Happy International Women’s Day 2022, everyone! There is no better way to honour the glorious day than to celebrate the women and their achievements in various fields. It’s 2022 and equality still seems a far cry. However, there are significant figures who paved the way for many women across India to follow their dreams, especially in the field of sports. Things are never easy for female athletes in our country. They see, every day, how men doing the same things are celebrated and paid more. Yet, nothing stopped their spirit. In a profession, often dominated by men, these sports stars chose to challenge the ordinary and shine on the world stage. Their historic successes elevate the status of sportswomen and motivate others to take up the mantle. Mary Kom, Sania Mirza and more, meet the female sports stars who have overcome adversity and made us all proud.

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MC Mary Kom punched the stereotypes and the results are there for everyone to witness! She is the only boxer to win eight World Championships medals, the only woman to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times and the only female boxer to have won a medal in each one of the first seven World Championships. Nicknamed ‘Magnificient Mary,’ she made her maiden appearance at the 2012 London Olympics, where she bagged the first bronze medal from India ever in women’s boxing.

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Mithali Raj is the current Test and ODI captain of India women’s national cricket team. She recently achieved an incredible feat in their Women’s World Cup opener against Pakistan. Equalling the record, previously held by Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, Mithali became the first women’s cricketer to feature in six different Women’s World Cup tournaments.

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At the age of 21, PV Sindhu became the first and only Indian to win a silver medal in Badminton, at Olympics. The reigning world champion also won a bronze medal in Badminton at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, five years after winning silver at the Rio Games.

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Saikhom Mirabai Chanu dominated the headlines in 2020 when she bagged a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the Women’s 49 category. But that’s not all. The weightlifter has won World Championships and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games. There’s no stopping for her as she continues to dominate the sports world with her excellence.

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Avani Lekhara created history at the Tokyo Olympics, clinching a gold medal in 10m air rifle standing and a bronze medal in 50m rifle 3 positions. She is currently World No 2 in Women’s 10m Air Rifle standing SH1. Avani is also the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at the Paralympic Games.

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Sania Mirza changed the scene for Indian tennis and how! From turning professional at the age of 16, Sania went on to become a sporting icon in the country. When she announced her retirement in early 2022, fans were left heartbroken but supported her decision. She is the first Indian woman to win six Grand Slam championships, the first Indian woman and third player from the country to break into the Top 30 in singles and two-times Asian Games Gold medallist, among many other achievements.

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Deepika Kumari, an ace archer, is currently ranked World No 1. This star won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the women’s individual recurve event. Deepika also won another gold medal in the same event in the team’s category.

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When she returned home from the London 2012 Olympics with a bronze medal, Saina Nehwal became an icon for the Indian youth and Olympic dreamers. A former World No.1, Saina added many more medals since then to her tally.

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Tania Sachdeva holds the FIDE title of International Master (IM) and Women Grandmaster (WGM). A two-time Indian women’s chess champion in 2006 and 2007, one-tome Asian women’s chess champion in 2007 and three-time and current Commonwealth Women’s Chess Champion in 2016, 2018 and 2019, Tania is also a chess presenter and commentator.

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