8 Indian Women who made History at the Olympics

Indian sports has witnessed an incredible surge in female athletes making a global impact since the turn of the millennium.

The watershed moment arrived in Sydney in 2000 when the iconic Karnam Malleswari clinched bronze, becoming the first Indian weightlifter to claim Olympic glory.

What’s more, Malleswari also scripted history as the first Indian woman to capture an Olympic medal.

Her journey was nothing short of astonishing – battling a dip in form and a new weight category, she triumphed.

While she may not have stood atop the podium, her victory gifted the nation an unwavering belief that Indian sportswomen could bring immense pride to the country.

Her remarkable feat ignited a fire in the hearts of the next generation of Indian sportswomen, from Mary Kom to Saina Nehwal.

They relentlessly pursued their dreams, defying all odds to secure their places among the world’s best by taking over the Olympics.

India’s remarkable Olympic journey in recent decades has been enriched by the invaluable contributions of its female athletes.

Out of the 35 medals India has secured across 24 Olympic Games, eight of them have been earned by seven women. 

Let’s take a further dive into these trailblazing athletes and what sparked their historic triumphs at the Olympics. 

Karnam Malleswari

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, resolute weightlifter Karnam Malleswari emerged as a pioneer, scripting an awe-inspiring tale that reverberates through time.

In the arena, with the world as her audience, Malleswari showcased her incredible strength and tenacity.

She lifted a colossal 110kg in the snatch, followed by a staggering 130kg in the clean and jerk category, accumulating an astonishing total of 240kg.

This extraordinary feat earned her a prestigious bronze medal, marking a historic ‘first’ on the Olympic podium.

But her impact reached beyond the medal.

Malleswari broke the mould as the first Indian weightlifter, irrespective of gender, to clinch Olympic glory.

In a moment that stirred the hearts of a nation, she emerged not only as a medalist but also as a symbol of unwavering determination

Saina Nehwal

In the annals of Indian sports, a significant turning point arrived at the London 2012 Olympics.

Saina Nehwal’s bronze medal win in badminton marked a watershed moment, not only for herself but also for her nation.

Her path to this achievement was not without its share of challenges.

The semi-final showdown against top seed Wang Yihan proved a formidable test, with Saina Nehwal ultimately conceding with a score of 13–21, 13–21.

However, fate smiled upon her as Wang Xin retired due to injury. 

It was India’s inaugural Olympic medal in badminton, a sport that had been historically dominated by other countries.

Returning home adorned with her hard-earned medal, Nehwal’s stature soared, and she swiftly became an icon for Indian youth and aspiring Olympians.

Speaking on what motivates her, Nehwal revealed: 

“I want to be the best.

“It’s not about the ranking, it’s about being consistent over a period of time.”

Her remarkable journey did not conclude with London; instead, it laid the foundation for more glories to come.

She found success and won numerous medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. 

Nehwal’s Olympic journey continued, representing India in three Summer Games – Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.

Mary Kom

Mary Kom stands as a beacon of excellence and an inspiration to countless aspiring athletes.

She is not just a legend but a trailblazer, having carved her own path in a world that was often perceived as the domain of men.

Kom’s list of accolades is nothing short of astonishing, with six world titles to her name and a remarkable return to the ring post-pregnancy.

She embodies the very essence of a role model that aspiring Indian women athletes can look up to.

However, her journey wasn’t without its share of sceptics who believed that boxing was exclusively a man’s sport.

Undeterred, Mary Kom chose to respond in the most remarkable way she knew – through her fists.

2012 was historic for Kom as she secured a bronze medal at the London Olympics.

Though her semi-final bout against the UK’s Nicola Adams ended in a loss, she made history as the first Indian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal.

It was also the debut year for women’s boxing at the Olympics, marking a monumental moment for the sport.

In her final Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, ‘Magnificent Mary’ emerged victorious in her first bout.

Though she narrowly succumbed to Ingrit Victoria, a fellow Olympic bronze medalist, in the round of 16, her legacy remains intact.

PV Sindhu

Among the elite few Indians who have graced the Olympic podium with silver medals, PV Sindhu’s name shines brightly.

She achieved a goal that only one other Indian, the wrestler Sushil Kumar, had ever accomplished before – securing two individual Olympic medals.

Sindhu’s journey to this exclusive club began at Rio 2016, where her exceptional performance elevated India’s status as a formidable contender on the world stage.

Though the final was a hard-fought battle against Spain’s Carolina Marin, Sindhu emerged with a well-earned silver medal after an intense 83-minute clash.

Despite the second-place finish, Sindhu became India’s youngest individual Olympic medallist, marking a significant milestone in her career.

She also made history as the first Indian woman to secure an Olympic silver medal.

Tokyo 2020 was the stage for her second Olympic medal, this time in the women’s singles category – a well-deserved bronze.

One of the driving forces that have steered PV Sindhu’s journey to greatness is her unwavering determination, saying:

“The greatest asset is a strong mind.

“If I know someone is training harder than I am, I have no excuses.”.

Today, badminton enjoys the status of a sport in which India boasts a global reputation.

Sindhu, in tandem with Saina Nehwal, has played an instrumental role in elevating the sport to unprecedented heights, particularly for Indian women in the world of sports

Sakshi Malik

Wrestling has been a glorious chapter in India’s Olympic history, with stalwarts like KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, and Yogeshwar Dutt securing medals for the nation.

Yet, there was a notable absence on the women’s podium until Rio 2016.

The 2016 edition of the Games marked a historic moment as Sakshi Malik became the first Indian woman to clinch an Olympic medal in wrestling.

In a gripping bronze medal showdown against Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova, Malik found herself in a precarious situation with only seconds left.

However, Malik entered the repechage round, where she triumphed with an 8–5 victory over Tynybekova.

Speaking on this incredible achievement, Malik would later state: 

“I never gave up till the end, I knew I would win if I lasted six minutes.

“In the final round, I had to give my maximum, I had the self-belief.”

What made her victory all the more remarkable was her ability to overturn a 5-0 deficit, a testament to her unyielding spirit and skill.

Sania Mirza

Drawn by the resolute spirit of tennis icon Serena Williams, Sania Mirza embarked on a journey of her own, rekindling her love for the sport after embracing motherhood.

In late 2018, the Indian tennis ace welcomed her baby boy and gracefully embraced her maternal responsibilities.

However, it was her son’s birth that ignited her love for tennis again: 

“Having Izhan is the biggest blessing I could have. He’s my inspiration to get back to being fit.

“Making a comeback is not to prove anything.

“The only reason to come back was that I love playing and competing.”

In 2020, Sania Mirza returned to the professional tennis circuit.

A comeback of this magnitude is no small feat, but it is Mirza’s passion for the game that fuelled her to grace the courts.

Her return was nothing short of extraordinary, marked by a title win at her very first event back – the Hobart International.

But that was just the beginning of her resurgence. Mirza went on to make history by leading the Indian tennis team to the Fed Cup playoffs for the first time.

This resurgence culminated in her fourth Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020.

However, her journey at the Games was brief as she and Ankita Raina exited in the first round of the women’s doubles.

But, having made four consecutive appearances at the Olympic Games, Mirza bid farewell to the sport in 2023. 

She is remembered as the finest female Indian tennis player of all time. 

Mirabai Chanu

Mirabai Chanu has been a transformative force in weightlifting.

Her stellar achievements have not only placed her among the elite but have also elevated the sport to new heights.

Her journey to the pinnacle of the sport began with her world championship victory in 2017.

This triumph was followed by a remarkable silver medal at the Bogota 2022 World Weightlifting Championships.

Chanu’s dominion extends to the Commonwealth Games, where she has clinched the gold twice – first at Gold Coast 2018 and then at Birmingham 2022, building on her earlier silver at Glasgow 2014.

She has also showcased her prowess at the Asian championships, securing a coveted bronze in 2020.

Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Chanu explained how her career has helped more girls get into this sport: 

“Since I won the silver medal in Tokyo, several young athletes, especially girls, have been inspired by me.

“There are very few female athletes in this sport.

“I want to be a role model for those aspiring to take up weightlifting.”

However, her crowning glory arrived at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

After a disappointing outing at Rio 2016, she made a remarkable comeback by winning the silver medal in the 49kg category with a total lift of 202kg.

This win not only made her the first Indian weightlifter to secure silver at the Olympics but also marked her as the second Indian weightlifter, to medal at the Summer Games.

Additionally, Mirabai Chanu became the second Indian woman, after PV Sindhu, to clinch a silver medal at the Olympics.

Lovlina Borgohain

The tale of Assamese boxer Lovlina Borgohain at Tokyo 2020 bears the echoes of another Indian boxing legend, Mary Kom.

Borgohain displayed her prowess by defeating Germany’s Nadine Apetz in the Round of 16 and outclassing Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin in the quarter-finals, earning her the much-coveted bronze medal.

In the semi-finals, Lovlina faced a formidable adversary in Turkish world No.1, Busenaz Surmeneli.

Despite a valiant effort, the Indian boxer bowed out of the competition.

At the time she was just 23 years old, standing as one of India’s youngest Olympic medalists.

Her accolades emphasise a turning point for women and how progress is being made due to the successors before her. 

Likewise, in recent years, other sports have garnered competitive female athletes. 

Indian track and field has found renewed hope through the incredible talent of Hima Das.

Her stellar achievements, including gold in the World U-20 Championships and the Asian Games in 2018, ignited a wave of enthusiasm and pride across the nation.

In 2019, she even rivalled the popularity of the Indian cricket team during the ICC Cricket World Cup by clinching five gold medals within a single month in July.

While some athletes are still on their journey towards international triumphs, their steady development paints a promising picture for the future of Indian sportswomen. 

With each passing day, they edge closer to making history and continuing to inspire generations to come