Collect the information from newspapers, magazines, periodicals and books
about two famous Indian sportswomen and prepare their profiles.
Fill the details of the following information and you may use them as tips
for profile writing and speaking.
Name
Date of Birth
Height
State / Team he/she represents
Sports / Game he/she are associated with
Debut (first entry)
Best in the career
Hobbies
Awards/Medals received
Answers
Explanation:
Indian sport has seen a massive rise in the number of it's female athletes shining at the world stage since the turn of the millennium.
The first moment of glory for Indian sportswomen came at the Sydney 2000 when the legendary Karnam Malleswari won bronze, making her the first, and till date only, Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal.
More importantly, she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.
It was an incredible effort - Karnam had overcome a loss of form and dealt with a new weight category like the champion athlete she was - to win the historic bronze.
She may not have stood on the top step of the podium but Karnam Malleswari had given the country something far more important - the self-belief for Indian women athletes to know that they too could bring a lot of pride to the nation.
It inspired the next generation of Indian female athletes - be it MC Mary Kom, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu or Sakshi Malik to push themselves, fight through the odds and lay claim to being among the best in the world by winning Olympic medals.
We take a look at what has driven Indian women in sports towards their goals, in their own words.
Saina Nehwal’s hunger to be the best
Saina Nehwal is the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton.
Saina Nehwal is the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton.
New records were witnessed thanks to Saina Nehwal’s bronze at London 2012, which was India’s first-ever medal in badminton at the Olympic Games.
When she returned home with the medal, Saina Nehwal became an icon for Indian youth and Olympic dreamers. She has added many more medals, including at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, since then to her tally.
But what is it that pushes the Indian shuttle star to give her best every time she takes to the court?
I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent over a period of time.
Not just for men, proves Mary Kom
The first Indian woman boxer to win a medal at the Olympics, MC Mary Kom has been a trailblazer for Indian sports women in many ways.
Be it her six world titles or her return to the ring post-pregnancy, this legend is everything that an aspiring Indian woman athlete looks for in a role model.
