In recent years, women’s sports in India have seen a surge in popularity and recognition. Despite facing many challenges and obstacles, several Indian sportswomen have risen to prominence and made headlines for their impressive performances in various national and international competitions. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most inspirational sports women in India who made headlines in 2022.
- PV Sindhu – Badminton
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, also known as PV Sindhu, is a professional badminton player from Hyderabad. In 2022, she made headlines by becoming the first sports woman in India to win a gold medal in the individual event at the Commonwealth Games. She defeated Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min in straight sets to clinch the title.
Sindhu is a force to be reckoned with in the badminton world, having won numerous medals at various international tournaments. She has also been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards for her contributions to the sport.
- Annu Rani- Javelin
Annu Rani, an Indian javelin thrower, made headlines in 2022 for winning a bronze medal in the women’s javelin throw event at the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. She became the first sports woman in India to win a medal in javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games. Annu’s achievement is a testament to her talent and hard work in athletics.
- Nikhat Zareen- Boxing
Nikhat Zareen is an Indian boxer who made headlines in 2022 for her outstanding performance at the Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai. She won a silver medal in the women’s featherweight (54-57 kg) category, losing to Uzbekistan’s Farangiz Khusainova in the final. Zareen has been a consistent performer for India in boxing and has won several medals at various national and international competitions. She is also known for her fight against the Indian Boxing Federation’s decision to exempt Mary Kom from participating in the Tokyo Olympics 2021 trials, advocating for fair and transparent selection processes in Indian sports.
- Bhavina Patel- Para Table Tennis
Bhavina Patel is an Indian para-athlete and table tennis player who made headlines in 2022 for her remarkable performance at the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China. She won a historic silver medal in the women’s singles class 4 event, becoming the first sports women in India para-athlete to win a medal in table tennis at the Asian Para Games. Bhavina, who has a congenital impairment in her lower limbs, has been a consistent performer in international para table tennis tournaments, and her achievement at the Asian Para Games is exemplary. She is an inspiration to many, and her success has brought the much-needed spotlight to para-sports in India.
- Manika Batra – Table Tennis
Manika Batra is a table tennis player from Delhi who gained widespread recognition in 2022 for her outstanding performances at the Commonwealth Games. She won a total of four medals, including two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Batra was also a key player in India’s historic win over Singapore in the women’s team event, securing two crucial victories against higher-ranked opponents.
Batra’s success at the Commonwealth Games was a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport. She has been a consistent performer for India in table tennis and has won several medals at international tournaments.
- Hima Das – Athletics
Hima Das is a sprinter from Assam who made history in 2022 by becoming the first sports woman in India to win a gold medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games. She won the 200m race in just 22.56 seconds, beating her competitors by a considerable margin.
Das is a sporting star in the making in Indian athletics ever since she started and has won several medals at various international competitions. She has also been awarded the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri for her contributions to the sport.
- Rani Rampal – Hockey
Rani Rampal is a field hockey player from Haryana who led the Indian women’s hockey team to a historic bronze medal at the Asian Games in 2022. She scored the winning goal in the team’s 1-0 victory over China in the bronze medal match, securing India’s first medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games in 34 years.
Rampal has been a key player for India in field hockey, having played for the national team for over a decade. She has won several medals at international tournaments and has been awarded the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri for her contributions to the sport.
- Dutee Chand – Athletics
Dutee Chand is a sprinter from Odisha who made headlines in 2022 by winning a silver medal in the 100m race at the Commonwealth Games. She finished second behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, setting a new national record of 10.86 seconds in the process.
Chand has been a consistent performer for India in athletics and has won several medals at various international competitions. She has also been awarded the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri for her contributions to the sport.
- Mary Kom – Boxing
Mary Kom, also known as Magnificent Mary, is a boxer from Manipur who has been a trailblazer in women’s boxing in India. In 2022, she made headlines by winning a bronze medal at the World Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. She defeated Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia in the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual gold medallist, Italy’s Irma Testa. Kom has won several medals at various international tournaments and has been awarded the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.
- Mirabai Chanu- Weightlifting
Mirabai Chanu, an Indian weightlifter, made headlines in 2022 by winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. She broke the Games record in the women’s 49 kg category by lifting a total of 210 kg. Her achievement was celebrated across India, and she became a source of inspiration for many aspiring athletes.
The rise of sports women in India from the length and breadth of India across various sports in India has been nothing short of remarkable, and the achievements of these sports women in India have been encouraging and inspiring for many other up-and-coming next-generation women who want to establish their careers in sports in India. These influential sports women in India , who made headlines in 2022, are a testament to the extent to which women can perform, demonstrating the incredible amount of talent, passion, and dedication women can illustrate for their respective sports.
