a way of life. Similarly, their success stories have helped change the narrowed view of society that sports in general cannot be career or life sustaining choices. 

Any sportsperson list cannot be bereft of Major Dhyan Chand. Synonymous with hockey, Dhyan Chand was part of the hockey team that won the gold medal in 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He is also recognized as one of the greatest players of the game worldwide. Also known as The Magician and The Wizard, Dhyan Chand scored 570 goals across 185 matches. His birthday is celebrated as the National Sports Day, sealing the priceless contribution that his game and skill had not only in hockey, but in all sports.

The nation lost The Flying Sikh recently, however his immense contribution to the sporting fraternity is immeasurable. An athlete par excellence, he continued to inspire thousands with his fitness, regime and love for sports. A field and track sprinter, he is the only Indian athlete to win Gold at the Asian and Commonwealth Games.  Another sprinter who is also called the ‘queen of the Indian track and field’ is PT Usha. She won various medals at the Asian Championships and Asian Games. Today two young athletes Dutee Chand and Hamadas are making their mark and promise for a shining career ahead.

The man who put India in the chess playing world has won the World Championship in Chess for 5 times. He was also the first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship and he also became India’s first Grandmaster. He can be single handedly credited for raising awareness and interest in chess. In fact, his sporting stature helped in the understanding of sports as an indoor or non-physical activity too. 

Sachin’s name is a must on this list or for that matter on any great sportsperson’s list in the world. The God of cricket is undoubtedly the finest batsman and sportsman the country has seen. From beginning his career at a tender age to blasting off practically all cricketing records, Sachin has been the icon for many youngsters who aspire to play their favorite sport. Since cricket is extremely popular Sachin’s role in shaping the dreams of millions is unquestionable. Also, his exemplary talent, calm demeanor and true sportsman spirit make him one of the greatest players of the game. 

Since we are on cricket, another cricketing talent that makes it is Mithali Raj. Though men’s cricket has had the nation in frenzy, women’s cricket never really found its footing until Mithali forced the nation to look its way. The highest run scorer  and the only woman cricketer to score more than 6000 runs in international one-day cricket, Mithali has sure paved way for young girls to also take up this popular game professionally. 

The most famous women boxer, Mary Kom has been the face of female boxing in India. Having won the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times, Mary Kom also has bagged an Olympic bronze and gold at the Asian Boxing Championship. Her story is truly inspirational because she shatters all myths of how women after marriage and kids cannot continue to pursue their sporting careers and in fact, come back winning more titles.

Pankaj Advani has won 23 world championships and is a billiards and snooker wizard. He won his first title at 18 and thereafter never looked back. He is the only player in the world to have won the World Championships and Asian Championships in all the formats of snooker and billiards. Though snooker and billiards is still not as popular as other sports, Pankaj’s outstanding performances have surely brought the sport into limelight back home. 

Tennis has always been a popular sport but Leander Paes made it a household name in India. Though his success in singles wasn’t too great, his pairing with Mahesh Bhupathi made Indian’s proud. He has continued his glorious run in doubles and mixed doubles and won various Grand Slams throughout his career. His biggest inspiration comes from the fact that even after 40 he continues to play with youthful zeal and hasn’t retired from professional tennis yet. 

It’s hard to make a pick between the two. Both these talented women sports persons have been responsible for making badminton a popular sport in India. Saina has been a World no. 1 and thus the only woman player from India after Prakash Padukone to reach this position. She has also won a bronze at the Olympics. PV Sindhu on the other hand, is the first Badminton World Champion from India and the only Indian female to win a silver at the Olympics. Though the likes of Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand had formed the foundational building, it was these two female players who brought huge fame to the sport. 

Deepa Malik is a well-known name in the Paralympic Games. She has mastered both shot up and javelin winning medals in both. She is also an active participant in adventure sports. She has till date won 23 international and 58 national medals. Her story is inspiring at many levels. She has proved that even with disability the love and passion for sports cannot fade. 

There are many other great sportspersons in India including Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Sania Mirza, Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, the Phogat sisters, Dipika Pallikal and many more. And of course, there is a long list when it comes to those who have played for the Indian cricket team over the years. 

However, all of these sportspeople are great because they stand out as role models for the younger generation. They made the nation proud with their foray and also helped pave the way for many more to follow their path.

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