Sports has ceased to be a male-dominated area as women sportspersons are also doing well in various fields from squash to golf and swimming to mountaineering. They have made both their families and country proud with their achievements.

Here’re India’s top 12 female sportsperson

1. Saina Nehwal

Born: 17 March 1990, Hisar, Haryana
Sports: Badminton
Awards: Padma Shri (2010), Padma Bhushan (2016)

Saina Nehwal is the only female player from India to achieve world no. 1 ranking (2015) and the second Indian player after Prakash Padukone. Also, she has represented the country in the Olympics three times and won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. Saina Nehwal wants to train kids in badminton by opening a sports academy in Haryana.

2. MC Mary Kom

Born: 24 November 1982, Kangathei, Manipur
Sports: Boxing
Awards: Padma Shri (2006), Padma Bhushan (2013), Padma Vibhushan (2020)

Mary Kom is called Magnificent Mary because of her magnificent achievements. She is the only woman boxer to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times; the only female to win a medal in her first seven World Championships, and the only boxer to win eight World Championship medals. Also, she was the only female Indian boxer to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

3. P. V. Sindhu

Born: 5 July 1995, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Sports: Badminton
Awards: Padma Shri (2015), Padma Bhushan (2020)

P. V. Sindhu is the first to achieve the title of Badminton World Champion and second to win two consecutive medals at the Olympics Games. Also, Forbes included her in its list of Highest-Paid Female Athletes in 2018 and 2019. Her earnings were US$8.5 million and $5.5 million respectively in those years.

4. Bula Choudhary

Born: 2 January 1970, Hugli, West Bengal
Sports: Swimming
Awards: Padma Shri

Bula Choudhary was a born winner as evident from her track record. She participated in a national competition for the first time at the tender age of 9 but she defied all odds to win six gold medals in six events in her age group. Also, she won six golds in the 1991 South Asian Federation Games. In … Find more