THE GLORIOUS SPORTSWOMEN OF INDIA
🏆 The Glorious Sportswomen of India
This chapter introduces some glorious Indian sportswomen who have brought glory to the nation through sports.
It highlights women in athletics , badminton, tennis, boxing, cricket, wrestling and adventure sports.
🇮🇳 अध्याय का परिचय
यह अध्याय भारत की उन प्रसिद्ध महिला खिलाड़ियों के बारे में बताता है जिन्होंने खेलों के माध्यम से देश का गौरव बढ़ाया।
इसमें एथलेटिक्स, बैडमिंटन, टेनिस, मुक्केबाजी, क्रिकेट, कुश्ती और साहसिक खेलों में महिलाओं की उपलब्धियों का वर्णन किया गया है।
Athletics
Badminton
Tennis
Boxing
Cricket
In India, the world of sports is still dominated by men. Women are usually not encouraged to take up sports. Since their childhood , girls are pushed to learn virtues of a good homemaker whereas boys are encouraged to play outdoor games.
Even today, while buying toys for children, parents tend to buy dolls , indoor games and kitchen playing sets for their daughters , but cricket bats and footballs for their sons .
On the other hand, there are many Indian sportswomen who have brought glory to the nation by winning medals and titles .
Now, things have certainly improved for women. The role and status of an Indian woman in sports have become equivalent to that of a man.
Fortunately, we have many women sports personalities , who are the role models for the younger generation; their successes have inspired other girls to take up sports as their career .
PT Usha is one of India’s best known women athletes . She has won many national and international awards . She was known as 'The Queen of Indian Track and Field.' P T Usha received 'Padma Shree' and 'Arjuna Award'. She was named the ‘Sportsperson of the Century’ by the Indian Olympic Association.
Saina Nehwal is also known as the ‘Golden Girl’ of Indian badminton . She is the first woman in the history of Indian sports to reach the world’s number one rank in badminton. She has received ‘Padma Bhushan’ , ‘Padma Shree’ , ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna’ and 'Arjuna Award' for badminton.
Sania Mirza is one of the most recognised faces in Indian sports. She is the only woman face of Indian Lawn Tennis, who was formerly ranked number one in the women’s doubles ranking. She has received 'Arjuna Award' , 'WTA new comer of the year' , 'Padma Shree' , 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna' , and 'Padma Bhushan.'
P V Sindhu is a rising star in the world of badminton, who is currently the world’s number seven in BWF world ranking . She became the first ever Indian woman singles player to win a medal at the World Badminton Championship. She has received 'Arjuna Award' , 'Padma Shree' and 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award'.
M C Mary Kom is also known as the ‘Million Rupee Baby’ in India. This strong lady is a five times boxing world champion and also has an Olympics bronze medal in her kitty . She is the first lady boxer to have won the bronze medal for India at the London Olympics. She is honoured with 'Padma Bhushan' , 'Padma Shree' , 'Arjuna Award' and 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award'.
Mithali Raj is the face of Indian women’s cricket team and is ranked number ten by the ICC World Women Cricket rating . She is the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team in test and ODI. She is the highest run scorer in women’s international cricket. She has received 'Arjuna Award' , 'Padma Shree' , 'Youth Sports Icon of Excellence Award' and many more.
Geeta Phogat is an Indian wrestler and the first sports woman from the country to have qualified for the Olympics. She is a freestyle wrestler who has won India’s first ever gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games. She has been conferred with the outstanding achievement in National Sports in 2012.
Arunima Sinha is the first Indian female amputee to climb Mount Everest . She was a former national football and volleyball player. She lost her leg after she was thrown out from a running train while resisting an attack from thieves in 2011. She has received 'Padma Shree' and 'Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award' which is at par with the 'Arjuna Award'.
There are many Indian sportswomen, who bring glory to their families and the nation. However, our society still needs to understand that encouraging sports among girls is as important for their personality development as it is for their academics. Virtues like team spirit , leadership , decision-making ability and flexibility can be better learnt on the sports ground.
dominated
Pronunciation: DOM-uh-nay-tid
हावी हुआ
encouraged
Pronunciation: en-KUR-ijd
प्रोत्साहित किया
conferred
Pronunciation: kun-FURD
प्रदान किया
virtues
Pronunciation: VUR-chooz
सद्गुण
motivated
Pronunciation: MOH-tuh-vay-tid
प्रेरित किया
glory
Pronunciation: GLO-ree
सम्मान / यश / गौरव
fortunately
Pronunciation: FOR-chuh-nit-lee
सौभाग्यवश
athlete
Pronunciation: ATH-leet
खिलाड़ी / एथलीट
honoured
Pronunciation: ON-erd
सम्मानित किया
1. Answer the following questions:
2. Tick (✔) the correct options:
1. Match the expressions with their meanings:
2. Read the following abbreviations and their full forms:
IOA
Indian Olympic Association
BWF
Badminton World Federation
ODI
One Day International
ICC
International Cricket Council
WTA
Women's Tennis Association
1. Read and understand:
Now put the verbs given in the bracket into the correct form and use 'going to'.
b. They (eat)
c. We (help)
d. I (wear)
e. It is 8:30 pm. You (miss)
2. Read and understand:
He looked through the window.
The boy jumped across the stream.
Now complete the following sentences using 'through' or 'across':
🏑 National Sports Day
National Sports Day is celebrated throughout India on August 29 to mark Major Dhyan Chand's birthday. He is referred to as 'The wizard', for his incredible hockey skills.
🌍 International Day of Sport
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is celebrated on April 6 which recognises the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide.
💡 Sports and Life
Sports can help children develop confidence, discipline, cooperation and decision-making skills.
🏅 Sports teach more than winning
Think about what happens when you play a team game. You have to cooperate, listen, make decisions, respect others and continue even when things become difficult.
Speak for One Minute: “A Sportswoman Who Inspires Me”
Use these guiding points:
- Who is she?
- Which sport does she play?
- What achievement do you admire?
- Which quality inspires you?
- What can you learn from her?
Write a few lines about the 'Value of Games' in life.
Games are important for a healthy and active life. They keep us physically fit and teach us discipline. Games also develop team spirit, cooperation, leadership and decision-making ability. They teach us to accept both success and failure with a positive attitude.
खेल स्वस्थ और सक्रिय जीवन के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं। वे हमें शारीरिक रूप से स्वस्थ रखते हैं और अनुशासन सिखाते हैं। खेलों से टीम भावना, सहयोग, नेतृत्व और निर्णय लेने की क्षमता विकसित होती है। वे हमें सफलता और असफलता दोनों को सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोण से स्वीकार करना सिखाते हैं।
Think of a person who has inspired you. It could be a friend, family member or a teacher or even a famous personality.
Write how you got inspired by that person; what qualities do you like about him/her and how he/she has influenced your life.
My teacher has inspired me greatly. I admire her dedication, patience and kindness. She encourages me to work hard and believe in myself. Her guidance has helped me become more confident and responsible.
मेरे शिक्षक ने मुझे बहुत प्रेरित किया है। मैं उनकी लगन, धैर्य और दयालुता की प्रशंसा करता/करती हूँ। वे मुझे मेहनत करने और अपने ऊपर विश्वास रखने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करते हैं। उनके मार्गदर्शन ने मुझे अधिक आत्मविश्वासी और जिम्मेदार बनने में मदद की है।
Names of some games are given below. Mention the names of some famous players associated with these games:
Choose the correct answer. Complete all questions to see your score.
📌 Important Learning Points
- The chapter highlights the achievements of glorious Indian sportswomen.
- P T Usha is known as the ‘Queen of Indian Track and Field’.
- Saina Nehwal is known as the ‘Golden Girl’ of Indian badminton.
- Sania Mirza is a recognised face of Indian Lawn Tennis.
- P V Sindhu is a successful badminton player.
- M C Mary Kom is known as the ‘Million Rupee Baby’.
- Mithali Raj is the highest run scorer in women's international cricket according to the lesson.
- Geeta Phogat is an Indian freestyle wrestler.
- Arunima Sinha is the first Indian female amputee to climb Mount Everest.
- Sports help develop team spirit, leadership, decision-making ability and flexibility.
- Girls should receive encouragement and opportunities to participate in sports.
- 'Going to' is used for intention and future prediction.
- 'Through' implies entering the middle of something and going out the other side.
- 'Across' implies movement from one side to the other.
🇮🇳 एक मिनट में दोहराएँ
इस अध्याय में भारत की महान महिला खिलाड़ियों की उपलब्धियों को बताया गया है। पी. टी. उषा, साइना नेहवाल, सानिया मिर्जा, पी. वी. सिंधु, मैरी कॉम, मिताली राज, गीता फोगाट और अरुणिमा सिन्हा जैसी खिलाड़ियों ने देश का गौरव बढ़ाया। खेलों से टीम भावना, नेतृत्व, निर्णय लेने की क्षमता और लचीलापन जैसे गुण विकसित होते हैं। इसलिए लड़कियों को भी खेलों में समान अवसर और प्रोत्साहन मिलना चाहिए।