The year 2025 has been a mixed journey for Indian sports. While some areas saw setbacks, especially in men’s football, women athletes brought hope with powerful performances. Their achievements have not only made the nation proud but are also inspiring more girls to dream big in sports.
The Indian women’s football team made history by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 purely on merit. This is the first time India entered the tournament without being the host or receiving an invitation.
Under coach Crispin Chhetri, the Blue Tigresses won all their matches during the qualifying round in Thailand. They defeated the host nation 2-1 and kept clean sheets against Mongolia, Iraq, and Timor-Leste, scoring a total of 22 goals without conceding any.
Despite the poor management by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which has hurt the men’s team, the women’s team continues to progress. Their strong run has raised hopes for a great performance in the main tournament in Australia next year.
In Batumi, Georgia, Indian women dominated the Women’s Chess World Cup. This major tournament decides who qualifies for the next Candidates Tournament.
Four Indian players Harika Dronavalli, Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh reached the quarter-finals. This is a record in itself. Even more impressive, Humpy and Divya made it to the final, setting up an all-Indian championship match.
Divya shocked fans by defeating two top-ranked Chinese players Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi. Meanwhile, Vantika Agrawal defeated former world champion Anna Ushenina.
These performances guarantee that at least two Indian players will now compete for the Women’s World Championship, currently held by China’s Ju Wenjun.
India’s women’s cricket team also had a breakthrough moment in 2025. On their tour of England, they won both the T20I and ODI series a rare double. The T20I series win was especially historic. India won the series with one match left, marking their first-ever T20 series victory on English soil. After a disappointing T20 World Cup in 2024, where captain Harmanpreet Kaur nearly lost her position, this win has brought a big turnaround. With the ODI World Cup set to be hosted in India later this year, the team’s form is a promising sign of what lies ahead.
India’s future in sports looks bright thanks to young stars like Anahat Singh and Shreyasi Joshi. At the World Junior Squash Championships in Cairo, Anahat clinched a bronze medal, showing her strong potential at the international level.
In South Korea, Shreyasi Joshi grabbed double gold at the Asian Roller Skating Championships. She stood first in both Classic Slalom and Battle Slalom under the Inline Freestyle category. These achievements highlight the rising strength of Indian athletes in lesser-followed sports as well.
Despite the struggles faced in some areas of Indian sport, the remarkable rise of women athletes in 2025 has brought joy and pride. Whether it’s football, chess, cricket, squash, or skating—Indian women are breaking records and inspiring the next generation. Their success shows that with determination and support, India’s women can rule the global sporting stage.
