Things are not so easy for female athletes in India. They see, every day, how men who do the same things are celebrated and paid more. How people ask men about their future in sports and about marriage. People are still more concerned with their clothes than their athletic superiority.
This still doesn’t kill their souls and for that reason alone, they deserve great credit. Below is a list of famous female athletes who are perhaps the best game changers we’ve ever known.
1. Sania Mirza (tennis)
From turning professional at the age of 16 to being ranked No. 1 in doubles for 91 weeks, Sania has changed the Indian tennis landscape. And how!
Sania Mirza has been ranked number one in the world for 91 consecutive weeks in the women’s doubles category. It’s been a very long time coming, and hence, it’s no surprise that she’s one of the biggest sporting icons in the country. Sania turned professional at the age of 16, and after that, no one was looking at her anymore. She is the first and only tennis player from India to win six major titles (three in women’s doubles and in mixed doubles).
2. Mary Kom (boxing)
The phrase “boxing” is not taken well in a country that still has reservations about working women. Mary has broken the stereotypes and the results are there for everyone to see!
Being a boxer in India is challenging enough, let alone being a female boxer. Mary had to face a lot of difficulties as an aspiring professional boxer, but she overcame them all. “Marvelous Mary” is a five-time world amateur boxing champion, and the only female boxer to have won a medal at each of her six world championships. the Padma Bhushan The winner is the first Indian boxer to win a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
3. Mithali Raj (cricket)
Indian cricket team captain Mithali Raj is also the most famous female athlete, Mithali is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket and the only female cricketer to have crossed the 6,000-run mark in ODIs. Mithali is also the only Indian cricket captain – male or female – to have led India to two World Cup finals.
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4. Saina Nehwal (Badminton)
The first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal, Saina Nehwal can be credited with making the sport popular in the country. She is the first female and second Indian shuttler to be ranked No. 1 in the world and has been awarded the accolade Arjuna Award, Padma Shri And Padma Bhushan For her achievements.
5. Geeta Phogat (wrestling)
Freestyle wrestler Geeta Phogat became a household name after winning the gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games (2010), something no wrestler, male or female, had ever done before. She is also the first Indian wrestler to qualify for the Summer Olympics (2012), where she lost the bronze medal.
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6. Sakshi Malik (wrestling)
Sakshi’s bronze in wrestling ended India’s medal drought at the 2016 Rio Olympics, instantly making her an inspiration to billions of Indians. She is also the most famous female athlete.
The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was an absolute nightmare for the Indian contingent, as they won just two medals. The bright side? Both were won by women and Sakshi was one of them. With this feat, she became the first Indian wrestler to win a medal at the Olympic Games. Sakshi belongs to a family of wrestlers and started the sport at the age of 12.
7. BV Sindhu (Badminton)
PV Sindhu was 21 years old when she became the first and only Indian to win a silver medal in badminton at the Olympics.
Current world number three, PV Sindhu, is the first woman from the country to win a silver medal at the Summer Olympics. The fact that she achieved this feat at the age of 21 makes it all the more remarkable that she is now the youngest athlete from the country to reach the podium in an individual event.
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8. Deepika Kumari (Shooting)
The unsung star of Indian sports, Dipika Kumari, is a former world number one and it is time to recognize and pay tribute to her achievements.
Deepika is currently ranked fifth in the world and is formerly ranked first in the world. Her name is not a name we hear often despite archery being one of the strengths of our country.
9. Deepa Karmakar (gymnastics)
Despite being born with flat feet, Deepa never gave up on her dream of becoming a gymnast and we thank God for that.
Deepa became an overnight sensation for all the right reasons after her successful run at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she narrowly missed out on the bronze medal. Hailing from a humble background, the Tripura girl was born with flat feet and has battled all the physical and financial hardships to make India proud at the international level.
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10. Tanya Sachdev (chess)
Not many people know but Tania is the most prominent Indian chess player and has many titles to her name.
Tania is the most prominent Indian name in the field of women’s chess. She has International Masters and Women’s Major titles to her name. She started playing chess at the age of six and currently works as a chess presenter and commentator alongside playing.
11. Rani Rampal (hockey)
At the age when most kids give away their plaques (an achievement no less), Rani represented the country in the World Cup. She was 15 years old at the time, and is now an important part of the team. Rani’s great tournament was the Champion Challenge tournament where she was awarded the title of ‘Top Scorer’ and ‘Young Player of the Tournament’.
12. Dipika Pallikal (Squash)
Deepika is India’s number one squash player and was the first Indian to break into the top 10 in the women’s PSA rankings. She began attracting attention in 2011, when she won three WISPA (Women’s International Squash Players Association) tour titles and achieved the best ranking of her career at No. 13.
For centuries, women have been told that they are inferior and weaker than men, to the point that at this point, it has become an expectation rather than a reality, and they are working their way out of this complicated web of ideas, that they are the country’s athletes.
Happy Women’s Day, ladies. You make us proud every day.
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For centuries, women have been told that they are inferior and weaker than men, to the point that at this point, it has become an expectation rather than a reality, and they are working their way out of this complicated web of ideas, that they are the country’s athletes.
Happy woman dayLadies. You make us proud every day.
Women athletes have been making significant strides in the world of sports, constantly breaking barriers and changing the game with their exceptional athleticism and determination. From tennis to soccer to track and field, these top 12 famous women athletes have not only excelled in their respective sports, but have also inspired and motivated countless individuals around the world. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering commitment to their craft have left an indelible mark on the world of sports, proving that women athletes are a force to be reckoned with. Here, we take a closer look at some of the most influential and game-changing women athletes of all time.