The Olympics have always been a platform where Indian women have shone as bright as stars, so it was hardly a surprise when they brought pride to this nation once again at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
PV SINDHU
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, the twenty-six-year-old Olympian, was born to national-level volleyball players in Hyderabad. At the young age of eight, Sindhu picked up a badminton racket and the only way for her next was forward. Now, she is the first Indian woman to have won two Olympic medals (one being the silver in Rio 2016, and the other the bronze in Tokyo 2021). The young maelstrom of athletic excellence was only 17 when she broke into the top twenty of the BWF World Rankings. Bar 2015, she has won a medal at the world championships every year. Citing the 2001 All England Open Badminton Champion Pullela Gopichand as her inspiration, she went on to train under his guidance. Honored with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan, she has truly made the nation proud.
CHANU SAIKHOM MIRABAI
Twenty-seven-year-old Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born in Nongpok Kakching in Manipur. Showing signs of her physical strength early on in her life, she won a silver medal in weightlifting at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Not only did she win a medal, but she also registered a new Olympic record with a successful lift of 115 kg in the clean and jerk category. She has also proven her grit by winning multiple medals in the World Championship, Asian Championship, and the Commonwealth Games. She has since been awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Padma Shri awards by the government of India for making the country’s flag soar high.
LOVLINA BORGOHAIN
A daughter of Golaghat, Assam, Lovlina Borgohain is the first woman to represent her state at the Olympics- and she ended up winning a bronze medal too. She’s a boxer who won a medal in the Women’s Welterweight category in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Starting her career as a kickboxer, Lovlina switched to boxing when she got the chance to. Ever determined to better herself, Lovlina is now on track to improve her own game because winning an Olympic gold is where her true goal lies. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she’s now a household name and every citizen feels proud to associate her name with the country.