Women in Sports: Breaking Records and Inspiring the Next Generation

There are feminist female characters throughout India's rich history and heritage. Women have influenced India's development in a variety of ways, including as goddesses, activists, scholars, and fighters for freedom. Indian female athletes have made contributions to the sports industry, which is also frequently associated with male sports icons, despite patriarchal history's suppression of these names. As a result, the incredible diversity of Indian sportswomen has inspired many people, especially women, to pursue sports more seriously and sparked discussion about sportswomen. Here are a few of India's great athletes who have inspired many aspiring sportspeople. See the names on this list to learn more about the well-known Indian athletes! 

05 Sports Women Of India You Should Know About 

1. The Phogat Sisters

The Phogat sisters and family are among India's most well-known athletes. The six Balali, Haryana, sisters are well-known wrestlers on a global scale. Their names are Geeta, Babita, Priyanka, Ritu, Vinesh, and Sangita, according to their birthdates. While Geeta, Babita, Ritu, and Sangita are the offspring of former wrestler and coach Mahavir Singh Phogat, Priyanka and Vinesh are first cousins whom Mahavir raised following the death of their father (who is Mahavir's brother) in a property dispute. Mahavir Phogat taught all six of them how to wrestle at their village of Balali in the Bhiwani neighborhood. Three Phogat sisters—Geeta, Babita, and Vinesh—won gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in various weight divisions. Mahavir Phogat taught all six of them to wrestle. At the Commonwealth Games, three Phogat sisters, Geeta, Babita, and Vinesh, won gold medals in separate weight categories. Sangita has won several age-level international championships, Ritu has won gold at the national championships, and Priyanka received a silver medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships. The achievement of the Phogat family sisters has received a lot of media attention because of the prevalent socioeconomic problems in Haryana, such as gender inequality, female feticides, and child marriage. In December 2016, Mahavir, Geeta, and Babita starred in the Bollywood film Dangal, which was based on the lives of the Phogat sisters. It is the most successful Bollywood movie to date.

2. Deepika Kumari

She is the definition of "ultimate underdog storey." The first Indian archer (male or female) to ever be named the best in the world is Deepika Kumari, the daughter of a rickshaw driver/puller. Her first notable accomplishment was in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi when she won two gold and two silver medals (women's team) before going on to compete in the World Championships in 2011 and 2015. She did not succeed at the Olympics, like the Phogat sisters, but she is just 25 years old and has a promising future. One of the biggest letdowns was Deepika Kumari, who placed eighth in the team event in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is, in the opinion of many sports experts, a special and legitimate candidate to become just the second person to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics, after Abhinav Bindra. An upcoming movie will focus on this exceptional Ranchi youngster. She has also received the Arjuna and Padma Shri honors from the Indian government.

3. Sania Mirza

She is without a doubt the greatest Indian tennis player of all time. In the past 10 years, Sania Mirza has ranked among the top 30 women's singles players in the world, making her India's best tennis player (both male and female). In singles tennis at her prime in 2007, Sania defeated top-10 players including Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova, and Martina Hingis. After earning the WTA Newcomer of the Year award in 2005, the winner proceeded to the fourth round of the US Open and the third round of the Australian Open. Mirza's forehand was among the most potent in women's tennis between 2007 and 2009. Sania has earned the Arjuna, Padma Shri, Khel Ratna, and Padma Bhushan awards for her exceptional contribution to Indian sports. Her solo career came to an end in 2013 because to persistent physical problems. On the other side, her success in doubles helped her reclaim the top spot in the world rankings. Martina Hingis, a Swiss tennis player, rose to the top of the global rankings as a result of her faultless partnership with her, and the two went on to win the 2015 Wimbledon, US Open, and Australian Open titles. They also established one of the greatest women's doubles teams in history. Sania Mirza has won six Grand Slams, including three in Mixed Doubles, including two victories she shared with Mahesh Bhupathi. Sania was among the first female athletes in India to start movements and rise to the status of "sports stars."

4. Saina Nehwal

The best player in Indian badminton is known as Saina Nehwal. By rising to become one of the top three badminton players in the world, she has attained the highest level in the sport. When she climbed to fifth position in the badminton players' global rankings in 2012, her career officially got underway. In the Swiss Open Grand Prix, Thai Open Grand Prix, and Indonesian Open Super Series, she has won gold. She earned a bronze medal at the Olympics, which is her main claim to fame! Saina Nehwal has won more than 20 international and Super Series championships to date, and she has consistently ranked in the top 20 for more than ten years. She moved up the rankings six years, from number two in 2009 to number one now. In addition to an Olympic medal, she also won gold at the Commonwealth Games, silver, and bronze at the World Badminton Championships. Her performance in 2017 demonstrates that her career is far from over, and she will participate in a number of important international competitions in 2018.

5. PV Sindhu

In Hyderabad, PV Sindhu was born to two national volleyball players. Sindhu played in and won a number of badminton tournaments after completing her undergraduate studies, including the Asian championship, World Championship, All England Open, India Open Grand Prix Gold, and Commonwealth Games, to name a few. She reached the pinnacle of her career by helping her country earn a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games. The Andhra Pradesh government's land revenue department appointed her as deputy collector for the Krishna district. She was named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year in March 2020 and became the program's ambassador for the BWF committee's 'I Am Badminton' initiative, which encourages sportsmanship and fair play. One of India's most coveted female athletes, this sports star has won the Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan awards.