India at 75: From 1975 Hockey WC to Leander Paes bronze in Olympics - nation's most treasured sporting stories, Part 3

Prakash Padukone created history: 41 years ago Prakash Padukone changed the landscape of Indian badminton by becoming the first Indian to win the All England Championships. At the age of 24, ace shuttler Padukone defeated two-time defending champion Liem Swie King of Indonesia 15-3, 15-10 at the Wembley Stadium on March 23, 1980.

It was a record that for years to come was considered the best performance by an Indian badminton player before current national team head coach Pullela Gopichand managed to emulate that feat in 2001.

Leander Paes bronze medal: 25 years ago, a relatively unknown 23-year-old Leander Adrian Paes brought home India's first Olympic medal in tennis. Paes was a part of the 49-member contingent sent by India to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

India had failed to bag a medal in the previous three editions of the quadrennial games. The last individual medal for India had been achieved 11 Olympic games prior, back in 1952.

A medal from a player who was ranked 127 among singles competitors at that time and who had entered the draw through a wild-card was not expected.

Mary Kom world championship titles: Mary Kom has won eight World Championship medals. No other boxer either male or female in this world holds such an accomplishment.

Ever since the women’s world boxing championship was introduced in 2001, the Indian boxer has won a medal at each of the eight editions so far. She has won six gold, one silver, and one bronze in the opposition in her famous lifetime. The last one came in Russia in 2019.

Her global accomplishments have opened entryways for some sprouting women boxers to take up the sport regardless of where they come from.

The veteran is prepping young boxers at her home state-Manipur. The helping-hand approach of Mary makes her a legend in evident terms.

From Olympic medals to world titles and national distinctions, there's practically nothing she hasn't won in her astounding career.

The ascent of the champion warrior is undoubtedly a fairytale.

KD Jadhav: It was a moment of glory of India, a moment to rejoice and feel proud as a citizen of this country when Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav had clinched the first-ever medal for India at the Olympics. It was back in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki that the late athlete had grabbed a bronze in wrestling.

1975 Hockey WC: It was exactly on March 15, 1975, when the Indian hockey team created history by lifting its first and only World Cup by beating arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in the final.

Led by captain Ajit Pal Singh, the team left no stone unturned to ensure that they got the Cup home from Kuala Lumpur. They were placed in Group B of the tournament with West Germany, Australia, England, Argentina, and Ghana.

By virtue of three wins, one loss and one draw, India advanced to the semifinals to play home team Malaysia where they won 3-2. They had a close contest against Pakistan in the final and the illustrious feather in the hockey team’s cap was added when Ashok Kumar, son of the legendary player Dhyan Chand netted the match-winning goal.