The year 2025 has brought both joy and disappointment for Indian sports. On one hand, Neeraj Chopra finally crossed the 90-metre mark in javelin. On the other, Indian men’s football continues to struggle.
However, women athletes have brought pride and hope. Their achievements over the past seven months have not only made headlines but also inspired young girls across India to dream big and take up sports.
Women’s Football Shows Strength Despite Poor System
The Indian women’s football team has shown great strength even though the All India Football Federation is in disarray. Unlike the men’s team, the women’s side has performed exceptionally well. They recently qualified on merit for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which will take place in Australia next year.
This is a historic moment because all nine of India’s previous appearances were either as hosts or by invitation.
Coach Crispin Chhetri's team delivered a flawless performance in Thailand. India topped Group B after winning all four matches. They beat the hosts 2-1 and crushed Mongolia, Iraq, and Timor-Leste by a combined 22-0.
Now, fans are eagerly waiting to see how far the Blue Tigresses can go in the main tournament.
Chess Stars Make History in Georgia
Indian women made history at the Women’s Chess World Cup in Batumi, Georgia. This event will send three players to next year’s Candidates Tournament.
Earlier, only Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli had reached the quarter-finals in past editions. But this time, four Indians — Harika, Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh — reached the last eight.
Along the way, Indian players pulled off major upsets. Divya beat two top-10 ranked Chinese Grandmasters — Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi. Meanwhile, Vantika Agrawal shocked former world champion Anna Ushenina in Round 2.
Thanks to these wins, at least two Indian players will now aim for the Women’s World Championship, currently held by China’s Ju Wenjun.
India’s Women Cricketers Triumph in England
India’s women’s cricket team has also made history this year. After a poor show in last year’s T20 World Cup, many doubted Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy. But the team bounced back strongly.
They achieved a rare double in England — winning both the T20I and ODI series. India sealed the T20I series with a match left to play. This was their first-ever T20 series win on English soil. They followed it up with a victory in the ODI series as well.
This strong performance has sent a clear message ahead of the ODI World Cup, which India will host later this year.
New Talents Shine in Squash and Skating
Young athletes are also bringing pride to India. Squash star Anahat Singh won a bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
In roller skating, Shreyasi Joshi made history by winning two gold medals at the Asian Championships in South Korea. She topped in both Classic Slalom and Battle Slalom events in Inline Freestyle.
A Promising Future
Clearly, the year isn’t over yet. But the outstanding achievements by Indian women athletes already give fans a reason to dream big. Their determination and success promise even more glory for Indian sport in the future.