Indian Women in Tokyo Olympics 2021
Indian women athletes do not just have to fight with opponents to win at the Olympics, they have to fight cultural norms, the patriarchy, finances, and sometimes family too.
Women have won 7 out of the 15 Olympic medals for India since 2000. They have overcome several societal issues and performed with strength and grace. From Manipuri weightlifter Mirabai Chanu (silver) to Assam boxer Lovlina Borgohain(bronze), India’s last four Olympic medals including PV Sindhu (silver) and wrestler Sakashi Malik (bronze) at Rio 2016 have all come from women.
Important to note that athletes from northeastern India who most of these medals. They have done so despite the discrimination they may face from mainland Indians. We express our deep gratitude towards these athletes.
Women are making India proud in the sports arena. Here is the list of all the women who had made India proud in the summer Olympics.
KARNAM MALLESHWARI
The tears of joy and warm embraces by family members, when our Olympic heroes come home to a well deserved welcome, brimming with deep emotions and pride ..its a lifetime moment , which carries along for years.
Reminds me of such moments 21 years ago after my Sydney medal. pic.twitter.com/apBncGQ0uT— Karnam Malleswari, OLY (@kmmalleswari) August 10, 2021
Weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari won the bronze medal in the 54kg category hence becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.
MARY KOM
Nicknamed Magnificent Mary, is the only Indian female boxer to have qualified for the 2012 summer Olympics, competing in the 51kg category and won a bronze medal.
SAINA NEHWAL
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Saina Nehwal became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal when her opponent China’s Wang Xin, was forced to retire hurt during the match in the semi-final.
PV SINDHU
Pv Sindhu returned to India with an Olympic bronze medal from Tokyo 2020. Sindhu is the only Indian woman to win two Olympic medals.
SAKSHI MALIK
Sakshi Malik sheds lights on how she's going to win a medal in Tokyo https://t.co/lYdaib0xkP by @ARGHA_sports pic.twitter.com/SMNAPURFBn— DNA (@dna) September 6, 2016
Sakhsi Malik is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling. She won a bronze medal in 58kg at Rio 2016.
MIRABAI CHANU
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the young athlete had to take numerous lifts from truck drivers for her daily commute from her home in a tiny village to her training academy in Imphal, to express her gratitude she organized an event for them and honored them for their contribution in her achievement.
LOVLINA BORGOHAIN
On her games debut, Lovlina Borgohain has been assured of at least a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics after beating Chinese Taipei’s Nein Chinchan in the quarter-finals of women’s 69kg category.