India at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Last updated
India at the
1920 Summer Olympics
British Raj Red Ensign.svg
Flag of India
IOC code IND
NOC Indian Olympic Association
Website olympic.ind.in
in Antwerp
Competitors5 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Purma Bannerjee
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

India sent its first Olympic team to the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, some twenty years after a single athlete (Norman Pritchard) competed for India in 1900 (see India at the 1900 Summer Olympics).

Contents

Background, team selection, and logistics

In his opening remarks during a 1919 sports meet at the Deccan Gymkhana, Poona, the Gymkhana President Sir Dorabji Tata expressed a desire for India to take part in the forthcoming 1920 Olympics. He requested Governor of Bombay Lloyd George, who presided over and distributed prizes at this sports meet, to secure representation for India at the Olympics through the British Olympic Committee. As a result, in February 1920, the International Olympic Committee granted India affiliation to participate in the Olympic Games. Thereafter, a committee comprising Dorab Tata, A S Bhagwat, Dr. A H A Fyzee, Prof Modak, S Bhoot, and three other Deccan Gymkhana members met in March 1920 to discuss India's Olympic participation, and they decided to hold a trial meet in Poona in April 1920.

At this trial meet, the committee selected the following team to represent India at the Olympics: P.C. Bannerjee (Bengal) for sprints; P. D. Chaugule (Belgaum, Mysore) for the 10,000 m and marathon; Sadashiv Datar (Satara, Maharashtra) for the 10,000 m and marathon; H. D. Kaikadi (Hubali) for the 5,000m and 10,000m; Dinkarrao Shinde (Kolhapur) for bantamweight wrestling; and K. Nawale (Bombay) for lightweight wrestling. Sohrab H. Bhoot was manager and Dr. A H A Fyzee was medical officer and adviser for the team. [1]

Funding for the Olympic team came from Dorabji Tata (Rs.6,000 + Rs.2,000); the Government of India (Rs. 6,000); and donations from sportsminded residents of Bombay (Rs.7,000).

The team left Bombay on June 5 aboard the SS Mantua; it trained in London for six weeks at Stamford Bridge stadium, under English coach H. Parry; and proceeded to Antwerp. Chaugule in the marathon and Dinkarrao Shinde in wrestling put up a fairly good performance at the Games. H. D. Kaikadi appears not to have competed. [2]

After the Games, Bhoot submitted a report mentioning that India could have future Olympic success in hockey and wrestling and made recommendations concerning technical, organisational, and training issues for future Olympic teams. Further, the committee sending the team met again, and on the advice of Dorabji Tata, invited Dr. Noehren (Physical Director of YMCA India) to be secretary, along with A. S. Bhagwat, of the provisional Indian Olympic Committee; Dorabji Tata would serve as its president. This provisional committee sent an Indian team to the 1924 Olympics, and became the Indian Olympic Association in 1927.

Indian Olympic delegation 1920: (top row, l-to-r:) D. Shinde, Bannerjee, Navale, Chaugule; (middle:) Bhoot, Fyzee; (seated:) Datar, Kaikadi Indian-Olympic-Team-1920.jpg
Indian Olympic delegation 1920: (top row, l-to-r:) D. Shinde, Bannerjee, Navale, Chaugule; (middle:) Bhoot, Fyzee; (seated:) Datar, Kaikadi

Athletics

Ranks given are within the heat.

AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank
Purma Bannerjee 100 m Unknown5did not advance
400 m 53.14did not advance
Phadeppa Chaugule 10000 m N/Adid not finishdid not advance
Marathon N/A2:50:45.419
Sadashiv Datar Marathon N/Adid not finish

Wrestling

Two wrestlers Kumar Navale (Pune) and Dinkarrao Shinde (Shivaji Peth, Kolhapur, Maharashtra) competed for India in 1920. It was the nation's debut appearance in the sport. Navale was defeated in his first match, but Dinkarrao Shinde won in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals before losing twice to finish in fourth.

Freestyle

WrestlerEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals / Bronze matchRank
Dinkarrao Shinde Featherweight N/AByeFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Inman  (GBR) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Gerson  (USA) (L)Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Bernard_Bernard_(wrestler)  (GBR) (L)4
Kumar Navale Middleweight ByeUS flag 48 stars.svg  Johnson  (USA)Did not advance9

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Antwerp, Belgium

The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad and commonly known as Antwerp 1920, were an international multi-sport event held in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Olympic Association</span> National Olympic committee

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or Indian Olympic Committee (IOC) is responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international sports competitions, and managing Indian teams at these events. It goes with the name of Team India. It also acts as the Indian Commonwealth Games Association, responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Commonwealth Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai cricket team</span> Indian cricket team

The Mumbai cricket team, formerly known as the Bombay Cricket Team, is a cricket team which represents Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket. It is governed by Mumbai Cricket Association. Its home ground is Wankhede Stadium in Churchgate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

India first participated at the Olympic Games in 1900, becoming the first Asian nation to do so. A lone athlete Norman Pritchard represented the country and won two medals – both silver – in athletics. The nation first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games in 1920 and has participated in every Summer Games since then. India has also competed at several Winter Olympic Games after its debut in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorabji Tata</span> Indian industrialist and philanthropist (1859–1932)

Sir Dorabji Tata was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist of the British Raj, and a key figure in the history and development of the Tata Group. He was knighted in 1910 for his contributions to industry in British India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling at the 1920 Summer Olympics</span> Wrestling at the Olympics

At the 1920 Summer Olympics, ten wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were five weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and five classes in Catch as Catch Can, predecessor to freestyle wrestling. The competitions were held from Monday, August 16 to Friday, August 20, 1920 (Greco-Roman) and from Wednesday, August 25 to Friday, August 27, 1920 (freestyle).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government Law College, Mumbai</span> Law college in Maharastha

The Government Law College, Mumbai,, India, founded in 1855, is the oldest law school in Asia. The college, affiliated to the University of Mumbai, is run by the Government of Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italy at the 1920 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Italy competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. 174 competitors, 173 men and 1 woman, took part in 79 events in 18 sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finland at the 1920 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Finland competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium for the first time as a fully independent state. It did compete at the previous Olympics, however, only as the Russian-dependent Grand Duchy of Finland. 63 competitors, 62 men and 1 woman, took part in 51 events in 9 sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling Federation of India</span>

The Cycling Federation of India is the national governing body of cycle racing in India. It is a member of the UCI and the Asian Cycling Confederation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Games of India</span> Indian sporting event

The National Games of India consist of various disciplines in which athletes from the different states of India participate against each other. The country's first few Olympic Games, now renamed as National Games, were held in Lahore( now in pakistan )Delhi, Allahabad, Patiala, Madras, Calcutta and Bombay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vitthal Ramji Shinde</span> Indian liberal reformer

Vitthal Ramji Shinde was a revered social reformer, researcher, writer, and proponent of anti-untouchability activism and religious unity in Maharashtra, India. He played a prominent role among liberal thinkers and reformists before India gained independence. Shinde is recognized for his tireless efforts in fighting against the practice of ‘untouchability’ and advocating for support and education for ‘untouchables,’ including Dalits.

Phadeppa Dareppa Chaugule a.k.a. P.D Chaugule (1902–1958) was India's first Olympic marathon runner. He represented India in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, and finished 19th with a timing of 2 hours 50 minutes 45.2 seconds. He hailed from the town of Belgaum in Karnataka.

Kolhapur Municipality was established on 12th October 1954. Establishment of municipality initiated planning of modern Kolhapur city of Maharashtra state. Due to Maharashtra government anaunces the 15% growth in the municipal corporations seats there was a 92 seats from 81 seats in Kolhapur municipal corporation. Municipal Corporation mechanism in India was introduced during British Rule with formation of municipal corporation in Madras (Chennai) in 1688, later followed by municipal corporations in Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) by 1762. Kolhapur Municipal Corporation is headed by Mayor of city and governed by Commissioner. Kolhapur Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.

Sohrab H. Bhoot was an Indian Olympian administrator and sports administrator in the early and middle 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadashiv Datar</span> Indian long-distance runner

Sadashiv Datar was an Indian long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinkarrao Shinde</span> Indian wrestler

Dinkarrao Shinde was an Indian wrestler. He competed in the freestyle featherweight event at the 1920 Summer Olympics where he finished fourth. He was the first Indian wrestler to win an Olympic bout.

Sports play an integral part of culture in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in the state. Other popular sports include kabaddi and kho kho, which are played in rural areas, and field hockey, badminton, and table tennis, which are more common in urban areas, schools, and colleges. In the state's southern rural regions, annual wrestling championships such as Hind Kesari and Maharashtra Kesari are held. Games like Viti-Dandu and variations of Tag are played among children.

The 1950 National Games of India were held in Bombay. They were the 14th national games, and the second time the games had been held in Bombay.

The Tyabji family, also known as Tyabji-Hydari,Tyabji-Fyzee, and Tyabji-Futehally family, consists of Mullah Tyab Ali and his descendants. The Tyabji family has gained prestige for its involvement in India's independence movement with individuals being prominent politicians, diplomats, academics, scientists, activists, and athletes. Other members gained prominence for their roles in India's Navy and Air Force and contribution to Indian film and fine art. Individuals within the Tyabji family belong to the Indian royal families of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Nawab of Bengal, Raja of Wanaparthy, and the Nawab of Janjira.

References

  1. Dr. A H A Fyzee was administrator for the 1920 Olympic team; Dr.Ali Azhar Fyzee (AHA Fyzee) and his brother Ali Athar Fyzee also represented India in tennis events such as the 1924 Olympics Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine and the Davis Cup and Wimbledon
  2. https://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/untoldlives/2012/08/india-and-the-olympic-games.html British Library, series Untold Lives: India and the Olympic Games (august 2012)]