1. Neeraj Chopra: From a promising youngster to the greatest champion. The man, who is easily regarded and is known throughout the country. Neeraj Chopra, After Abhinav Bindra, Chopra became the second individual gold medalist from India and the first ever to win an Olympic gold in athletics. It can be said that Neeraj’s first medal was what helped India to surpass their previous total of six medals by taking home seven. The winning throw came from Neeraj on his second try, measuring 87.58 metres. No other sportsperson was able to even approach that distance.
2. Mirabai Chanu: For last year’s Tokyo Olympics, Indian weightlifting gained a new icon to succeed Karnam Malleswari. Her competent successor turned out to be Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. Chanu opened India’s account in the major competition and became the first weightlifter from India to win a silver at the Olympics. She was also the sole weightlifter from India to qualify. She lifted 202 kg in total for the 49 kg category. She not only earned a silver in the process, but she also successfully lifted 115 kg, breaking the previous record for the clean and jerk. She also won a bronze medal at the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent. By performing a clean and jerk with 119 kg, she also set a record at this location.
3. Ravi Kumar Dahiya: The 57kg freestyle wrestling final between Ravi and Zavur Uguev was observed by the entire country with anticipation. Dahiya lost that match 4-7, thus it was not to be. He did, however, guarantee his country a silver medal at the Olympics. The Kazakh wrestler Nurislam Sanayev battle in the quarterfinals will go down as one of the greatest comebacks in history.
Dahiya once trailed 2-9 before winning a few points and eventually pinning the Kazakh wrestler, sending Indian supporters throughout the world into a frenzy. In addition, Ravi Kumar won the gold medal at the Asian Wrestling Championship this year, which was held in Kazakhstan.
4. Lovlina Borgohain: When she won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the whole nation was cheering for her. Despite her financial struggles, which caused her father to struggle to pay for her training, she reached the top and did so in her Olympic debut.
In order to guarantee herself a medal, Borgohain overcame Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. Moreover, she took home another bronze in the 69 kg division at the 2021 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships in Dubai. Her story truly tells us that perseverance is the key to overcoming obstacles in life.
5. PV Sindhu: She doubled her Olympics medal tally as she won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. She played against China’s He Bingjao in the semi-finals and beat her in straight sets (21-13,21-15). The victory made her the first Indian woman and only the fourth player in women’s singles badminton to claim medals at two consecutive Olympic games. With even more accolades to her name, she is an inspiration to young girls everywhere, to play, to try, to dream.
