When Sindhu cracked 100-plus men's only club

In 1980 when India won an Olympic gold, 16 men from the hockey squad were proud recipients of that honour. Add to the fact that we have a total of 8 golds and one silver in this game and you realize that more than a whopping hundred hockey players have had the honour of owning an Olympic gold or silver medal.

The individual events are no different. In 1900, India-born British Empire resident Norman Pritchard decided to participate from India’s side and he won two silvers in the 200 metres race and 200 metres hurdles.

In 2004 Rajyavardhan Rathore won silver, in 2008 Abhinav Bindra won gold and in 2012 both Vijay Kumar and Sushil Kumar won a silver each. It is curious that from 1900-2012 Indian women scored a total blank at either gold or silver!

That finally changed at Rio Olympics 2016 in August this year. Ace shuttler PV Sindhu created history when she entered the Olympics badminton final, the only woman to go that high. She gave a tough fight to then world No. 1 Carolina Marín in the final and had to settle for silver.

Sindhu has finally shattered a glass ceiling and one hopes that many more follow.

By Sunil Rajguru

Image Courtesy: AP, AFP, Reuters