When the screen turns sporty

The Olympics have always been a stage where extraordinary lives and legendary feats converge, each athlete’s story adding depth to the grand spectacle of the games. From stories on Saina Nehwal to Abhinav Bindra, here’s a look at audiobooks and films based on the lives of these wonderful athletes.

Chandu Champion: Prime Video

Chandu Champion is a true story of an unsung hero, Murlikant Petkar. Starring Kartik Aaryan, this gripping film is based on India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, who, despite facing relentless adversities—from wrestling in rural Maharashtra to representing India at international events—never wavered in his resolve.

Mary Kom: Netflix

This is a gripping biopic that chronicles the inspiring journey of Mary Kom, portrayed by Priyanka Chopra. From Mary Kom’s early days in a boxing ring to overcoming personal and professional hurdles to her path to becoming a world champion, everything is depicted with emotional depth and resilience.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: Disney+Hotstar

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag tells the inspiring story of ‘The Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, whose life was shaped by the traumatic experience of Partition. As a child, Milkha witnessed early struggles, but eventually rose as an athlete. Overcoming personal and professional hurdles, he became the first Indian male to reach the final of an Olympic athletics event. He was placed fourth in the 400-metre race at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

My Olympic Journey: Audible

Exploring the remarkable tales of 50 of India’s top Olympians through the eyes of Digvijay Singh Deo and Amit Bose, this audiobook brings to life the first-hand accounts of medalists and trailblazers, including legends like Balbir Singh, tennis ace Leander Paes, and shooter Abhinav Bindra.

Dangal: Prime Video

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Dangal (2016) revolves around an authoritarian but loving father and his determined daughters. The eldest sister, Geeta Phogat, was the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in wrestling at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics. Four years later, Babita emulated her sister’s success by also winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Gold: AppleTV +

The film stars Akshay Kumar as Tapan Das, who assembled the country’s first all Indian hockey team. Written by Rajesh Devraj and Reema Kagti, Gold is inspired by the real events of Indian hockey team’s dream run at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the 1948 games in London.

Saina Prime Video

Based on the ife of professional badminton player Saina Nehwal, the film stars Parineeti Chopra. Saina had won a bronze medal in the women’s singles at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. There’s also an audiobook titled, Playing to Win, in which Saina shares stories from her childhood, relationships, and more.

A Shot at History Audible

In this riveting autobiography, Abhinav Bindra shares his journey from a perfectionist athlete to becoming an Olympic gold medalist. His story is a testament to the spirit of an athlete deeply motivated after a near-miss in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Co-authored with sportswriter Rohit Brijnath, this audiobook is indeed inspiring.

(Inputs by Sonali Dub)