To encourage youth to enjoy sports such as athletics and to raise awareness of the importance of fitness, World Athletics Day is celebrated worldwide every May. The day was first introduced by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 1996. The day is significant for India as we have seen exceptional athletes achieve achievements and break records on the international stage. Let’s take a look at some of India’s athletic gems and their educational qualifications.
PT Usha
Known for her graceful long stride sprints, Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha or PT Usha became synonymous with athletics in India. She starred at numerous Asian track and field events in the 1980s, earning a total of 23 medals, 14 of which were gold. She was born in a village in Kerala and studied in nearby Payyoli hence she earned the nickname Payyoli Express for her lightning speed.
Milkha Singh
Hailed as the ‘Flying Sikh’, Milkha Singh was one of the best athletes India had ever seen. He won India’s first gold medal in the 440 yards race at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales in 1958. Before Singh took up running, he tried to enter the mechanical engineering branch of the Indian Army, but was able to make it after three attempts. . He later joined the army and started his track and field career during that time. After migrating to India during the partition, Milkha was educated in Pakistan.
Anju Bobby George
Bobby George, a remarkable sportsman, is India’s first athlete to win a medal at a World Championship. The two-time Olympian also holds the national record in the women’s long jump in India. She was born in Kerala and attended CKM Koruthode School. She performed consistently and medaled in long jump at the Asian Junior Championships in New Delhi while graduating from Thrissur’s Vimala College in 1996.
Gurbachan Singh Randhawa
Born in Amritsar in 1939, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa emerged as one of India’s most gifted athletes. He showed his exceptional talent by winning several medals during school days and later became the best athlete of Punjab University. He took gold in decathlon at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Gurbachan also finished 5th in the 110m hurdles at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where he was also the flag bearer of the Indian contingent. He is also India’s first athlete to be awarded the Arjun Prize.
Dutee Chand
Dutee Chand, a professional sprinter, is the first Indian to win gold in the 100m race at a world championship. She had won the medal in 2019 at the World Universiade in Naples. Dutee shot to the fore when she became the National Under-18 Champion in the 100m in 2012. Duete was born into a poverty-stricken family in Odisha and attended a local school in her village. Later, she entered the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) to continue her law studies.
Hima Das
Hima Das, a young athlete from Assam, made history after winning gold in the 400m race at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships held in Finland. The Dhing Express had clocked an impressive timing of 51.46 seconds. She broke her 400m record at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta by running 50.79 seconds to take a silver medal. Hima passed her class 12 exam of Assam board in 2019.
Neeraj Chopra
For the boy with a golden arm, the list of his achievements is long. The javelin thrower became U-16 National Champion when he turned 12. He won a silver medal at the 2016 Asian Junior Championships by throwing 77.60 meters. But Neeraj rose to fame after his historic win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he took home the gold medal for his 87.58 throw. He graduated from Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College in Chandigarh and then entered Lovely Professional University (LPU) to pursue a bachelor of arts degree.
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