From Small Towns to International Arenas: India’s Sporting Journey
India's sporting success is increasingly being shaped by athletes who come from small towns, villages and communities far from the country's biggest sporting centres.
For many of these athletes, reaching an international arena requires more than talent. They often begin with limited facilities, local coaches and modest resources before progressing through state, national and international competitions.
Stories from athletics, boxing, shooting, badminton, gymnastics and weightlifting have shown how India's sporting talent exists far beyond cricket.
Neeraj Chopra grew up in Khandra village in Haryana and became India's first track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.
His breakthrough came at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships, where he won gold in the javelin throw and set a world junior record. His success continued at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games before his historic Olympic victory.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021, Chopra won gold in men's javelin. He later added a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Born in Kangathei village in Manipur, Mary Kom rose from a modest background to become one of India's most celebrated boxers.
She became a six time world champion and won an Olympic bronze medal at the London 2012 Games. Her international career also included multiple Asian and Commonwealth achievements.
Kom's story is significant not only because of her medals but also because of the barriers she overcame as a woman from a remote part of northeastern India entering a demanding sport.
Dipa Karmakar, from Agartala, Tripura, became one of India's most recognizable gymnasts after reaching the Olympic final at the Rio 2016 Games.
She became the first Indian female gymnast to compete at the Olympics and finished fourth in the vault final, narrowly missing a medal.
Karmakar became particularly known for attempting the extremely difficult Produnova vault, one of the most challenging moves in gymnastics at the time.
Manu Bhaker, from Goria village in Haryana's Jhajjar district, emerged as one of India's leading young shooting stars. She made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games and later returned to the podium at Paris 2024.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bhaker won a bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event. She then partnered with Sarabjot Singh to win another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event.
Avinash Sable, from Mandwa village in Maharashtra, took an unconventional route to becoming one of India's leading long distance runners.
Growing up in a rural environment, Sable developed his athletic career after joining the Indian Army, where his running ability was recognized and encouraged. He eventually specialized in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Sable became the first Indian man to qualify for the Olympic 3,000m steeplechase final, competing at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He later represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics as well.
India’s sporting success is increasingly being shaped by athletes who come from small towns, villages and communities far from the country’s biggest sporting centres.
India's sporting success is increasingly being shaped by athletes who come from small towns, villages and communities far from the country's biggest sporting centres.
For many of these athletes, reaching an international arena requires more than talent. They often begin with limited facilities, local coaches and modest resources before progressing through state, national and international competitions.
Stories from athletics, boxing, shooting, badminton, gymnastics and weightlifting have shown how India's sporting talent exists far beyond cricket.
Neeraj Chopra grew up in Khandra village in Haryana and became India's first track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.
His breakthrough came at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships, where he won gold in the javelin throw and set a world junior record. His success continued at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games before his historic Olympic victory.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021, Chopra won gold in men's javelin. He later added a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Born in Kangathei village in Manipur, Mary Kom rose from a modest background to become one of India's most celebrated boxers.
She became a six time world champion and won an Olympic bronze medal at the London 2012 Games. Her international career also included multiple Asian and Commonwealth achievements.
Kom's story is significant not only because of her medals but also because of the barriers she overcame as a woman from a remote part of northeastern India entering a demanding sport.
Dipa Karmakar, from Agartala, Tripura, became one of India's most recognizable gymnasts after reaching the Olympic final at the Rio 2016 Games.
She became the first Indian female gymnast to compete at the Olympics and finished fourth in the vault final, narrowly missing a medal.
Karmakar became particularly known for attempting the extremely difficult Produnova vault, one of the most challenging moves in gymnastics at the time.
Manu Bhaker, from Goria village in Haryana's Jhajjar district, emerged as one of India's leading young shooting stars. She made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games and later returned to the podium at Paris 2024.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bhaker won a bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event. She then partnered with Sarabjot Singh to win another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event.
Avinash Sable, from Mandwa village in Maharashtra, took an unconventional route to becoming one of India's leading long distance runners.
Growing up in a rural environment, Sable developed his athletic career after joining the Indian Army, where his running ability was recognized and encouraged. He eventually specialized in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Sable became the first Indian man to qualify for the Olympic 3,000m steeplechase final, competing at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He later represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics as well.