'India become World Champions'

'India – the top ranked team in the world'

‘Another gold for India’

'India'

The name has become a household one on the stage of world sports. India has toiled hard and worked its way up the ladder in not just one or two, but an impressive range of sports. Cricket, Athletics, Hockey, Badminton, Kabaddi, Archery, Wrestling and Football, to name a few, are some of the sports in which we continue to make an impact on global level.

However, the heights India has achieved across various sports hasn’t been an overnight success. It has taken umpteen years, drastic improvements in infrastructure and unimaginable efforts both – on and off the field – to earn the bragging rights we have today. The journey to become a contender in world sports has been long, dating back to efforts from the likes of Major Dhyan Chand, in whose memory, the National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29th every year. On this special occasion, the country honours the sportsmen of the highest calibre with the Dronacharya Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, and the Arjuna Award. The number and significance of the achievements of these champions fill our hearts with immense pride.

The credit for this can be attributed to numerous factors, but mainly to the substantial change in the landscape of sports in India, how games are perceived and played altogether. India has seen a boost in the interest levels for sports and the means to pursue the same. Making a sporting career today has become a viable option for people, unlike the not-so-distant past when people could not consider becoming sportspersons.

Among many sporting victories, India has made notable progress in football. With the country backing the Blues, the team delivered in style as it bagged the Intercontinental Cup on its way to improving its world ranking. As also evident in the performances by athletes like Hima Das, Dutee Chand and Neeraj Chopra at Asian Games 2018, the country’s youth is determined to make India a superpower in world sports. The medal count at the ongoing Games has already touched half a century, well on its way to improving our past performances of 57 (2014) and 65 (2010). The number of national records these young stars have to their names only gives you an idea of what the future has in store.

To aid the youngsters and help the country aspire for more champions, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports provides a platform to budding sportsmen to realise their full potential and shine. The attendance from institutes across India with talented athletes and football teams has been staggering. Every year, the institute count continues to grow exponentially. While around 1900+ institutes registered in 2016, the number was more than double in the next year and is expected to be much more in the third edition which will be starting soon.

Although, we have come a long way, we have an even longer way to go and greater stories to write. Here’s hoping that India achieves unprecedented sporting glory in the years to come.