Beyond Cricket, Here Are The Indian Athletes Who Are Making India Proud

The ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 is keeping Indians on their toes. At the same time, other Indian athletes are bringing laurels to the country with their exceptional wins, overcoming daunting challenges, but are often missing the spotlight.

Here are some Indian athletes who represented the country in the last few weeks and made India proud.

Mirabai Chanu

On July 9, former world champion Mirabai Chanu won gold in the senior weightlifting championship at Commonwealth. She lifted a total of 191 kg (84kg + 107 kg) in the senior women’s 49 kg to grab the gold.

In April, Mirabai took part at the Asian Championship in Ningbo and lifted the 199kg (86kg + 113kg), but missed the medal by a whisker.

Dutee Chand

On July 9, Dutee Chand won a gold medal at the Summer Universiade in Napoli making her the first Indian to win a gold in 100m in a global event. Chand completed the race in 11.32 seconds.

She is now the second Indian sprinter to grab gold in a global event after Hima Das who clinched the top spot in 400m in the World Junior Athletics Championships last year.

The Odisha runner has a national record of running the 100m track at 11.24 seconds.

Sunil Chhetri

Indian Football team skipper Sunil Chhetri on July 7, broke another record. The 34-year-old veteran forward surpassed Argentine stalwart Lionel Messi to become the second-highest goalscorer in international football among the active footballers.

Currently, our captain is just behind the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who sits comfortably at the top spot with 88 goals in 158 games.

https://twitter.com/IndianFootball/status/1147882054480039936

Chhetri on July 9 was named as the AIl India Football Federation (AIFF) player of the year for a record of 6th time. The striker was conferred with this honor in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2017.

Hima Das

Indian star sprinter- Hima Das on July 7 won her second international gold in women’s 200m with a top finish in the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland on July 7. The 19-year-old who is struggling with her back problem crossed the finish line in 23.97 seconds.

Hima recorded her personal best of 23.65 seconds last year.

In October last year, Das was conferred the Arjuna Award by the President – Ram Nath Kovind. She is also India’s first-ever UNICEF youth ambassador for sports.

https://twitter.com/still_amystery/status/1148098025207693312

In the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix, national record holder Muhammad Anas also won gold in 200m race under the men’s category. In 400 m hurdles, M P Jabir won the gold by reaching the finish line in 50.21 seconds.

Indian Rugby Team

The Indan women’s rugby team which was formed barely a year ago, on June 22 won their first international match. The historic win came against Singapore in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship Division 1 with 21-19 score. This match was the third international game for the 15-member women’s rugby team.

The power of rugby! This is worth seeing again @rugbyindia women have recorded their first 15s victory at international level @brettgosper @rahulbose1 pic.twitter.com/Amw70O7oVk

— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) June 22, 2019

Also Read: Sunil Chhetri Surpasses Messi To Become 2nd Highest Goalscorer, Only Behind Cristiano Ronaldo