#NationalSportsDay: Indian TV Shows which GLORIFIED sports!

When sports became the central focus..

Published: Monday,Aug 29, 2016 13:05 PM GMT-06:00

Kunal Nirmal Kothari

Today marks the eve of National Sports Day and its only fitting that it falls in the same month when the mega Rio Olympics was an absolute phenomenon.

Overall, India's performance may have been underwhelming, but girl power literally shone in style where Sakshi Malik won the bronze and P V Sindhu became the first Indian woman ever to win a silver.

And when it comes to sports, the TV shows in India haven't really been exploiting the concept if history is referred. However, courtesy the change in mindsets and a modern approach on television, it has finally started to take a sport as the central plot of a respective show, while the rest revolves around it.

We list down the shows which surely glorified sports to a great extent-

Tamanna

This show was one of the most awaited ones where the sheer concept of the show was touted to be a winner. A young girl aspiring to be a cricketer for the Indian National Women's Team; not only was the concept a first-of-its-kind, but also boasted a staggering cast to support it. Courtesy great performances by Harshita Ojha and Anuja Sathe among others, the show received a lot of critical acclaims and ended on a great note.

Swim Team

This show deserves ovation primarily for even trying to take the underrated and undervalued sport of swimming in India as its central plot. If a survey takes place, the most remote people of India may not even be aware about swimming being a sport. Though 'Swim Team' was short-lived, it paved the way for several forthcoming shows to attempt something 'risky.'

Ring Ka King

The only reality show in this list, it may have carried the daily dose of masala and commercial entertainment as the eyeball grabber, but wrestling taking centre stage was a treat. And it wasn't just another show as it included wrestling legends like Jeff Jarrett, Chavo Gurrerro Jr and Matt Morgan among many more being a part of it and revolutionising Indian wrestling.

Humse Hai Life

Another first-of-its-kind, where boxing was never even a thought for Indian women to take up as a sport or profession, 'Humse Hai Life' portrayed the journey of a young girl, (Abigail Pande) having aspirations to become a boxer while battling life problems and stereotypes.

Udann

The base of the show is about a little girl (Spandan Chaturvedi) trying to release herself after being pinioned by the societal norms. But sports come into play, as this little girl takes up athletics as the option for her 'udann' and where her ambition to become a successful representative of women athletics. Taking the mantle from the little one, Spandan, actress Meera Deosthale has been accepted with open arms.

Comments (4)

lifeisbeautiful @Ruby7

⋮

Chakor is a strong and inspirational character. Both Spandan and Meera Deosthale have played the character to perfection. Hope Chakor gets back to her running career one day. Udaan rocks.

6 years ago

ChipChipiBhaalu @OriginalJuhi_04

+ 9 ⋮

Not liking Udaan in dis list as d show became a trash. Humse Hai Life is one of d best shows where d heroine is shown into boxing which very less girls dares to think of doing.

7 years ago

Pirated_Fun @Pirated_Fun

+ 4 ⋮

Tamanna is the best show I have seen in recent times

Masooma Bukhari @MasoomaBukhari

can never forget Humse Hai Life
love Ankur Nayyar
love Abigail Jain
love Himansh Kohli

btw Tum Saath Ho Jab Apne, starring Ashnoor, Barkha Bisht Sengupta and Hassan Zaidi also showcased sports i-e badminton