Year-Ender 2025: How Indian Women Rose To Occasion, Across Sports

The superlative performances of Indian women across sporting disciplines were a recurring theme in 2025. Time and again, while men's teams or players faltered, the women stepped up to make the nation proud. A big example of that was in cricket, where the men had a mixed year, but the women scripted an era-defining World Cup victory, while also clinching the Blind Women's T20 World Cup title. In chess, the 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh defeated veteran Koneru Humpy in an all-Indian FIDE Women's World Cup final to claim the title, and Vaishali Rameshbabu later won the Women's Grand Swiss for the second time in a row. In badminton, ace women's doubles pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand successfully defended their Syed Modi International title in Lucknow, while the nation's women boxers claimed seven gold medals at the World Boxing Cup Finals.

Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports
1/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Indias GM Vaishali Rameshbabu
In this image taken on Sept. 15, 2025, India's GM Vaishali Rameshbabu poses with her trophy after winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Vaishali made it to the women’s Candidates tournament after a hard-fought draw against former world champion Zhongyi Tan of China. | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza via PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
2/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-India’s Tanvi Sharma, BWF World Junior Championships
India’s Tanvi Sharma after winning silver medal in women’s singles category at the BWF World Junior Championships, at National Centre of Excellence, in Guwahati, Assam, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. | Photo: PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
3/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-India’s Simran-Womens 200m T12 Final
India’s Simran celebrates after finishing third in the Women's 200m T12 Final event during the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in New Delhi, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Salman Ali
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
4/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Gold medallist Indias Sanjana Singh
Gold medallist India's Sanjana Singh, silver medallist India's Seema and bronze medallist Nepal's Santoshi Shrestha during the felicitation ceremony after the Women's 5000 meter run at the 4th South Asian (SAAF) Senior Athletics Championships, in Ranchi, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. | Photo: PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
5/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-India’s Amandeep Kaur
India’s Amandeep Kaur, center, and compatriot Thota Sankeertana with Sri Lanka’s Kodithuwakku Takshi after winning in the women’s 800m final event during the 4th South Asian (SAAF) Senior Athletics Championships, at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. | Photo: PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
6/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Indian women’s hockey team
In this image released on Sept. 14, 2025, members of the Indian women’s hockey team celebrate during the presentation ceremony after winning the silver medal in the Women’s Asia Cup, in Hangzhou, China. | Photo: @narendramodi/X via PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
7/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-India’s Treesa Jolly
India’s Treesa Jolly, right, and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela pose with the medals after winning the women’s doubles final match at the Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton tournament, at Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Stadium, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Nand Kumar
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
8/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Cricket for the Blind 2025 Womens T20 World Cup
In this image received on Nov. 15, 2025, Indian players celebrate after winning the Cricket for the Blind 2025 Women's T20 World Cup match against USA, in Bengaluru. | Photo: Handout via PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
9/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-T20 blind women’s world cup
In this image received on Nov. 23, 2025, members of the Indian women team pose for photographs after winning the T20 blind women’s world cup, in Colombo. India on Sunday won the inaugural world cup after defeating Nepal by seven wickets in the final played at the P Sara oval. | Photo: Handout via PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
10/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-indian womens blind cricket team
Members of the Indian women's blind cricket team that won the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup for the Blind in Sri Lanka celebrate upon their arrival at a hotel, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. | Photo: PTI -
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
11/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Narendra Modi with Indian womens blind cricket team
In this image released on Nov. 27, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs a ball for members of the Indian Women's Cricket Team for the Blind, who recently won the inaugural T20 World Cup, during a meeting in New Delhi. | Photo: PMO via PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
12/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Indian womens blind cricket team
In this image posted on Nov. 29, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu during an interaction with members of the Indian women's blind cricket team that won the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup for the Blind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. | Photo: @rashtrapatibhvn/X via PTI
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
13/24
| Photo: PTI
94-year-old Pani Devi, who participated in the 23rd Asia Masters Athletics Championship held recently in Chennai for veteran athletes and won four gold medals, interacts with the media, in Bikaner, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-94-year-old Pani Devi 23rd Asia Masters Athletics Championship
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
14/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-ndias Minakshi Hooda
India's Minakshi Hooda after being declared the winner in the women's 48kg final match against Uzbekistan's Farzona Fozilova at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Gurinder Osan
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
15/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Indias Arundhati Choudhary
Gold medallist India's Arundhati Choudhary poses during the felicitation ceremony after her victory in the women's 70kg final match at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Gurinder Osan
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
16/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Indias Jaismine Lamboria
India's Jaismine Lamboria celebrates after being declared the winner in the women’s 57kg final match against Chinese Taipei's Wu Shih Yi at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Gurinder Osan
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
17/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Jemimah Rodrigues
India's Jemimah Rodrigues with teammates celebrates after winning in the ICC Women's World Cup semifinal ODI cricket match between India Women and Australia Women, at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Kunal Patil
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
18/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Indias captain Harmanpreet Kaur
India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and others celebrate the wicket of Australia's captain Alyssa Healy during an ICC Women's World Cup semifinal ODI cricket match between India Women and Australia Women, at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Kunal Patil
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
19/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-India’s coach Amol Muzumdar
India’s coach Amol Muzumdar plants the Indian tricolour on the pitch after the team won the ICC Women's World Cup 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, early Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Kunal Patil
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
20/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Harmanpreet Kaur
India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, left, and vice captain Smriti Mandhana hold the Indian tricolour as they celebrates after winning the ICC Women's World Cup final ODI cricket match between India Women and South Africa Women, at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Kunal Patil
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
21/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Shafali Verma
India's Shafali Verma celebrates her half century during the ICC Women's World Cup final ODI cricket match between India Women and South Africa Women, at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Kunal Patil
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
22/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-President Droupadi Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu with women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur during a meeting following the team's victory in the ODI World Cup, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Salman Ali
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
23/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav
National women's cricket team members, front row from left, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Renuka Singh and Uma Chetry with others during a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu following their victory in the ODI World Cup, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Salman Ali
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social
24/24
Yearenders 2025 Women in Sports-women’s cricket team
Members of the Indian women’s cricket team pose with a car during a felicitation event, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Tata Motors honours the Indian women's cricket team for their historic World Cup win by gifting each player the first units of the newly launched Tata Sierra SUV. | Photo: PTI/Shashank Parade
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

CLOSE