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The state of Delhi is currently celebrating a successfully conducted election, which saw an upset of monumental proportions. A political party’s ambitions might have been fulfilled, but the thirst of Delhi athletes to represent the state and country is an unquenchable one.From cricket to table tennis, the city and state have produced some of the finest athletes this country has ever seen. However, that cannot be said about the administrators from the state.The 2010 Commonwealth Games scam exposed a massive loophole in the state’s sporting administrative skills and processes. So on this momentous occasion for the state and city, let’s have a look at Delhi’s greatest athletes –
#1 Sushil Kumar (Wrestling)
From Najafgarh in Delhi, Kumar is probably one of the finest ever individual athletes the country has ever produced. Sushil Kumar kicked off his international wrestling career in style, winning the bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The 31-year old then won the gold medal at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championships. In 2012, he became the first Indian athlete to win individual medals in back to back Olympics. Kumar secured the silver medal in the 66 kg category.
In July 2009, he was also felicitated with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the highest honour for athletes in India.
Let’s just hope Delhi and India’s Sushil Kumar can convert his silver into gold in Rio 2016.
#2 Yuki Bhambri (Tennis)
Bhambri is definitely one of the best tennis players that Delhi abd India has ever produced. A former World no. 1, he shot into fame in 2009, after winning the Junior Australian Open. The victory made him the fourth ever Indian to capture a Junior singles Grand Slam title.
In 2010, Bhambri also reached the final of the Youth Olympics in Singapore. Unfortunately, an injury forced him out of the tournament. Turning professional in 2012, Bhambri reached a career high ranking of 143 in February, 2014.
His best result in a Grand Slam so far has been reaching the third round of the doubles event, with Michael Venus from New Zealand.
He is a regular fixture in India’s Davis Cup squad.
#3 Virender Sehwag (Cricket)
Pretty sure the man needs no introduction also known as the Nawab of Najafgarh, Sehwag made his debut for India in 1999. Sehwag’s batting prowess set the cricketing world alight.
He holds several records in cricket as well. Sehwag has the highest score by an Indian in Test Cricket (319), the same innings saw him make the fastest triple century in history as well (278 balls). At one point Sehwag also held the highest individual ODI score, only to be bettered by Rohit Sharma.
However, his statistics for Delhi are equally impressive. In 178 First Classmatches, he has amassed 13,459 runs and taken 105 wickets as well.
With close to 17,000 runs for India, Sehwag will definitely go down in India’s and Delhi’s history books.
#4 Neha Aggarwal (Table Tennis)
India’s only female Table Tennis representative at the 2008 Olympics, Neha Aggarwal has been a picture of consistency in the Women’s table tennis circuit in India.
After winning the Junior National event four times, Aggarwal graduated to the International level with relative ease, securing the gold medal at the Commonwealth Junior Championship.
She ended her junior career ranked 18 in the world, one of the highest ranks achieved by an Indian table tennis player.More recently, she went onto win doubles gold for Delhi at the ongoing National Games in Kerala.
#5 Joginder Singh (Hockey)
Singh was part of the National Hockey team that won the gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Nicknamed ‘Gindi’, he generally played down the right wing position and was known for his electric pace.
Apart from the gold medal, Singh also won the silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. After retiring from the sport, he went on to become a Sports Officer with the Bengal –Nagpur railway.
He passed away aged 63, due to a protracted kidney illness.
#6 Tania Sachdev (Chess)
In 2005, Tania Sachdev became only the eighth Indian woman to garner the tag of Grand Master. She also won the 2006 and 2007 National Championship, before winning the Asian Chess Championship in 2008.
Apart from her domestic and continental success, Sachdev won the bronze medal in the 2012 Istanbul Chess Olympiad held in Turkey.
However, this didn’t come as a surprise, considering her performances at the junior level. Apart from the bronze medal at the World under-12 Championship, she also became the Asian U-14 champion.
Let’s hope the 28-year old keeps making her country and state proud.
#7 Satpal Singh (Wrestling)
Singh has to claim to fames, the first is winning the gold medal at the 1982 Asian Games and second is coaching two-time Olympic medallist, Sushil Kumar. Apart from the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards, Singh also won the Dronacharya award in 2009.
Born in Bawana, Delhi, Singh was coached by legendary Indian wrestling coach, Guru Hanuman. It was only fit that he would emphasise on the importance of good coaching. Now 59, he also heads the School Games Federation of India, which aims to develop grass-root level sports.
It’s safe for us to say that Indian and Delhi wrestling is in safe hands.
#8 Indu Puri (Table Tennis)
The highest ever ranked women’s table tennis player in India, Puri reached a career-high of 63 in 1985, which would mean that she would also break into the top 10 of Asia. Puri also became the first ever India to defeat a World Champion in North Korea’s Park Yung-Sun.
Puri, who was born in Kolkata shifted base to New Delhi to cure her chronic asthma problem. She never looked back from there, representing India in six different World Table Tennis Championships.
She was also a part of the 2008 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Selection Committee.
#9 Khajan Singh (Swimming)
From the Munirka village in Delhi, Singh was one of India’s most prolific swimmers he shot into fame at the 1982 National Aquatics Championship by winning five gold medals, two silvers and one bronze. The following year at the Nationals in Trivandrum, he won seven gold medals.
Not only did he win those seven medals, but Singh also went onto set the National record in the 100m (55.34s).
The Arjuna Awardee’s bronze medal at the 1984 Asian Games in 200m Butterfly event helped him highlight Indian representation at the Continental stage. India would have to wait 24 year for another Asian Game medal in the sport through Virdhawal Khade.
#10 Virat Kohli (Cricket)
The poster boy of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli has been a revelation for not just Indian cricket, but also International cricket. Kohi made his debut in 2008 and has not looked back since. He did not make his test debut till 2011.
The breakout year for Kohli was 2011, where his performances stood out in a disastrous Australia tour. As senior batsmen failed to come to grips with the conditions, Kohli held his own.
A true leader, he also captained the National team in the last tour down under. Kohli has several records under his belt, including the fastest century by an Indian batsmen in ODI’s and also the fastest cricketer to reach 6,000 runs.
Kohli’s performances and leadership qualities have exemplified what Delhi is all about.
