India in 1984’s Summer Olympics
article written by paramjeet.
Performance World’s most populous country, India, has never performed well in the world famous Olympic games as compared to its population. Except some games that includes Hockey and Archery its performance has always remained dismal in other games. Most of its gold medals have been won by its hockey team.
Boycott 1984’s Olympic games were played in Los Angeles. But these games were boycotted by some countries of eastern-bloc that included Soviet Union, East Germany, Cuba, Iran and Libya. These 14 countries had held their own games event that they had named as Friendship games. Earlier USA and other 64 countries had boycotted the 1980’s Moscow Olympic games as a protest to its invasion of Afghanistan. But 1984’s Olympic games were attended by 140 countries that was a record as compared to the previous games. In the absence of USSR, USA toped the medal telly. It had won 83 gold medals in the games.
India Though no Indian could win a medal in the 1984’s Olympic games but it inspired the women of India to take part in the biggest event in future. P.T Usha shot to fame during these games and was given the name of ‘Udan Pari’ by the people of India. She failed to win the bronze medal in 400 meter hurdles by the margin of one-hundredth of a second. Another women athlete who shot to fame was Shiny Wilson who was first Indian to reach the semi-final of the race for 800 meters. In 4×400 meter relay final Indian women set an Asian record of 3:32.49 seconds but finished last.
Men It was only Chand Ram who could survive till the final of the Men’s 20km walk but finished with the 22th place. In other game events Indian men could not survive the world competition. But Indian women’s participation and their performance astonished everyone. It was first time that Indian girls were running in the finals of the athletics in the USA. Though P. T. Usha missed the bronze medal but her achievement of reaching the final of the race was nothing less than a medal and every one was proud of her achievement.
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