Athletics in India

File:Trevor Norman derivate.jpg – India's first Olympic athletics medallist]]

File:Nilima Ghose 1952.jpg was among the first Indian female Olympians]]

File:Milkha Singh.jpg – known as "The Flying Sikh"]]

At the Olympic Games, the first Indian competitor was Norman Pritchard, an Anglo-Indian, who won silver medals in the 200 metres and 200 metres hurdles at the 1900 Summer Olympics.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417115232/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pr/norman-pritchard-1.html Norman Pritchard]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29. These remain the only athletics medals for 120 years until Neeraj Chopra won gold medal in Javelin throw at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.{{Cite web|date=August 9, 2021|first=Sabi|last=Hussain|title=Neeraj Chopra: Right now my full focus is on my game, biopic can wait, says Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra {{!}} Tokyo Olympics News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tokyo-olympics/india-in-tokyo/right-now-my-full-focus-is-on-my-game-biopic-can-wait-says-tokyo-olympics-gold-medallist-neeraj-chopra/articleshow/85168153.cms|access-date=2021-08-09|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809072509/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tokyo-olympics/india-in-tokyo/right-now-my-full-focus-is-on-my-game-biopic-can-wait-says-tokyo-olympics-gold-medallist-neeraj-chopra/articleshow/85168153.cms|url-status=live}} Neeraj created the history by throwing his Javelin to 87.58 meters in the final at Tokyo. He became first track and field athlete of India, who won gold medal at Olympics.{{Cite web|title=Watch: Somdev Devvarman, Sunil Gavaskar And Others Salute Tokyo Olympics Gold Medallist Neeraj Chopra With Catchy Song {{!}} Olympics News|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/olympics-2020/watch-somdev-devvarman-sunil-gavaskar-and-others-salute-tokyo-olympics-gold-medallist-neeraj-chopra-with-catchy-song-2505498|access-date=2021-08-09|website=NDTVSports.com|language=en|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809072511/https://sports.ndtv.com/olympics-2020/watch-somdev-devvarman-sunil-gavaskar-and-others-salute-tokyo-olympics-gold-medallist-neeraj-chopra-with-catchy-song-2505498|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=DePasquale|first=Ron|date=2021-08-07|title=India won its first gold in track and field.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/07/sports/olympics/neeraj-chopra-india-javelin.html|access-date=2021-08-09|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809072509/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/07/sports/olympics/neeraj-chopra-india-javelin.html|url-status=live}}

The first indigenous Indians to compete at the games were sprinter Purma Bannerjee, and distance runners Phadeppa Chaugule and Sadashir Datar at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417092540/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IND/summer/1920/ India at the 1920 Olympics]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29. The nation continued to send athletes to the Olympic athletics competition every four years, with Nilima Ghose and Mary D'Souza Sequeira becoming independent India's first female Olympians at the 1952 Helsinki Games.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417090239/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IND/summer/1952/ India at the 1952 Summer Olympics]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29.

At a regional level, India took part in the 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games, but failed to win any medals.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/fec.htm Far Eastern Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020235613/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/fec.htm |date=October 20, 2021 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-06-29. The nation hosted the Western Asiatic Games and won all but three of the athletics events.[http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1935/BODE29/BODE29d.pdf Results of the First Western Asiatic Games. Official Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912051039/http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1935/BODE29/BODE29d.pdf |date=September 12, 2016 }}. LA84. Retrieved 2019-06-29. India was the host of the debut Asian Games in 1951 and finished second to Japan in the athletics medal table, which included a men's sprint double by Lavy Pinto and two silvers in women's sprints by Roshan Mistry.{{cite web|title=First Asian Games|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1951/BDCE27/BDCE27r.pdf|publisher=la84foundation|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=July 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711234331/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1951/BDCE27/BDCE27r.pdf|url-status=live}} The country was less successful at the 1954 Asian Games, though Parduman Singh Brar managed a shot put/javelin double and Christine Brown, Stephie D'Souza, Violet Peters, Mary D'Souza Sequeira gave India its first women athletics gold medal, taking the 4 × 100 metres relay title.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/asg.htm Asian Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018174930/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/asg.htm |date=October 18, 2018 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-06-29.

Milkha Singh was India's first athlete to gain success at a global level, earning the nickname "The Flying Sikh".[https://www.indianathletics.in/halloffame/milkha-singh-flying-sikh Milka Singh - The Flying Sikh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422224046/http://www.indianathletics.in/halloffame/milkha-singh-flying-sikh |date=April 22, 2019 }}. Athletics Federation of India. Retrieved 2019-06-29. He won a 200 metres/400 metres double at the 1958 Asian Games before going on to take the 440 yards title at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games – India's first winner at that competition.{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/india-s-first-celebrity-athlete-113070500965_1.html |title=India's first celebrity athlete |publisher=Business Standard |first=Aabhas |last=Sharma |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=2013-07-13 |archive-date=July 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710193849/http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/india-s-first-celebrity-athlete-113070500965_1.html |url-status=live }} He finished fourth in the 400 m at the 1960 Summer Olympics.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418115838/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/milkha-singh-1.html Milkha Singh]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29. Decathlete Gurbachan Singh Randhawa won gold at the 1962 Asian Games and placed fifth in the 110 metres hurdles final at the 1964 Olympic Games.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418005025/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/gurbachan-singh-randhawa-1.html Gurbachan Singh Randhawa]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29. Throws athlete Praveen Kumar was the sole Indian athletics medallist at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and won back-to-back Asian Games discus titles from 1966 to 1970 (achievements that he converted into a film career).[https://thebridge.in/athlete-actor-bsf-personnel-the-many-faces-of-praveen-kumar-sobti/ Athlete, Actor, BSF Personnel: The many faces of Praveen Kumar Sobti] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405095053/https://thebridge.in/athlete-actor-bsf-personnel-the-many-faces-of-praveen-kumar-sobti/ |date=April 5, 2019 }}. The Bridge (2018-12-01). Retrieved 2019-06-29.

In the 1970s, Indian athletes had increased regional success. Kamaljeet Sandhu became the first Indian female athlete to win an individual Asian Games gold medal, taking the 1970 title in the 400 metres.{{cite web|title=On International Women's Day, Kamaljeet Sandhu revisits 1970 Asian Games triumph|date=March 8, 2018 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/on-international-women-s-day-kamaljeet-sandhu-revisits-1970-asian-games-triumph/story-wYyf6DACEmB9gcW0do157K.html|publisher=The Hindustan Times|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=July 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714021353/https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/on-international-women-s-day-kamaljeet-sandhu-revisits-1970-asian-games-triumph/story-wYyf6DACEmB9gcW0do157K.html|url-status=live}} Decathlete Vijay Singh Chauhan winning the Asian Athletics Championships and Asian Games titles in 1973 and 1974. Men's triple jumper Mohinder Singh Gill won at the 1970 Asian Games, took the first two decathlon titles of the Asian Athletics Championships (1973 and 1975), as well as taking two minor medals at the Commonwealth Games.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/Im-pained-by-reported-scams-in-Commonwealth-Games-Gill/articleshow/6314754.cms I'm pained by reported scams in Commonwealth Games: Gill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505002952/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/Im-pained-by-reported-scams-in-Commonwealth-Games-Gill/articleshow/6314754.cms |date=May 5, 2022 }}. Times of India (2010-08-15). Retrieved 2019-06-29. Sriram Singh established India in middle-distance running, winning two Asian Games golds and a silver that decade, three gold medals at the 1975 Asian Athletics Championships, and a seventh-place finish 1976 Olympic 800 m final.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418120012/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/sri-ram-singh-1.html Sriram Singh]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/asc.htm Asian Championships] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923173114/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/asc.htm |date=September 23, 2018 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-06-29. Shivnath Singh won four distance medals at the Asian Championships, placed 11th at the 1976 Olympic Marathon and set a long-standing national marathon record in 1978.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Shivnath-Singh-was-a-brave-runner-with-a-heart-of-gold/articleshow/11983.cms? Shivnath Singh was a brave runner with a heart of gold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907222230/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Shivnath-Singh-was-a-brave-runner-with-a-heart-of-gold/articleshow/11983.cms |date=September 7, 2019 }}. Times of India (2003-06-07). Retrieved 2019-06-29. In the second half of the decade, Hari Chand (long-distance), Bahadur Singh Chouhan (shot put), Hakam Singh (racewalking) and Suresh Babu (multi-events) each won multiple Asian medals and titles.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was constructed as the national stadium in preparation for hosting the 1982 Asian Games, representing an improvement in India's elite level sports infrastructure. India was third in the athletics rankings at the competition, behind the regional leaders China and Japan. Charles Borromeo (long jump), Chand Ram (racewalking), Bahadur Singh Chouhan, and M. D. Valsamma (hurdles) all won gold with games record performances. The competition marked an era of increased success for India's women athletes: Geeta Zutshi took two silver medals in middle-distance running and 18-year-old P. T. Usha won her first major medals with two silvers in the sprints. Usha reached the final of Women's 400 metres hurdles at 1984 Summer Olympics, setting an Asian record time in fourth place, and also helped the Indian women's 4 × 400 metres relay to the final.Bobb, Dilip (1986-10-31). [https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19861031-p.t.-usha-the-unquestioned-queen-of-track-at-seoul-asian-games-801397-1986-10-31 P.T. Usha: The unquestioned queen of track at Seoul Asian Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712074028/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19861031-p.t.-usha-the-unquestioned-queen-of-track-at-seoul-asian-games-801397-1986-10-31 |date=July 12, 2020 }}. India Today. Retrieved 2019-06-29. Usha went on to win four gold medals at the 1986 Asian Games and an unprecedented four individual titles at the 1985 Asian Athletics Championships. She was the nation's leading athlete at the 1989 Asian Athletics Championships, held in New Delhi, winning four gold medals and one silver. Usha continued to win medals at continental level into the late 1990s.

Usha won three of India's six athletics medals at the 1990 Asian Games, but the emergence of Qatar and South Korea saw India fall down the country rankings. Women's runner Shiny Wilson led the nation with two golds and a silver at the 1991 Asian Athletics Championships. Men's distance runner Bahadur Prasad set national records and took a gold and a silver medal at the 1993 Asian Athletics Championships. The 1994 Asian Games highlighted India's fall at regional level again: with zero golds, women's runners Usha, Wilson and Kutty Saramma were involved in the nation's minor medals. Jyotirmoyee Sikdar marked her breakthrough in middle-distance with India's sole gold medals at the 1995 Asian Athletics Championships and the 1998 Asian Games. Usha won the final gold medal of her career with the women's 4 × 100 metres relay team at the 1998 Asian Athletics Championships, which was India's only gold that year.

File:15Anju-Bobby-George1 (cropped).jpg is one of India's few global athletics medallists]]

The start of the 21st century coincided with an improvement in the standard of performances in the sport in India. The country placed second at the 2000 Asian Athletics Championships, taking 21 of the medals available. It fell down the rankings at the 2002 edition, but still won ten medals and retained the women's 4 × 400 m relay title. After a long medal drought at the competition, discus thrower Neelam Jaswant Singh and long jumper Anju Bobby George reached the podium at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian women to do so.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/cgw.htm Commonwealth Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926003305/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/cgw.htm |date=September 26, 2018 }}. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-06-29. The 2002 Asian Games saw India return as a force at regional level, winning seven gold and 17 medals overall in athletics. On the women's side, Singh and George both won gold, K. M. Beenamol won 800 m and 4 × 400 m relay gold, Saraswati Saha won the 200 m, and Sunita Rani set the current Asian Games record in the 1500 metres. Bahadur Singh Sagoo was the sole men's gold medallist in the shot put.

Anju Bobby George made history when she won the bronze medal in Women's long jump at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a global athletics medal. Over the rest of the decade, she took fifth at the 2004 Summer Olympics, made two more finals at the World Championships in Athletics, won an Asian Championships title, and four more silver medals at Asian level.[https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/india/anju-bobby-george-174599 Anju Bobby George] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408043124/https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/india/anju-bobby-george-174599 |date=April 8, 2019 }}. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-06-29. The Indian women's 4 × 400 metres relay team established itself as one of the best in the region in this decade, taking silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, gold at the 2006 Asian Games, seventh at the 2004 Olympics, and two Asian Championships titles in 2005 and 2007. Among the Indian relay runners were several athletes with individual success: Manjeet Kaur (2004 Asian Games runner-up), Chitra Soman (2007 Asian Championships winner) and Sathi Geetha (2005 Asian Championships runner-up). Other athletes who were successful during this period included 2007 Asian Championships men's triple jump champion Renjith Maheshwary, indoor and outdoor Asian men's shot put champion Navpreet Singh, Asian heptathlon medallists J. J. Shobha and Soma Biswas, and multiple Asian women's middle-distance runner Sinimole Paulose. Men's shot putter Om Prakash Karhana was India's sole winner at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships, setting a championship record in the process.[https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/six-more-gold-for-china-in-guangzhou-asian Six more gold for China in Guangzhou - Asian champs, day 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000602/https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/six-more-gold-for-china-in-guangzhou-asian |date=February 21, 2019 }}. IAAF (2009-11-12). Retrieved 2019-06-29.

The 2000s saw India begin to host major athletics events more frequently, with the 2004 Asian Cross Country Championships, 2003 Afro-Asian Games, 2004 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, 2007 Military World Games, 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games all representing the first time that India had hosted those competitions.

Krishna Poonia created history by winning the 2010 Commonwealth women's discus throw, becoming the first Commonwealth athletics gold medallist for India in 52 years and the first Indian woman to win an athletics gold at the Commonwealth Games.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/krishna-poonia-creates-history-wins-gold-in-athletics/|title=Krishna Poonia creates history,wins gold in athletics|work=The Indian Express|date=11 October 2010|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713231848/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/krishna-poonia-creates-history-wins-gold-in-athletics/|url-status=live}} This was part of an Indian sweep of the women's discus, with Harwant Kaur and Seema Punia taking the minor medals. India won two athletics golds at a Commonwealth Games for the first time, as Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Akkunji and Mandeep Kaur secured the 4 × 400 m relay. That team returned at the 2010 Asian Games and achieved a Games record time in that victory. India won the second highest number of athletics gold medals there, with Akkunji and Joseph Abraham winning the 400 m hurdles titles, and women's distance runners Preeja Sreedharan and Sudha Singh also topping the podium.[https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/golden-girls-preeja-and-sudha-sparkle/cid/468921 Golden girls Preeja and Sudha sparkle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420224741/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/golden-girls-preeja-and-sudha-sparkle/cid/468921 |date=April 20, 2023 }}. Telegraph India (2010-11-22). Retrieved 2019-06-29. Mayookha Johny was India's best at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships, winning the women's long jump and setting a triple jump national record.Mohan, K.P. (2011-07-10). [https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/mayookha-wins-bronze-in-triple-jump/article2214373.ece Mayookha wins bronze in triple jump] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420224742/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/mayookha-wins-bronze-in-triple-jump/article2214373.ece |date=April 20, 2023 }}. The Hindu. Retrieved 2019-06-29. India performed well in the discus throw at the 2012 London Olympics, with Krishna Poonia and Vikas Gowda both making the finals. Irfan Kolothum Thodi also placed tenth in the men's 20 km walk with a national record time.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417173308/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IND/summer/2012/ATH/ India Athletics at the 2012 London Games]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29.

The 2013 Asian Athletics Championships held in Pune saw India accrue 17 medals. Gowda and the women's 4 × 400 metres relay team brought the country its two gold medals of the competition. Gowda was again victorious at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning a men's discus gold medal, and won silver at the 2014 Asian Games. The women's 4 × 400 metres relay team set an Asian Games record at that competition, with Priyanka Pawar, Tintu Lukka, Mandeep Kaur, and M. R. Poovamma clocking 3:28:68. Seema Punia brought India another gold in the women's discus event. The nation's gold medals at the 2015 Asian Athletics Championships were divided between men's throws (Inderjeet Singh and Vikas Gowda) and women's distance track events (Lalita Babar and Tintu Luka).[http://athleticsasia.org/index.php/results/asian-athletics-championships/71-asian-athletics-championship-2015/file 2015 Asian Athletics Championships Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054320/http://athleticsasia.org/index.php/results/asian-athletics-championships/71-asian-athletics-championship-2015/file |date=December 28, 2017 }}. Athletics Asia. Retrieved 2019-06-29. Lalita Babar was the best performing Indian athlete at the 2016 Summer Olympics, placing tenth in the women's steeplechase.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171131/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IND/summer/2016/ATH/ India Athletics at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games]. Sports Reference. Retrieved 2019-06-29.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/india-in-olympics-2016/athletics/Rio-Olympics-Lalita-Babar-through-to-womens-3000m-steeplechase-final-with-national-mark/articleshow/53687991.cms|title=Rio Olympics: Lalita Babar through to women's 3000m steeplechase final with national mark|work=The Times of India|date=13 August 2016|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902042243/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/india-in-olympics-2016/athletics/Rio-Olympics-Lalita-Babar-through-to-womens-3000m-steeplechase-final-with-national-mark/articleshow/53687991.cms|url-status=live}}

India held the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships – its third time as host – and topped the medal table for the first time, beating China by twelve golds to eight. Govindan Lakshmanan won both the men's long-distance track events and Mohammad Anas and Arokia Rajiv took a men's 1–2 in the 400 m before winning the relay title. Neeraj Chopra won the men's javelin in a championship record of 85.23 m. Nirmala Sheoran was an individual and relay champion in women's 400 m. The remaining women's winners were P. U. Chitra (1500 m), Sudha Singh (steeplechase) and Swapna Barman (heptathlon).[http://athleticsasia.org/index.php/files/14/Results/1/22nd-asian-athletics-champ-final-results.pdf 22nd Asian Athletics Championships Final Results]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Athletics Asia. Retrieved 2019-06-29. India extended its regional athletics success with second place at the 2018 Asian Games: Manjit Singh and Jinson Johnson won the men's middle distance titles, Arpinder Singh, Tejinder Pal Singh Toor and Neeraj Chopra won men's field titles, while the women' 4 × 400 m relay team and heptathlete Swapna Barman won the women's title. Throwing events proved to be India's forte at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, with Chopra adding a Commonwealth javelin title to his honours and Seema Punia making her fourth consecutive appearance on the Commonwealth women's discus podium.

Hima Das became India's first athlete to win a medal in a track event at an IAAF competition with her 400 m gold medal at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/hima-das-brings-it-home-with-a-sizzling-run/article24402077.ece|title=Hima Das brings home India's first ever track gold at the Worlds|work=The Hindu|date=12 July 2018|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713175922/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/hima-das-brings-it-home-with-a-sizzling-run/article24402077.ece|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hotstar.com/sports/athletics/hima-wins-historic-gold-for-india/2001615696|title=Hima Wins Historic Gold for India|date=13 July 2018|publisher=Hotstar|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713073630/http://www.hotstar.com/sports/athletics/hima-wins-historic-gold-for-india/2001615696|archive-date=July 13, 2018|url-status=dead}} She is second gold medalist in athletics at IAAF World U20 Championships after Neeraj Chopra, who won men's javelin throw gold at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships with a world junior record mark.

File:Neeraj Chopra Of India(Javelin) (cropped).jpg, javelin thrower and India's first Olympic Gold medallist in athletics.]]Neeraj Chopra won India's first-ever Olympic gold medal in athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) by throwing his best of 87.58 meters in the javelin throw final. Chopra is the first javelin thrower from India who won a gold medal, and only the second Indian sportsperson after Abhinav Bindra to win an Olympic gold medal.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-07|title=Chopra wins India's 1st gold in Olympic track and field|url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-track-and-field-javelin-neeraj-chopra-1f61c89175270ed5198166e808413f9f|access-date=2021-08-09|website=AP NEWS|language=en|archive-date=August 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808195835/https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-track-and-field-javelin-neeraj-chopra-1f61c89175270ed5198166e808413f9f|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Awinash Sable and Priyanka Goswami created history by winning silver medals in 3000 m and 10,000 m steeplechase and racewalking at the Commonwealth Games, events in which India has historically been an underdog.{{Cite news |title=History on track |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=August 6, 2022 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/history-on-track/articleshow/93398710.cms |access-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021033542/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/history-on-track/articleshow/93398710.cms |url-status=live }}

File:Deepa Malik.jpg – India's first women's Paralympic medallist]]

{{see also|India at the Paralympics}}

India first sent athletes at the 1968 Paralympic Games and won its first medals in 1984, when Joginder Singh Bedi won medals in three throwing events and Bhimrao Kesarkar took the javelin silver medal. Devendra Jhajharia became the nation's first Paralympic athletics champion in 2004, and only the second Indian to win in any Paralympic sport, after the swimmer Murlikant Petkar. The 2016 Summer Paralympics marked a new high for India as it win four medals, all in athletics: Mariyappan Thangavelu (high jump) and Devendra Jhajharia (javelin) won their events, Varun Singh Bhati took high jump bronze and Deepa Malik became India's first female Paralympic medallist with her shotput silver.[https://www.news18.com/news/olympics/sachin-tendulkar-presents-gifts-to-paralympic-heroes-1298304.html Sachin Tendulkar Presents Gifts to Paralympic Heroes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124025040/https://www.news18.com/news/olympics/sachin-tendulkar-presents-gifts-to-paralympic-heroes-1298304.html |date=November 24, 2018 }}. News 18 (2016-10-03). Retrieved 2019-06-29.

File:Dutee Chand.jpg won a landmark case on hyperandrogenism against the IAAF that had international impacts.]]

Indian athletes have been involved in several requests for sex verification in athletics in the 21st century.

In 2001, Indian athlete and swimmer Pratima Gaonkar committed suicide after disclosure and public commentary on her failed sex verification test.{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/the-girl-before-dutee-chand-pratima-gaonkar-5346699/|title=The rising star who ended her life much before Dutee Chand challenged the rules|last=Koshie|first=Nihal|date=9 September 2018|work=The Indian Express|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630122238/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/the-girl-before-dutee-chand-pratima-gaonkar-5346699/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.goanews.com/news_disp.php?newsid=7&catid=220|title=Mystery of Pratima's suicide|last=Prabhudesai|first=Sandesh|date=11 October 2001|work=Goa News|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328231007/http://www.goanews.com/news_disp.php?newsid=7&catid=220|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2012/07/21/goas-pinki-pramanik|title=Goa's Pinki Pramanik|last=Nagvenkar|first=Mayabhushan|date=21 July 2012|work=Newslaundry|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630122231/https://www.newslaundry.com/2012/07/21/goas-pinki-pramanik|url-status=live}} Santhi Soundarajan, who won the silver medal in the 800 m at the 2006 Asian Games, failed the sex verification test and was subsequently stripped of her medal.{{Cite journal|last=Dreger|first=Alice|date=2010|title=Sex Typing for Sport|journal=The Hastings Center Report|volume=40|issue=2|pages=22–24|doi=10.1353/hcr.0.0250|issn=0093-0334|jstor=40663834|pmid=20391846|s2cid=43333211}} Another gold medallist at that competition, Pinki Pramanik, underwent medical tests in November 2012 that indicated she was a "male pseudo-hermaphrodite".{{Cite web |url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/athletics/item/199193-tests-show-athlete-pinki-pramanik-charged-with-rape-is-male |title=Tests show athlete Pinki Pramanik, charged with rape, is male |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205172549/http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/athletics/item/199193-tests-show-athlete-pinki-pramanik-charged-with-rape-is-male |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/athletics/Medical-experts-doubt-Pinki-Pramanik-can-rape/articleshow/17211823.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103180851/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-14/athletics/35111300_1_pinki-pramanik-medical-experts-medical-report|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Medical experts doubt Pinki Pramanik can rape|date=14 November 2012|work=The Times of India|access-date=15 November 2012}}

Dutee Chand was dropped from the 2014 Commonwealth Games at the last minute after the Athletic Federation of India stated that hyperandrogenism made her ineligible to compete as a female athlete. International policies on hyperandrogenism were suspended following the case of Dutee Chand v. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) & The International Association of Athletics Federations, in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, decided in July 2015.{{Cite conference| publisher = Court of Arbitration for Sport| last = Court of Arbitration for Sport| title = CAS 2014/A/3759 Dutee Chand v. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) & The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)| date = July 2015| url = http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/award_internet.pdf| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170704221029/http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/award_internet.pdf| archive-date = July 4, 2017| access-date = June 29, 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/29446276|title=Sport & gender: A history of bad science & 'biological racism'|last=Slater|first=Matt|date=28 July 2015|access-date=28 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721174449/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/29446276|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=live|publisher=BBC Sport}} The ruling found that there was insufficient evidence that testosterone increased female athletic performance. In doing so the court immediately suspended the practice of hyperandrogenism regulation used by the IAAF and declared it void unless the organization could present better evidence by July 2017.{{cite news|last1=Branch|first1=John|title=Dutee Chand, Female Sprinter With High Testosterone Level, Wins Right to Compete|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/sports/international/dutee-chand-female-sprinter-with-high-male-hormone-level-wins-right-to-compete.html|access-date=22 May 2016|work=The New York Times|date=27 July 2016|quote=The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland, questioned the athletic advantage of naturally high levels of testosterone in women and therefore immediately suspended the practice of 'hyperandrogenism regulation' by track and field’s governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations. It gave the organization, known as the I.A.A.F., two years to provide more persuasive scientific evidence linking 'enhanced testosterone levels and improved athletic performance.'|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814221355/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/sports/international/dutee-chand-female-sprinter-with-high-male-hormone-level-wins-right-to-compete.html|archive-date=14 August 2016}} The International Olympic Committee stated that it would not impose a maximum testosterone level for the 2016 Summer Olympics and, accordingly, Chand continued to compete internationally in the women's division.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/magazine/the-humiliating-practice-of-sex-testing-female-athletes.html|title=The Humiliating Practice of Sex-Testing Female Athletes|last=Padawer|first=Ruth|date=28 June 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=28 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628124045/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/magazine/the-humiliating-practice-of-sex-testing-female-athletes.html|archive-date=28 June 2016|issn=0362-4331}}

India has hosted several major international athletics events. The first was the Western Asiatic Games in 1934. India's first global level athletics event came in the form of the 2004 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

• 1934 Western Asiatic Games
• 1951 Asian Games
• 1982 Asian Games
• 1987 South Asian Games
• 1989 Asian Athletics Championships
• 1992 Asian Junior Athletics Championships
• 1995 South Asian Games
• 1996 Asian Junior Athletics Championships
• 2003 Afro-Asian Games
• 2004 Asian Cross Country Championships
• 2004 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
• 2007 Military World Games
• 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games
• 2010 Commonwealth Games
• 2010 Asian Marathon Championships
• 2013 Asian Athletics Championships
• 2013 South Asian Junior Athletics ChampionshipsChaudhury, Sumedha (2013-07-26). [https://www.dailypioneer.com/2013/state-editions/jharkhand-keen-to-host-junior-saf-athletics-championship.html Jharkhand keen to host Junior SAF Athletics Championship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409141802/https://www.dailypioneer.com/2013/state-editions/jharkhand-keen-to-host-junior-saf-athletics-championship.html |date=April 9, 2022 }}. Daily Pioneer. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
• 2014 Lusophony Games
• 2016 South Asian Games
• 2017 Asian Athletics Championships

File:Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.png was the centerpiece for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.]]

Numerous low-level athletics facilities exist in India, along with several large stadia for major athletics events. It is common for multi-purpose stadiums in India to include a running track for athletics.

• Angul Stadium
• Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium
• Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium
• G. M. C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium
• Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium
• Indira Gandhi Stadium, Alwar
• Jaipal Singh Stadium
• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Coimbatore)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Delhi)
• JRD Tata Sports Complex
• Judges Field
• Kalinga Stadium
• Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Jhansi
• MGR Race Course Stadium
• Nehru Stadium, Kottayam
• Shilaroo Hockey Stadium

File:Open10K.jpg]]

;National championships

• Indian National Open Athletics Championships
• Indian Inter State Senior Athletics Championships
• Indian Marathon Championships
• Indian Cross Country Championships
• Indian Racewalking Championships

;Road races

• Delhi Half Marathon
• Kashmir International Half Marathon
• Pinkathon
• World 10K Bangalore

;Marathons

• Auroville Marathon
• Bangalore Marathon
• Calicut Mini Marathon
• Chennai Marathon
• GiveLife Chennai Marathon
• Goa Marathon
• Great Tibetan Marathon
• Hyderabad Marathon
• Indian Marathon
• Indira Marathon
• Indore Marathon
• Jaipur Marathon
• Kolkata Marathon
• Ladakh Marathon
• Mumbai Marathon
• Patna Marathon
• Pune International Marathon
• Sabarmati Marathon
• Vadodara Marathon
• Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon

• Updated till 11th August, 2024

File:Lalita Babar - Rio 2016.jpg, an Indian long-distance runner, was honoured with Arjuna Award in 2016.]]

File:Mercy kuttan1.jpg received the award in 1989]]

File:Reeth and Beedu.jpg (with coach Beedu) was a 1997 awardee.]]

The Arjuna Awards are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India each year to recognize outstanding achievement in sports. A significant number of athletics competitors have been given the award. This has included both able-bodied athletes and disabled sportspeople.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm Arjuna Awardees]. YAS.NIC.IN. sRetrieved 2019-06-29.

‡ - Para Athlete

§ - Lifetime Contribution

• Sport in India

• India at the Olympics
• List of Indian records in athletics
• List of National Sports Award recipients in athletics

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.indianathletics.in/ Athletics Federation of India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608162329/https://www.indianathletics.in/ |date=June 8, 2019 }} website

{{Sport in India}}

{{Athletics by country}}

Athletics

India

India