On the final day of a prestigious badminton championship, an Indian shuttler had taken the London tube, carried his kit, and walked to the court. That person turned out to be Prakash Padukone, who became the first Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Championships in 1980.In a new book ‘Journey of a Nation: 75 Years of Indian Sports – Game, Guts, Glory‘, author Chandresh Narayanan looks at a multitude of India’s sporting achievements and puts together stories of triumphs.The book was launched in Mumbai on August 20, 2022 at the campus of International Institute of Sports and Management (IISM) in Mumbai. The launch was hosted by Tarana Raja, noted actor and RJ. The launch was graced by the Founder of IISM and former India cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni and noted sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare.As India celebrates its 75 years of independence, the book aims to capture the country’s evolution as a sporting nation and reflects on its nationhood through sporting endeavours.The book is a history of the nation’s development as a sporting nation and also the journey of its athletes – from being enthusiasts of a particular game to becoming internationally recognised champions.This book, which is a part of a Journey of a Nation series, explores how India has produced its pool of talented athletes and sports teams. It especially focuses on India’s emergence as a rising force in sports in the last 15 years. Today, the country’s triumphs are not limited to cricket or hockey. India is winning medals in diverse fields, ranging from badminton and boxing to weightlifting and shooting.The narration chronicles the country’s highs and lows, challenges and improvements to its transformation as a leading sporting nation.The author is an independent cricket author, writer and broadcaster with over two decades of experience. He has previously worked at The Indian Express, The Times of India, Neo Sports, IPL, ICC and Delhi Daredevils. Narayan has previously authored two books and currently, also writes for Dainik Bhaskar.
Relive 75 years of Indian sporting achievements through this book by Chandresh Narayanan
