The Sports Authority of India (SAI) was established in 1984 by the Government of India to promote sports in the country.

The first National Games in India were held in New Delhi in 1954.

Abhinav Bindra won the first Olympic gold medal for India in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Murlikant Petkar won the first Paralympic gold medal for India in the men's 50m freestyle swimming event at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics.

K.D. Jadhav won the first Commonwealth Games gold medal for India in the men's 100-yard freestyle swimming event at the 1934 British Empire Games.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa won the first Asian Games gold medal for India in the men's 110m hurdles event at the 1951 Asian Games.

Anju Bobby George won the first World Championships gold medal for India in the women's long jump event at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics.

Leander Paes won the first World Cup gold medal for India in the men's doubles event at the 1996 Davis Cup.

Dhanraj Pillay won the first Champions Trophy gold medal for India in the men's hockey event at the 1982 Champions Trophy.

Bhaichung Bhutia won the first Asian Cup gold medal for India in the men's football event at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa won the first Afro-Asian Games gold medal for India in the men's 110m hurdles event at the 1951 Afro-Asian Games.

Jinson Johnson won the first Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal for India in the men's 800m event at the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Deepika Kumari won the first Youth Olympic Games gold medal for India in the women's individual archery event at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Jinson Johnson won the first Asian Youth Games gold medal for India in the men's 800m event at the 2009 Asian Youth Games.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa won the first South Asian Games gold medal for India in the men's 110m hurdles event at the 1985 South Asian Games.