A century ago — 101 years, to be precise — when Nora Polley was preparing to serve on the tennis courts of the 1924 Paris Olympics, and becoming in the process the first woman to represent India in international sport, she would have scarcely imagined the scenes that spilled over Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil turf over the weekend.Sunday night’s coronation of the Indian women’s team as cricket’s world champions would have told her that Indian women’s sport has come a long way. It has been a century of individual and collective dreams and struggles, of challenging stereotypes, patriarchy and gender bias, and most importantly, of silencing the doubters and proving that sporting excellence can lead to identity, dignity and rewarding careers.
That the World Cup triumph will prove the tipping point not just for women’s cricket but all of women’s sport in the country. Not just Harmanpreet Kaur and her team; it belongs to every female athlete who has donned sports shoes and a kit with the hope of winning for India.It is no secret that a title at the highest level is a catalyst and fuels the ambition of another from the tribe. Women’s sport in India has often been a lonely pursuit and often one lacking in recognition, and success transcends the sporting arena.Seventy six years after Polley broke ground at the 1924 Olympics — with the pioneering Neelima Ghose following close at Helsinki 1952 — a 25-year-old Karnam Malleswari signalled a new era in Indian women’s sport, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, a weightlifting bronze at Sydney 2000. PT Usha missed out on a famous 400 metres hurdles bronze at 1984 Los Angeles 1984, but Malleswari’s tangible success became a rallying point, proving achievement’s unique power to break barriers and ignite ambition. Seven women followed the Srikakulam native to win 10 Olympic medals for India — Mary Kom (boxing), Saina Nehwal (badminton), PV Sindhu (twice; badminton), Sakshi Malik (wrestling), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Lovlina Borgohain (boxing) and Manu Bhaker (2 medals; shooting). Each medal has inspired more women to pursue sport, proving these successes go beyond mere trophies.Dr Manjula V, an academician with a doctorate in women’s sport, analyses this unique ‘pay it forward’ effect. “While sporting achievements in your sport add a spark and purpose to your ambitions, the success of women in any sport encompasses the sporting arena. It brings about a positive shift in social and societal attitudes and helps in changing the narrative of deep-rooted perceptions.”
It was extremely emotional for me to watch the Indian team lift the World Cup
Salima Tete
On what the success of Harmanpreet and her team means to Indian cricket, she said, “This victory broadens our sporting identity from a cricket-obsessed male-dominated narrative to one of inclusion and equality. It will reshape public attitudes, showing that excellence knows no gender. Women are successfully batting in gendered spaces.”The Indian women’s hockey team came agonisingly close to winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Once the dust settled down on their ‘historic feat’ of reaching their maiden Olympics semifinals, they faded away. Their cricket counterparts’ success story for them feels like their own. The Salima Tete-led team watched India’s final against South Africa on a giant screen at the SAI, South Centre in Bengaluru, where they train.“It was extremely emotional for me to watch the Indian team lift the World Cup,” said Salima. “Their win has inspired the Indian women’s hockey team. I feel what really makes this victory so special is the journey each of these players has been through to get to here, and we relate to them. No one has had it easy, but they have instilled belief in every young girl that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” added the 23-year-old defender.
This victory isn’t just about cricket, it’s about the rise of Indian women, strong, fearless and ready to take on the world
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen, the two-time world boxing champion, who has broken more than one glass ceiling, believes the win has elevated the growing women’s sport landscape to the next level.“Women’s sport in India has already taken a big leap; we’ve been breaking barriers, rewriting stories and inspiring change across every field. The World Cup win takes that to the next level. It’s a proud moment for all of us athletes who know the fight it takes to reach the top. This victory isn’t just about cricket, it’s about the rise of Indian women, strong, fearless and ready to take on the world,” she explained.Concurring with her peers, Ashalata Devi, the first to make 100 international appearances for India in women’s football, stated: “Every player dreams of winning a World Cup. It is a proud moment for the nation. They showcased the power of hard work, belief and unity. This success is an inspiration for millions of young girls to dream big, and show their power.”
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For Unnati Hooda, India’s emerging badminton star, Sunday’s victory held out a larger hope. “The impact of the win goes far beyond cricket; it’s about every girl who dares to dream,” said the 18-year-old from Haryana.“It just inspires me to keep pushing my own limits and believe that every bit of hard work counts. Also across sports, we’re seeing young girls step up, break barriers, and show what’s possible when you believe in yourself. These moments remind us that girls are fearless and resilient,” she added.It’s not for nothing that they say, behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back. The Noras, Neelimas and Malleswaris of our sport would be so proud today. (With inputs from Marcus Mergulhao)
