Athletes making India Proud
India is a country that is cricket-dominated. There are many other sports where our Indian athletes have represented our country and made us proud. From setting new world records to winning many medals on the international stages, let’s have a look at some of the athletes who are not celebrated enough.
Devendra Jhajharia: Para-Javelin Thrower
Devendra is an Indian Paralympic Javelin thrower who competes in the F46 events. He was born in 1981 in the Churu District of Rajasthan. At the age of eight, Devendra touched a live wire while climbing a tree. As a result, his left arm had to be amputated.
Despite this life-altering incident, Jhajharia did not let his disability define his future. Encouraged by the people he was surrounded by, he pursued sports with passion. Jhajharia’s talent in javelin throw became evident in his school years.
He was spotted by coach R. D. Singh, a Dronacharya Awardee, at a school sports day in 1997. Jhajharia’s came in the spotlight in 2002 when he won the gold medal in the 8th Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disable, in South Korea.
This victory marked the beginning of a glorious career in para-athletics. Let’s have a look at the other moments when Jhajharia made India proud on the international stage–
- In 2004 he represented India in his first Summer Paralympics Games at Athens. Devendra created a new world record with a distance of 62.15m. He won a gold medal and became the only second Indian to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
- In 2013 he clinched a gold medal at the IPC Athletics World Championships in the F46 javelin throw.
- He bagged a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Paralympics Games.
- In 2015 he won a silver medal at the IPC Athletics World Championship with a throw of 59.06m.
- In 2016 he won a gold medal at the IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championship.
- In the Summer Paralympics Games of 2016 he won a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F46 event. He broke his own record with a throw of 63.97m.
- In the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics he won a silver medal.
Jhajharia made the nation proud on the international stage. He was honored with the Arjuna Award (2004), Padma Shri (2012), FICCI Para-Sportsperson of the Year (2014), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2017), and the Padma Bhushan (2022).
Manasi Joshi: Para-Badminton Player
Manasi Joshi is not just a name in the para-badminton world; she is a symbol of resilience, determination, and inspiration. Manasi was born on 11th June 1989 in Rajkot, Gujarat. She was brought up in Mumbai where she completed her engineering. Manasi was a sports lover.
She played badminton and football and represented her school and college. In December 2011 she met with an accident and her leg had to be amputated. After the accident, Manasi chose not to succumb to despair and instead, she took up para-badminton. Let’s have a look at all of Manasi’s achievements on the international stage-
- She won her first medal, a silver, in mixed doubles at the World Para-Badminton Championship in 2015.
- A bronze medal in women’s singles at the Asian Championships in 2016.
- A bronze medal in women’s singles at the World Para-Badminton Championship in 2017.
- A bronze medal in women’s singles at the Asian Para Games in 2018.
- A gold medal in women’s singles at the World Para-Badminton Championship in 2019.
- Two bronze medals at the World Para-Badminton Championship in 2022. She won one medal in women’s singles and one in mixed doubles.
- Two bronze medals at the Asian Para Games in 2022. One medal in women’s singles and one in women’s doubles.
- One silver and one bronze medal at the World Para-Badminton Championship in 2024. The silver medal in women’s doubles and bronze medal in women’s singles.
Manasi Joshi is truly an inspiration. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit’s capacity to overcome any problem in life.
Manika Batra: Table Tennis Player
Manika Batra is the trailblazing table tennis star of our country. She is known for her exceptional skills, determination, and charisma. Manika was born on 15th June 1995 in Delhi. She was influenced by her siblings and started playing table tennis at the very young age of 4 years.
She decided to drop out of college after the first year and completely focus on table tennis. Manika’s career was off to a flying start when she won a silver medal in the under-21 category at the Chile Open in 2011. Let’s have a look at all of Manika’s achievements on the international stage-
- Manika won three medals at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in 2015. She won one silver in the women’s team event, one silver in the women’s doubles event, and one bronze in the women’s singles event.
- Manika bagged three golds and one silver at the South Asian Games in 2016. She won one gold medal in the women’s team, one gold in women’s doubles, one gold in mixed doubles, and one silver in women’s singles.
- 2018 was also a year filled with medals for our table tennis star. She bagged four medals at the Commonwealth Games. One gold medal in women’s team, one gold medal in women’s singles, one silver medal in women’s doubles, and one bronze medal in mixed doubles. She also won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in mixed doubles.
- In 2019, Manika was a member of the women’s team that won the gold medal in women’s team at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.
- Manika won a bronze medal in the women’s singles event at the Asian Cup in 2022.
Manika was honored with the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020. All eyes are on her as she will be representing our nation at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Pankaj Advani: Billiards and Snooker Player
Pankaj Advani is the maestro of Indian cue sports. With an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades, Advani has firmly established as one of the greatest billiards and snooker players of all time. He was born on 24th July 1985 in Pune, Maharashtra.
Advani won his first-ever title at the age of 11 and went on to set several records at the state as well as the national levels. He won the senior snooker championships at the age of 17 which made him the youngest National Snooker Champion.
As of today, Advani is a 27-time International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world champion. In billiards, he has won 18 world titles. IBSF World Billiards Championship on 17 occasions and The World Team Billiards Championship once.
In snooker, he won the IBSF World Snooker Championship on three occasions, the IBSF World Six-Red Championship on two occasions, the IBSF World Team Cup, and the IBSF World Team Championship on one occasion. Advani is also famously known as The Prince of Pune.
Advani has won a gold medal twice at the Asian Games singles event in 2006 and 2010. His achievements have been honored by The Arjuna Awards (2004), The Rajeev Gandhi Award (2004), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2005), Ekalavya Award (2007), Rajyotsava Prashashti (2007), and the Padma Bhushan (2018).
Praveen Kumar – Wushu Player
Praveen Kumar is a name that is rapidly gaining recognition in the world of wushu. Wushu is a competitive Chinese martial art that integrates concepts and forms from various traditional and modern Chinese martial arts. Born and raised in a small village in Haryana, Praveen’s journey into the world of wushu is inspiring.
In 2014, Praveen won a silver medal at the Junior Nationals, and in 2015, he won the gold medal at the Senior Nationals. On the international stage, he stepped into the limelight when he won a silver medal at the 2016 Asian Wushu Championships in the men’s Sanda 48kg category. In 2019, he created history by winning the gold medal at the 2019 World Wushu Championships in the men’s Sanda 48kg category.
He became the first Indian male athlete to win a gold medal at Wushu World Championships. Praveen Kumar’s achievements have had a significant impact on the perception of wushu in India. He has become a role model for young athletes.
Praveen actively engages in initiatives to promote sports among underprivileged children and conducts training sessions to nurture young talents. He remains a shining example of what can achieved through sheer dedication and hard work.
Dipa Karmakar – Gymnast
Dipa Karmakar is a name that has become synonymous with Indian Gymnastics. Born on 9th August 1993 in Tripura, Dipa’s journey into gymnastics began at the tender age of six. Her journey was not without challenges.
Gymnastics as a sport was not widely recognized in the country due to which proper training facilities were not available. Despite these obstacles, her hard work and determination shone through. Her career took off in 2011 when she represented Tripura at the 2011 National Games of India and won the gold medal in the all-around and all four events: floor, vault, balance beam, and uneven bars.
Dipa held India’s head high on the international stage as well. Let’s have a look at Dipa’s achievements-
- She won the bronze medal in the vault event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
- She won the bronze medal in the vault event at the 2015 Asian Championships.
- She won the gold medal in the vault event at the 2018 Mersin Artistic Gymnastics World Cup and the bronze medal in the vault event at the 2018 Cottbus Artistic Gymnastics World Cup.
- She won the gold medal in the vault event at the 2024 Asian Championships. She became the first Indian Gymnast to win a gold medal at the championship.
Dipa also represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics and became the first woman gymnast to do so. She finished fourth and missed out on the bronze medal by just 0.15 points. She has been honored with the Arjuna Award (2015), the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2016), and the Padma Shri (2017). Her achievements have not only brought glory to India but have also inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance.
Vijender Singh – Boxer
Vijender Singh is a name that resonated with boxing enthusiasts and sports lovers across the country. Know for his powerful punches and charismatic personality, Vijender has played a pivotal role in putting Indian boxing on the global map.
He was born on 29th October 1985 in Kaluwas village of Haryana. Vijender took up boxing at the age of 12. He won his first international medal, a silver, as a junior at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games. His senior career began in 2004 when he competed at the Athens Summer Olympics. Let’s have a look at the achievements of Vijender Singh-
- He won a silver medal in the welterweight category at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
- He won a bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2006 Asian Games.
- He won a silver medal in the middleweight category at the 2007 Asian Championships.
- He won a bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2008 Olympic Games. Vijender became the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal.
- He won a bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2009 World Championships.
- He won a bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2009 Asian Championships.
- He won a gold medal in the middleweight category at the 2010 Asian Games.
- He won a bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
- He won a silver medal in the middleweight category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Vijender Singh has been honored with the Arjuna Award (2006) and the Padma Shri (2010). Outside the ring, Vijender is known for his efforts and involvement in various social causes. He supports initiatives that promote sports and physical fitness among the youth of our country. Vijender continues to contribute to the world of boxing and remains a true icon leaving an indelible mark on Indian Sports.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa – Chess Player
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has become a famous name in the world of chess. At a very young age, this Indian chess prodigy has made significant strides on the global stage. He was born on 10h August 2010 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Praggnanandhaa started playing chess at the age of five and quickly began making waves in the junior circuit. He first came into the limelight when we won the World Youth Chess Championship in the Under-8 category in 2013.
This win earned him the title of FIDE Master at the age of seven. His relentless pursuit saw him become the youngest International Master in history at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days in 2016. Praggnanandhaa’s journey till now is marked with several historic achievements.
At the age of 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days he became the second-youngest Grand Master in history. He has consistently performed well in various international tournaments, often competing against and defeating much older and more experienced players.
In February 2022, Praggnanandhaa stunned the chess world by defeating the World Chess Champion, Magnus Carlsen, in an online rapid tournament.
In 2022 he also won a silver medal in the men’s team event at the 2022 Asian Games. In 2023, he played in the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023. He defeated a 2800-rated grandmaster, Ding Liren. Praggnanandhaa has been honored with the Arjuna Award (2022).
He has a long way to go and we all would love to see him be a chess champion and etch India’s name in gold.
Sheetal Devi: Para-Archer
In the world of sports, the story of Sheetal Devi stands out. She is one of the best Para-Archers in our country. Sheetal was born on 10th January 2007 in Kashmir with a rare medical condition called phocomelia. Due to this condition, her arms did not fully form. She was first noticed by the army coaches in the Youth event they had organized. Looking at Sheetal’s confidence the coaches decided to train her.
Sheetal had a knack for the sport and within 11 months of training, she participated in the Asian Para Games. At the 2022 Asian Para Games, Sheetal won three medals. One gold medal in the Individual Compound event, one gold medal in the Mixed Team Compound event, and one silver medal in the Doubles Compound event.
She is the first and the only international Para-Archery Champion without fully formed upper limbs. She won the silver medal at the 2023 World Archery Para Championship in the women’s individual compound open category. Sheetal became the World No.1 in women’s compound para archer in the open category in 2023. She was honored with the Arjuna Award (2023).
Sheetal has a long way to go with many more medals to come. She remains a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations. All eyes on her at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Prachi Yadav: Para-Canoe
Prachi Yadav is an inspiring figure in the world of para-sports, specifically para-canoeing. Born on 29th May 1995 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Prachi was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury. This meant that she would paralyzed from the waist down.
However, her physical limitations did not deter her spirits. Prachi entered the world of sports through para-swimming. But, on the advice of her coaches, she shifted to para-canoeing. Her journey has been marked with remarkable achievements and milestones.
Prachi became the first ever Indian Paracanoe Athlete to qualify for the 2020 Summer Paralympics Games. Let’s have a look at her achievements on the international stage:
- She won a gold medal in VL2 Women’s 200 metres at the Asian Canoe Para Qualifiers for Asian Para Games in 2022.
- She won a bronze medal in VL2 Women’s 200 metres at the ICF Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Cup in 2022.
- She won a gold medal in VL2 Women’s 500 metres at the 3rd Asian Paracanoe Championship in 2023.
- She won a gold medal in KL2 Women’s 500 metres at the 3rd Asian Paracanoe Championship in 2023.
- She won a silver medal in KL2 Women’s 200 metres at the 3rd Asian Paracanoe Championship in 2023.
- She won a gold medal in VL2 Women’s 200 metres at the 3rd Asian Paracanoe Championship in 2023.
- She won a silver medal in VL2 Women’s 200 metres at the 4th Asian Para Games in 2023.
- She won a gold medal in KL2 Women’s 200 metres at the 4th Asian Para Games in 2023.
- She won a gold medal in KL2 Women’s 200 metres at the ACC Paracanoe Asian Championships in 2024.
- She won a gold medal in VL2 Women’s 200 metres at the ACC Paracanoe Asian Championships in 2024.
Prachi has been honored with the Vikram Award (2020) and the Arjuna Award (2023). Prachi Yadav’s journey from overcoming personal challenges to excelling in para-canoeing is a story of grit, determination, and exceptional talent.
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