Sports and Gender Equality in India

Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Olympic medal.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) was established in 1984 to promote sports in India and to provide support to athletes.

Haryana has the highest number of women participating in sports in India, with a significant number of female athletes representing the state at national and international levels.

Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in shooting at the Olympics.

P.T. Usha won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

P.T. Usha won a gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1986 Asian Games, becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.

P.T. Usha won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Championships in Athletics.

Mary Kom won a bronze medal in the 48kg category at the 2001 World Boxing Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Boxing Championships.

Geeta Phogat won a bronze medal in the 55kg category at the 2009 World Wrestling Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Wrestling Championships.

Saina Nehwal won a bronze medal in the women's singles event at the 2006 World Badminton Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Badminton Championships.

Manika Batra won a bronze medal in the women's singles event at the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Table Tennis Championships.

Koneru Humpy won a bronze medal in the women's world chess championship in 2002, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Chess Championships.

Shivani Kataria won a bronze medal in the women's 200m butterfly event at the 2015 World Swimming Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Swimming Championships.

Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal in the women's long jump event at the 2003 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships.

Dipa Karmakar won a bronze medal in the women's vault event at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Gymnastics Championships.