Things are not very easy for female athletes in India. They see, every day, how men doing the same things as them are celebrated and paid more. How people ask men about their future in the sport and them, about marriage. People are still more interested in their clothes than their sporting excellence.
It still doesn’t kill their spirit and that alone, they deserve huge credit. Here are some Indian women athletes who changed the game forever.
Sania Mirza (Tennis)
Sania started playing pro tennis at just 16! She became World No. 1 in doubles and held it for weeks, winning six Grand Slams. She’s India’s most successful female tennis player ever. More than that, she stood up against silly ideas about how women should look or act in sports. She showed the world that Indian women belong on the biggest stages.
Mary Kom (Boxing)
Mary’s story is all about never giving up. From a small village in Manipur, she got into boxing when almost no women did. She won six World Championships and an Olympic medal! She even balanced being a mom with training hard. Mary proved strength isn’t just for guys and inspired tons of girls to dream big in combat sports. In 2025, her academy kept the legacy going strong, with young boxers from her setup winning big at events like the Governor’s Cup.
Mithali Raj (Cricket)
Mithali was like the rock of Indian women’s cricket for over 20 years. She’s the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket super consistent and calm under pressure. When women’s cricket didn’t get much attention, she let her batting do the talking. She made the sport respected and gave young girls someone to look up to. Her influence lives on in 2025, the team she helped build finally won their maiden ODI World Cup under Harmanpreet Kaur, beating South Africa in the final at home. What a proud moment for women’s cricket!
Saina Nehwal (Badminton)
Saina was the first Indian woman to become World No. 1 in badminton! She fought through injuries and tough times with real fighting spirit. Her wins made badminton super popular in India and encouraged a whole new wave of girls to pick up the racket. In 2025, even as she dealt with personal stuff and the later stages of her career, she stayed involved like joining panels and inspiring the next gen.
PV Sindhu (Badminton)
Sindhu took it even further with Olympic medals and World titles. She’s super strong, mentally tough, and super disciplined. She handled huge pressure quietly and showed Indian women can stay at the top for years. For many young players, she’s proof that hard work pays off big time. In 2025, she added more experience, including getting re-elected to the BWF Athletes’ Commission, and kept competing at high levels despite some ups and downs.
Geeta Phogat (Wrestling)
Geeta stepped into wrestling when people still questioned if girls should even be on the mat. She dealt with a lot of pushbacks but focused on winning. She became the first Indian woman to win wrestling gold at the Commonwealth Games. Her courage changed minds and opened doors for more women in the sport.
Sakshi Malik (Wrestling)
Sakshi made history with India’s first Olympic medal in women’s wrestling at Rio. Her comeback win was epic! She trained in tough conditions but never gave up. She became a huge role model and showed resilience can turn dreams into reality.
Deepika Kumari (Archery)
Deepika came from a simple background with not much support, but her focus and precision took her to the top of world rankings. She won medals and represented India proudly. Her story reminds us that dedication beats everything even tough circumstances.
Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics)
Dipa put Indian gymnastics on the map. With basic facilities, she trained like crazy and did the super risky Produnova vault at the Rio Olympics it shocked everyone! She missed a medal by a tiny bit, but her bravery changed how people see gymnastics in India.
Tania Sachdev (Chess)
Tania is a Woman Grandmaster and International Master in chess. She brought attention to this brainy sport and showed girls can be fierce competitors too. She proved mental games deserve just as much respect. (And chess had an amazing 2025 for women. Young stars like Divya Deshmukh won the FIDE Women’s World Cup!)
Rani Rampal (Hockey)
Rani rose from a tough background to captain the Indian women’s hockey team. Her speed, skills, and leadership led to great performances, including strong Olympic showings. She’s the face of women’s hockey and shows leadership is earned on the field.
Dipika Pallikal (Squash)
Dipika made squash known globally for India. She hit top world rankings with discipline and mental strength, even without tons of media hype. She proved quiet consistency can change a sport. In 2025, India even won their first Mixed Team World Cup in squash building on stars like her!
These women aren’t just winners they fought inequality, stereotypes, and tough odds every day. In 2025, their spirit kept pushing forward with massive team wins like the Women’s ODI World Cup in cricket, boxing golds, chess triumphs, and more. Their discipline, toughness, and love for sports shifted how people see women in sports. Thanks to them (and the new stars they inspired), the future looks way brighter for girls who want to play. More girls are joining sports, getting support, and dreaming bigger.
