“I am tough, I am ambitious and I know what exactly do I want …”
This is what truly defines a ‘WOMAN’. Women, today, relish most of the perks in the society, are treated equal to men in all walks of the life, are empowered; so, what-if it was not cutting the corners! We today LIVE our lives. Ever since being empowered, women have been hoisting flags of success in skies of all colors- education, politics, society or sports. A decade or two ago, women were looked down when it came to sports for we are always thought off as a weaker vessel; but with these women in the foreground, society is now looking forward to us in sports.
Here’s to all the established women sports stars of the nation who are an inspiration to many and have brought laurels to the country-
1. SAINA NEHWAL: Rightly termed as “The Golden Girl of Indian Badminton”, this Haryanvi lady is a go-to person for badminton. Nehwal, the former world no. 1 has won over twenty-one international titles, which also include super series titles. She reached world ranking 2 in 2009, however it was in 2015 that she became the Queen of International Badminton. She thereby is the only Indian female player to reach this zenith of success. She has represented India three times in Olympics and has won a bronze medal in her second appearance. Considered as the most successful Indian Sportsperson, she has been conferred upon with Padma Bhushan, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.
2. MC MARY KOM: Nicknamed as ‘Magnificent Mary’, Mary Kom, from Manipur is an Indian Olympic boxer. She is a five-time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only women boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships. She is the only Indian women boxer to have qualified for 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning a bronze medal. She has also won a gold medal in Asian Games in 2014. She has been conferred with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and many others.
3. SANIA MIRZA: An Indian professional tennis player, formerly ranked no. 1 in women’s doubles ranking was ranked by the Women's Tennis Association as India's No. 1 player, both in singles and doubles. Throughout her career, she has established herself as the most successful Indian Tennis Player. She is the third Indian women to win a Grand Slam Title. She has been conferred upon with Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
4. P.V. SINDHU: An Indian professional badminton player, Sindhu is ranked no. 2 in BWF World Ranking. She is the second Indian female badminton player, after Nehwal, to have won a medal in Olympics. In 2013, she became the first ever Indian women's singles player to win a medal at the Badminton World Championships. She is a recipient of Padma Shri.
5. GEETA PHOGAT: A freestyle wrestler, Geeta Phogat has won the first-ever gold medal in wrestling in Common Wealth Games in 2010. She is also the first female Indian wrestler to have qualified for the summer Olympics. She has also won a gold medal in the Wrestling FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament that took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2012!
6. MITHALI RAJ: An Indian cricketer and the captain of the Indian Women's cricket team in Tests and ODI, Mithali Raj is often regarded as one of the greatest cricketing batters to have ever played the game. She is the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket and the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000-run mark in ODIs. She is the first player to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODIs. Raj is the first captain (men or women) to lead India to an ICC ODI World Cup final twice – 2005 and 2017. She is also a recipient of Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.
7. SABA ANJUM KARIM: A former right-wing forward member of Indian Women Hockey Team, Karim has represented India in many international games like Asian Games, Common Wealth Games, Asian Cup etc. She is a part of the gold winning hockey team in Common Wealth Games, 2010. She is a recipient of the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.
8. ARUNIMA SINHA: She is the first Indian amputee also the first Indian female amputee to climb Mt. Everest. She was a national level volleyball player who was pushed from a running train by a gang of robbers while she was resisting them, a result of which both her legs were amputated below the knee. She has already scaled the heights of six peaks namely: Mt. Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Kosciuszko, Mt. Aconcagua as the world's five highest peaks and Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya). She has been awarded with Padma Shri and Tenzing Norgay Award.
9. DIPIKA PALLIKAL: Dipika Pallikal is an Indian Squash player, the first Indian to break into top 10 in PSA Women’s rankings. She won three WISPA tour titles in 2011 to secure a career best of rank 13 in 2011 until 2012 when she secured no. 10. She is a Padma Shri and Arjuna Award awardee.
10. HEENA SINDHU: In April 2014, Sindhu became the first Indian pistol shooter to reach no.1 in world ranking by International Shooting Sports Federation. In 2013, Sidhu became the first Indian pistol shooter to win a gold medal in an ISSF World Cup finals when she won the 10-metre air pistol event. In 2014, Sidhu was the World record holder in the 10-metre air pistol event with a final score of 203.8. She has been conferred the Arjuna Award.
Sports Social salutes to all the ladies who are making the way forward for the many to come.
Chase Your Sports Girls!!
This is what truly defines a ‘WOMAN’. Women, today, relish most of the perks in the society, are treated equal to men in all walks of the life, are empowered; so, what-if it was not cutting the corners! We today LIVE our lives. Ever since being empowered, women have been hoisting flags of success in skies of all colors- education, politics, society or sports. A decade or two ago, women were looked down when it came to sports for we are always thought off as a weaker vessel; but with these women in the foreground, society is now looking forward to us in sports.
Here’s to all the established women sports stars of the nation who are an inspiration to many and have brought laurels to the country-
1. SAINA NEHWAL: Rightly termed as “The Golden Girl of Indian Badminton”, this Haryanvi lady is a go-to person for badminton. Nehwal, the former world no. 1 has won over twenty-one international titles, which also include super series titles. She reached world ranking 2 in 2009, however it was in 2015 that she became the Queen of International Badminton. She thereby is the only Indian female player to reach this zenith of success. She has represented India three times in Olympics and has won a bronze medal in her second appearance. Considered as the most successful Indian Sportsperson, she has been conferred upon with Padma Bhushan, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.
2. MC MARY KOM: Nicknamed as ‘Magnificent Mary’, Mary Kom, from Manipur is an Indian Olympic boxer. She is a five-time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only women boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships. She is the only Indian women boxer to have qualified for 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning a bronze medal. She has also won a gold medal in Asian Games in 2014. She has been conferred with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and many others.
3. SANIA MIRZA: An Indian professional tennis player, formerly ranked no. 1 in women’s doubles ranking was ranked by the Women's Tennis Association as India's No. 1 player, both in singles and doubles. Throughout her career, she has established herself as the most successful Indian Tennis Player. She is the third Indian women to win a Grand Slam Title. She has been conferred upon with Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
4. P.V. SINDHU: An Indian professional badminton player, Sindhu is ranked no. 2 in BWF World Ranking. She is the second Indian female badminton player, after Nehwal, to have won a medal in Olympics. In 2013, she became the first ever Indian women's singles player to win a medal at the Badminton World Championships. She is a recipient of Padma Shri.
5. GEETA PHOGAT: A freestyle wrestler, Geeta Phogat has won the first-ever gold medal in wrestling in Common Wealth Games in 2010. She is also the first female Indian wrestler to have qualified for the summer Olympics. She has also won a gold medal in the Wrestling FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament that took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2012!
6. MITHALI RAJ: An Indian cricketer and the captain of the Indian Women's cricket team in Tests and ODI, Mithali Raj is often regarded as one of the greatest cricketing batters to have ever played the game. She is the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket and the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000-run mark in ODIs. She is the first player to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODIs. Raj is the first captain (men or women) to lead India to an ICC ODI World Cup final twice – 2005 and 2017. She is also a recipient of Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.
7. SABA ANJUM KARIM: A former right-wing forward member of Indian Women Hockey Team, Karim has represented India in many international games like Asian Games, Common Wealth Games, Asian Cup etc. She is a part of the gold winning hockey team in Common Wealth Games, 2010. She is a recipient of the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.
8. ARUNIMA SINHA: She is the first Indian amputee also the first Indian female amputee to climb Mt. Everest. She was a national level volleyball player who was pushed from a running train by a gang of robbers while she was resisting them, a result of which both her legs were amputated below the knee. She has already scaled the heights of six peaks namely: Mt. Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Kosciuszko, Mt. Aconcagua as the world's five highest peaks and Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya). She has been awarded with Padma Shri and Tenzing Norgay Award.
9. DIPIKA PALLIKAL: Dipika Pallikal is an Indian Squash player, the first Indian to break into top 10 in PSA Women’s rankings. She won three WISPA tour titles in 2011 to secure a career best of rank 13 in 2011 until 2012 when she secured no. 10. She is a Padma Shri and Arjuna Award awardee.
10. HEENA SINDHU: In April 2014, Sindhu became the first Indian pistol shooter to reach no.1 in world ranking by International Shooting Sports Federation. In 2013, Sidhu became the first Indian pistol shooter to win a gold medal in an ISSF World Cup finals when she won the 10-metre air pistol event. In 2014, Sidhu was the World record holder in the 10-metre air pistol event with a final score of 203.8. She has been conferred the Arjuna Award.
Sports Social salutes to all the ladies who are making the way forward for the many to come.
Chase Your Sports Girls!!
