1951 Asian GamesThe Asian Games are set to begin on September 19. High expectations are pinned on India's performance at the games, which are taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. More than ₹700 crore has been spent to prepare the athletes for the event.
While only time will tell who wins the most gold medals for India this time around, let us first look back at who won India's first-ever gold medal at these games. Interestingly, the athlete who secured India's first gold at the Asian Games had once jumped into the River Ganges. Here is the story behind it.
The Indian Who Won the First Gold at the Asian Games
The inaugural Asian Games were held in Delhi in 1951. Sachin Nag won India's first gold medal at these games. A swimmer by profession, he secured the gold in the 100-meter freestyle event.
When Sachin Nag was just 10 years old, he had to jump into the Ganges to save himself. He had leapt into the river to escape a police lathi-charge during a rally for the freedom movement.
Remarkably, a swimming competition was underway in the river at the time, and Sachin finished third. This marked the beginning of his swimming journey. He later went on to win the gold medal for India in 1951.
Prior to this, Sachin had also participated in the 1948 Olympics. Despite being such an accomplished athlete, he struggled for financial support. Sachin Nag passed away in Kolkata in 1987.
Saluting the Contribution of Sachin Nag
Sachin Nag remains the only Indian swimmer to have won a gold medal for the country at the Asian Games; no athlete has achieved this feat since. Apart from his gold, India has won two silver and two bronze medals in swimming. Notably, Sachin Nag was posthumously awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, thirty-three years after his passing.
Recently, he was also inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. According to his son, Ashok Nag, his father had always desired recognition for his contributions but did not receive it during his lifetime.
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