Guwahati: Women’s Day is celebrated every year around the world on March 8. This year, it falls on a Tuesday. As the name suggests, it is a day dedicated to women, a symbolic reminder of the historic journey they have taken globally to better their lives, and that while a lot has been achieved on that front, the journey is still long and more needs to be done.
Several female athletes made India proud at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 that were held in 2021. The exploits of these sportspersons at the greatest stage of world sports helped lift the national in the midst of the gloom caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tokyo 2020 also marked a major milestone for Indian sports. This was the first time since Karnam Mallesswari claimed bronze at the 2000 Olympics that so many female Indian sportspersons left their mark at a single edition of the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’.
This women’s day let us celebrate these female athletes and their journey to success against all odds.
1. Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu scripted history by winning the Silver Medal in the Women’s 49 kg Weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.Chanu lifted a total of 202 kilograms. While she made her Olympics breakthrough in 2021, the twenty-seven-year-old has won two gold medals in the 48 kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In 2017, she went on to win the world championship.
2. Lovlina Borgohain
Assam’s daughter and India’s pride Lovlina Borgohain made headlines for her Bronze medal win in the women’s 69kg boxing event in Olympics 2020. With this victory, Lovlina Borgohain became the third Indian boxer to earn a medal at the Olympics. She is only second to celebrated boxer M.C Mary Kom to win an Olympic medal for India in boxing.
3. Avani Lekhara
Avani won gold in the Women’s 50m air rifle 3 positions SH1 event and bronze in the 10m air rifle SH1 event in her maiden appearance at the Paralympic Games. She fired a score of 149.6 in the final, setting a new Paralympic record and equaling the world record. Avani is the fourth Indian to win a Paralympics gold and the first woman to win the same among paralympic athletes
4. P. V. Sindhu
Ace badminton player PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win two consecutive Olympic medals with her bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. She had won a silver medal at the Rio Games in 2020. She is the second Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals, with this achievement.
5. Aditi Ashok
Indian golf’s poster girl Aditi Ashok missed out on a medal by a whisker, but won a billion hearts with her ability to pull it till the end at the Olympics 2020. She ended up her having her best season on the LPGA since her rookie session in 2017.
