Padappa Dhareppa Chougule Was First Athlete From Karnataka To Compete In Olympics

Padappa Dhareppa Chougule from Belagavi was the <b>first athlete from Karnataka</b> to compete in the Olympics. He participated in the marathon at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics in Belgium, where he secured the 19th position. Despite being accustomed to running barefoot, Chougule wore shoes to follow regulations, resulting in bleeding injuries to his feet and toes. He completed the race while limping, earning widespread praise for his sportsmanship. Upon returning to Belagavi, he was honored with the title <b>'Pavananjaya'</b>. Chougule, who passed away in 1958, was part of an Indian contingent that included four runners and two wrestlers.