The year 2025 will be remembered as a watershed moment in the history of Indian women in sports a year when Indian athletes did not just participate or compete but conquered, across continents, across disciplines, and across traditional boundaries.
From cricket’s biggest stage in Navi Mumbai to ice rinks in the UAE, from athletics tracks in Taipei and Gumi to boxing rings in Liverpool, Indian women delivered performances that reshaped national sporting identity and redefined global expectations.
These triumphs validated years of structural investment, highlighted the depth of India’s emerging talent, and sparked a renewed wave of conversations around equal opportunities, gender inclusivity, and the future of Indian sports.
Here are the Top 10 historic achievements that made 2025 a golden chapter for Indian women in sport.
Indian Women’s Cricket Team Wins Maiden ODI World Cup :Nothing electrified the nation like the moment India lifted the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time on November 2, 2025, at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. After posting 298/7, India’s bowlers dismantled South Africa, securing a 52-run win that ended decades of longing.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma, who produced an unprecedented 58 and 5/39, became the first cricketer male or female to achieve this double in a World Cup knockout match. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the team broke attendance records and drew nearly 500 million viewers across India.
It became the women’s team’s own “1983 moment.”
Indian Women’s Football Team Qualifies for AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 On Merit: The Blue Tigresses achieved a historic first: qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 purely through merit-based qualification. With Sangeeta Basfore scoring decisive goals, India defeated Iraq 5–0 and edged Thailand to earn their place.
Simultaneously, Indian clubs registered notable wins in the AFC Women’s Champions League, marking the strongest year yet for the women’s football ecosystem. India is now viewed as a rising force in Asia.
Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team Wins Back-to-Back World Cups: In Dhaka, the Indian women’s kabaddi team defended their World Cup title by defeating Chinese Taipei 35–28. Dominant throughout the tournament, they proved their supremacy even outside home conditions.
Led by Ritu Negi, India’s undefeated run including emphatic wins over Thailand, Iran, and Bangladesh further cemented the country’s status as the global powerhouse of kabaddi.
India Wins the Inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup: In Colombo, India’s visually impaired women’s cricket team, captained by Deepika Goankar, won the first-ever T20 World Cup for the Blind. Unbeaten throughout the tournament, they produced a clinical seven-wicket win over Nepal in the final.
This triumph amplified conversations around inclusive sport and demonstrated the transformative impact of organizations like the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).
Golden Year in Athletics: Pooja, Vithya Ramraj and Jyothi Yarraji Shine Across Asia: Athletics delivered some of the most compelling stories of the year:
- Pooja (Haryana) stunned the field with double gold at the Taiwan Athletics Open, winning the 1500m (4:11.63) and 800m.
- Vithya Ramraj clinched gold in the 400m hurdles at the same meet with a season-best 56.53, extending her strong continental form.
- Jyothi Yarraji, despite battling injury, defended her 100m hurdles Asian Championship title, clocking 12.96 in Gumi to beat Japan’s Yumi Tanaka and China’s Wu Yanni.
These performances signal India’s rapidly strengthening track and field structure.
Divya Deshmukh Wins the FIDE Women’s World Cup India’s First-Ever: In a historic all-Indian final, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh defeated Koneru Humpy to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, becoming the youngest champion and instantly earning the Grandmaster title.
This victory cemented India as the world’s leading hub of women’s chess, marking a generational shift and reinforcing the strength of its intellectual sports ecosystem.
Boxing World Champions: Jaismine Lamboria and Minakshi Hooda Strike Gold: Liverpool witnessed one of India’s strongest boxing performances:
- Jaismine Lamboria won the 57kg gold, defeating Paris Olympics silver medallist Julia Szeremeta.
- Minakshi Hooda dominated the 48kg final, out-punching Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay.
They became India’s first world champions under the restructured governing body, World Boxing (WB) a major milestone as the sport enters new Olympic cycles.
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Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team Wins Historic Asia Cup Bronze: One of the most heart-warming stories of 2025 came from the UAE, where the Indian women’s ice hockey team made up primarily of athletes from Ladakh beat Kyrgyzstan 3–2 to clinch bronze at the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup.
Despite scepticism and limited infrastructure, the team’s perseverance reshaped perceptions around winter sports in India.
Squash Prodigy Anahat Singh Wins British Junior Open U-17 Crown: Barely 17, Anahat Singh delivered one of the most impressive seasons in Indian squash history:
- Won the British Junior Open U-17 title
- Captured six titles in 2025
- Claimed her third PSA crown of the season, beating veteran Joshna Chinappa
Her meteoric rise positions her as India’s strongest squash prospect ahead of the LA28 Olympics.
Para Queens Simran Sharma and Preethi Pal Shine at the World Championships: Indian para-athletes produced a breakout year:
- Simran Sharma won gold in the 100m T12 and silver in the 200m, becoming the first Indian woman to win a World Championship gold in her category.
- Preethi Pal, living with cerebral palsy, added silver (100m T35) and bronze (200m T35).
- Deepthi Jeevanji, Paralympic bronze medallist, secured silver in the 400m T20.
India’s para-athletics contingent delivered a record haul, proving the success of inclusive sports investment.
A Defining Year and a Turning Point for the Future
With achievements spanning cricket, football, boxing, kabaddi, athletics, chess, para-sport, squash, and even winter sport, 2025 showcased unprecedented breadth in Indian women’s sporting excellence. These triumphs were not isolated they were systemic, built on years of steady investment, better infrastructure, stronger grassroots programs, and increasing cultural acceptance of women in competitive sport.
As India looks ahead to the 2026–2028 cycle, including the LA28 Olympics, the blueprint is clear: Indian women are not just participating they are leading.
And if 2025 is any indication, the world will be watching closely as Indian women continue to script history.
