Indian Firsts — Set 5

Correct Answer: A. Norman Pritchard

Norman Pritchard won two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics. He competed for India when it was still under British rule. He was the first athlete from an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal.

Correct Answer: C. Milkha Singh

Milkha Singh won the gold medal in the 440 yards race in 1958. He is famously known as 'The Flying Sikh' for his speed on the track. He narrowly missed an Olympic medal at the 1960 Rome Games.

Correct Answer: A. Wilson Jones

Wilson Jones won the World Amateur Billiards Championship in 1958. This was a landmark moment for Indian sports on the global stage. He received the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award for his achievements.

Correct Answer: D. Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand achieved the Grandmaster title in 1988. He is widely credited with the chess revolution that occurred in India. He has won the World Chess Championship five times in different formats.

Correct Answer: C. P.T. Usha

P.T. Usha reached the 400m hurdles final at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. She missed the bronze medal by just 0.01 seconds in a close finish. She remains one of India's most celebrated legendary athletes.

Correct Answer: D. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh took a hat-trick against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001. He was the first Indian to achieve this rare bowling feat in Test matches. His performance was crucial in India's historic series victory.

Correct Answer: C. Karnam Malleswari

Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She competed in the 69kg category to make Indian history. She was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1995.

Correct Answer: A. Prakash Padukone

Prakash Padukone won the All England title in 1980. He was the first Indian to conquer what was then considered the unofficial world championship. He is a former world number one ranked player.

Correct Answer: C. Bachendri Pal

Bachendri Pal reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1984. She was the first Indian woman to achieve this mountaineering milestone. She later led several expeditions for women mountaineers in India.

Correct Answer: D. Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra won the 10m Air Rifle gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This was India's first ever individual gold medal in Olympic history. He is a world-renowned shooter and a Padma Bhushan recipient.