An Indian shuttler had taken the London tube, carried his kit, and walked to the court. On the final day of a prestigious badminton championship. That person turned out to be Prakash Padukone, who become the first Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Championships in 1980.

The 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.

As India celebrates 75 years of Independence, we look back at sporting achievements of this country and revisit the moments that made memories. Nothing has united India as much as a fantastic performance in a sport. The victories, the medals and the individual brilliance of India’s sportspersons have bridged divides even during moments of despair in the country. India has produced a number of brilliant individuals and teams who have ensured that India’s flag is held high at all times. Whether it is a hockey champion on either sides of Independence, or being home to flannelled gods of cricket, soldiers of the 64 squares, tennis stars, wrestlers, weightlifters, boxers, shuttlers or cueists, India has always aimed for the top.

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. The book 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 spotlights 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.

About the Author: Chandresh Narayanan is an independent cricket author, writer and broadcaster who has worked in the sport for over two decades, with stints at The Indian Express, The Times of India, Neo Sports, IPL, ICC and Delhi Daredevils. He is the author of two books, World Cup Heroes and is a biographer of Sanath Jayasuriya. He also regularly calls live cricket, apart from sharing his experiences in sports journalism and sports management with students. He currently also writes for Dainik Bhaskar. He tweets @chand2579 and can be spotted on Instagram @chandreshnarayanan.