Sania Mirza (Tennis)

Sania Mirza, born 15 November 1986, is an Indian professional tennis player, currently ranked World No. 1 in women's doubles.From 2003 until her retirement from singles in 2013, she was ranked as India's No. 1 player, both in singles and doubles. Throughout her successful career, Mirza has established herself as the most successful female Indian Tennis player in history and one of the highest-paid and high-profile athletes in the country.

In addition, she is the third Indian woman in the Open Era to feature and win a round at a Grand Slam Tournament (going as far as the last 16). She has also won a total of 14 medals (including 6 Gold) at three major multi-sport events, namely the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Afro-Asian Games.

Sania was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India on 15 November 1986 in a Sunni Muslim family, to a builder, Imran Mirza and his wife Naseema, who worked in a printing business. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Hydrabad where she and younger sister Anam were raised in a religious family. She took up tennis at the age of six. She has been coached by her father and also Roger Anderson. 

Sania has established a tennis academy in Hyderabad. Former world no. 1s and multilple Grand Slam winners Cara Black and  Navratilova have both visited the academy on different occasions.

Sania Mirza was announced as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. She is the first South Asian Woman to be appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in the organization's history.

Year	Award
2009	Australian Open mixed doubles title (partner Mahesh Bhupathi)
2008	Became Asia No. 1 Player on 28-01-2008. Ranked 29th at that time.
2006	Padmshree Award by the Government of India. Become achiever of Padmashree youngest winner at the age of 19. A Padmashree award is one of the Highest civilian awards in India and the winners are honored on Republic Day.
2006	Gold medal in mixed doubles (partner Leander Paes), silver medal in singles and silver in women's team events (partner Shikha Uberoi) at the 15th Asian Games, Doha, Qatar.
2005	Newcomer of the Year from the WTA (Women's Tennis Assocoiation)
2004	Arjuna Award by the Government of India.

Geeta Phogat (Wrestling)

Geeta Phogat was born on December , 1988, in Balali, Haryana to parents Mahavir Singh and Daya Kaur. Phogat is a female wrestler from India who won India's first ever gold medal in women's wrestling in the 55 kg freestyle category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and is sponsored by the JSW Sports Excellence Program. She comes from a Hindu Jat family of Balali village in Bhiwani district, Haryana. Her father Mahavir Singh, a former wrestler himself, is also her coach.

She is the first-ever Indian woman wrestler to have qualified for the Olympics. Phogat won a gold medal in the Wrestling FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament that concluded at Almaty, Kazakhstan in April 2012.^[5] She has undergone rigorous training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, (NSNIS), Patiala, under the guidance of chief coach O.P. Yadav and foreign expert Ryan Dobo. She has numerous other international medals to her credit, including three consecutive medals in the Asian Cadet Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Geeta will be potrayed in 2016 Aamir Khan starrer film Dangal.

Achievements:

• Bronze Medal in Senior World Championship in September 2012 in Canada.
• Bronze Medal in FILA Wrestling World Championships 2012 in Stratha County.
• Gold Medal in Common Wealth Games in 2010 in Delhi.
• Gold Medal in Common Wealth Championshoips in 2009 in Jalander.
• Gold Medal in FILA Asaian Olympic Qualification Tournament in 2012 in Kazakhastan.

Tania Sachdev (Chess)

Tania Sachdev is an Indian chess player and was born on August 20, 1986. She was introduced to the game by her father. Her parents provided her with professional training. She holds the tittles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. She married Delhi-based architect Viraj Kataria in November 2014. As a child, Tania Sachdev won multiple events. Her career successes are U12 Indian champion, Asian U14 Junior and Senior Champion, and bronze medal winner at the World U12 Championship. She achieved her first international title when she was just eight.

In 2005, she became the eighth Indian Woman Grandmaster, won the national Indian Women Championship in 2006 and 2007 and topped the Asian Chess Championship in 2008. She was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2009. She took part in the2010 Chess Olympiad and finished 4th in the Asian Games. Sachdev was second runner-up in 38th National Women's Premier Chess Championship at Chennai. She won Bronze Medal on Board 3 with a score of 9/11 in the Istanbul Chess Olympiad 2012, Turkey.

Tania is ranked in the top 50 women's chess players as per the FIDE world chess Rankings 2014. A Viswanathan Anand fan, she became the eighth Indian Woman Grandmaster. She topped the Asian Chess Championship in 2008 with 6½ points out of nine rounds.

Tania recently told the mid-day in an exclusive interview, “I think the perception of chess not being a glamorous sport is only in India. Players in Europe come professionally dressed. Being in proper attire is a crucial part, as you feel confident. Though I would like to be known for my achievements in the sport, I don't mind if somebody calls me a hot chess player” Apart from chess Tania is also interested in discovering new tourist spots and her faviorite city on the planet is New York. According to her she would have an travel writer if she hadn’t been introduced to the world of chess. Tania also did commentary for the World Championship match between Vishwananth Anand and Magnus Caarlseb last year in Chennai.

Career Highlights:

2008
- Topped the Asian Championship with 6½ points out of nine rounds. This was the moment when she decided to take up chess professionally.2009

- Awarded the Arjuna Award for Sports.

2011
- 2nd Runner-Up in the 38th National Women’s Premiere Chess Championship.

2012
- Bronze Medal in the Istanbul Chess Olympiad 2012, with a score of 9.0/11.

2013
- Won Salento Open (Women’s Section).
- Won Forni Open, Italy (Women’s Section).
- Won Barbara Open (Women’s Section).
- Won Andorra Open, Spain (Women’s Section).
- Runner-Up at Indian National Chess Tournament, Kolkata.

2014
- Won a Gold & 2 Silver Medals at the Asian Tea, Championship in Tehran.
- Bronze Medal at the Commonwealth Chess Championship, Glasow.

Sharmila Nicollet (Golf)

Sharmila Nicollet is an Indo French professional golfer from Bangalore, India.
She was born on March 12, 1991. Nicollet was born in Bangalore. Her father Marc Nicollet is French and her mother Surekha Nicollet is from Bangalore. Surekha is a perfumist and has her own Padmini Aroma Ltd in Bangalore while Marc is a software professional.

Nicollet did her schooling in Bishop Cotton Girls’ School and Bangalore International school finishing her 10th grade and 12th grade privately. She is now pursuing a degree privately as well. Nicollet pursued golf in 2002 at the age of 11. She won her first tournament at the age of 15. She is a former national sub-junior swimming champ with over 72 gold and silver medals won in state and national aquatic meets (1997 to 2001). She was a state level athlete as well, making records at Bishop Cotton Girls School where she studied.

Nicollet has represented India at the Asian Games at Doha 2006 and in Asia Pacific Junior Golf Tournament, played at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, the Queen Sirikit Cup at Japan, the Malaysian Open and other international tournaments. Nicollet was also the youngest lady golfer to win the All-India Ladies Amateur Championship in 2007–2008, along with seven Open Amateur Tournaments.

Nicollet turned professional in 2009 when she was 18 years old.^[8] She is the youngest Indian golfer to qualify for Ladies European Tour. She is the second Indian to earn a full card on the Ladies European Tour. Nicollet won the 2009–2010 Order of Merit on the Women's Golf Association of India and then five further events to finish on top of the 2010– 2011 Order of Merit. She finished the top Indian golfer at T22, at the 2011 Hero Honda Women's Indian Open, with the lowest score of the day in the final round. She has a total of 11 wins on the Women's Golf Association of India.

She finally qualified with a full tour card for the Ladies European Tour in 2012, being the youngest Indian golfer to qualify.

Anjum Chopra (Cricket)

Anjum Chopra (born 20 May 1977 in New Delhi) is an Indian woman cricketer. A sports girl from the start, the first time she stepped onto the cricket ground was at the age of 9. She played her first friendly match with the college girls' team at the inter-college level, scoring 20 runs and taking 2 wickets. Later the same year she was selected to play for New Delhi in the under−15 tournament

A sports person, she played various sports at an early age, representing her school and college in athletics, basketball, and swimming. She was also a member of the Delhi State basketball team that competed at nationals.

Anjum made her debut in one-day internationals at the early age of 17, on 12 February 1995 against New Zealand at Christchurch, New Zealand, and made her debut in Test cricket a few months later against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 17 November 1995. In only her second series for India the same year, she was awarded player of the series in the one day internationals against the visiting England cricket team, scoring runs at an average of 67.5.

She is a left-handed batswoman who bowls right-arm medium-fast. She has played in 12 Tests and 116 ODIs.

Anjum Chopra is a Test and One Day International cricketer who represented India women's cricket team. She is currently working as a cricket commentator. She made her One Day International debut in 1995 against New Zealand at Christchurch. In the first ODI she opened the bowling for India, giving 14 runs in her 4 overs. Going in to bat at No 10 for India, she had a crucial partnership of 11 runs to secure the victory for India.

She made her Test match debut in November 1995 against England in Calcutta. She was sent in as a night watchgirl against the English team in the fading light of Calcutta in her very first Test match for India. Living up to her coach's confidence in her she successfully batted till the next morning till lunch scoring crucial 27 for her team.

She was made Vice Captain of the Indian team in 2000 Cricinfo World Cup in New Zealand. With two player of the match awards and highest scorer from India, Anjum led the batting charts at the World Cup until the Indian team lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners New Zealand.

Awards

• Padma Shri 2014.
• Arjuna Award, 2007.
• Rajiv Gandhi Delhi state award in 2004.
• ICC Player of the match awards in 2000, 2005, 2009.
• Shiromani Desh Sewa Rattan award- presented by Shaheed memorial international sewa society, Ludhiana in 2002.
• Award of honour for exemplary contribution in the field of cricket presented during forum of women in public sector, 2004.
• Zee Astitva award – 'Award for exemplary women', 2008.
• FICCI – YFLO- Young women achievers award, 2009.
• Award for contribution to field of sports presented during National Progressive schools conference, 2011.
• FORE School of management- Alumni recognition award for public contribution, 2012.
• Shaksiyat Awards on International women day for outstanding performance in the field of sports, March 2013.
• Delhi Public School, Indore honoured for exemplary contribution in the field of sports, 2012–13.
• All India National Life insurance Employees Federation honours in recognition to the society and nation on their 50 years (golden jubilee celebration), 2013.

Anju Bobby George (Long Jump)

Anju was born on 19 April 1977 in Kochuparambil family in Changanassery, Kerala to K. T. Markose. She was initiated into athletics by her father and her interest was further developed by her trainer in Koruthode school. She did her schooling in CKM Koruthode School and graduated from Vimala College.

Anju's journey to success from rank 61 in 2001 to rank 6 in 2003 within a short span of two years, was one of sheer hard work and intensive planning. The credit for her success goes to her husband and coach Robert Bobby George who according to her was the biggest influence who helped her in realizing her potential and achieving the goal.

Anju Bobby George made history when she won the bronze medal in Long Jump at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Championships in Athletics jumping 6.70 m. She went on to win the Gold medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2005, a performance she considers her best. She also won a gold medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.

In September 2005, Anju won the gold medal in the women's long jump at the 16th Asian Athletics Championship in Incheon City of South Korea with a leap of 6.65 meters. She went on to win the Gold medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2005 with a leap of 6.75 m, a performance she considers her best. She won silver medal in women's long jump in 15th Asian Games, 2006 held at Doha. In 2007, Anju won silver medal in 17th Asian Athletics Championship at Amman ( Jordan) with a jump of 6.65m and this qualified her for Osaka World Championship in August 2007 where she finished 9th. Anju start her 2008 season with silver medal in 3rd Asian Indoor Championship in athletics at Doha (Qatar) with a jump of 6.38m and she improved her distance to 6.50m by winning gold in the 3rd South Asian Athletics Championship at Kochi ( Kerala, India).

Career Highlights:

1996
- 1st place TJ Pune
- 4th place LJ/TJ Jr. Asian Track & Field Meet

1997

- 1st place TJ National Championships

1998
- 1st place LJ Madras

- 2nd place TJ Calcutta

1999
- 1st place LJ Bangalore
- 1st place LJ Sri Lankan Open
- 1st place LJ National Championships
- 1st place LJ Trivandrum International Circuit Meet
- 2nd place LJ Katmandu SAF Games

2000
- 1st place LJ Lucknow Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Hissar International Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ Bhopal International Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ New Delhi International Circuit Meet

2001
- 1st place LJ Banglore Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Trivandrum Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ/TJ Ludhiana National Games
- 3rd place LJ Hungary International Invite

2002
- 1st place LJ Chennai
- 1st place TJ InterState
- 1st place LJ Bangalore
- 1st place LJ Asian Games
- 1st place TJ Federation Cup
- 1st Place LJ/TJ Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Busan Asian Games
- 1st place LJ National Championships
- 1st place LJ New Delhi National Open
- 1st place LJ Hyderabad National Games
- 2nd place LJ Asian Grand Prix

- 3rd place LJ Commonwealth Games

2003
- 1st place LJ Eagle Rock
- 1st place LJ Afro Asian Games
- 1st place LJ Jim Bush SC Meet
- 1st place LJ Modesto NorCal Meet
- 2nd place LJ Stockholm IAAF Super GP
- 3rd place LJ World Athletic Championships
- 4th place LJ Golden League World GP

- World Ranked #6

2004
- 1st place LJ Seiko
- 1st place LJ All-Stars
- 1st place LJ Chennai
- 1st place LJ New Delhi
- 1st place LJ Grand Prix Doha
- 2nd place LJ Madrid
- 2nd place LJ Eugene
- 3rd place LJ Prefontaine

- 4th place LJ Osaka

2005
- 1st place LJ Asian Championships
- 1st place LJ National Championships
- 2nd place LJ World Athletics Final
- 4th place LJ Stockholm
- 4th place LJ London

2006
- 1st place LJ Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Interstate Chennai
- 1st place LJ Colombo South Asian Games
- 2nd place LJ Doha Asian Games
- 2nd place LJ Pune Asian Grand Prix
- 2nd place LJ Bangalore Asian Grand Prix
- 2nd place LJ Pattaya Aisan Indoor Championships

2007
- 1st place LJ Pune
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Pune
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Guwahati
- 2nd place LJ Asian Championships
- 3rd place LJ Bayer

2008
- Beijing Olympian
- 1st place LJ Bangalore
- 1st place LJ Inter-State Madurai
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Hanoi
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Nakhon
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Bangkok
- 1st place LJ South Asian Championships
- 2nd place LJ Asian Championships

Awards:

Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award in 2004.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2003–2004 after her success in the World Athletic meet

Arjuna award in 2002–2003 for eminent sports persons from the government of India and the country's highest sporting honour

Jimmy George Award in the year 2004.

Hero Sports Academy Awards- Sports Woman of the year in 2004 & 2005.

Mathrubhumi Star of the year in the year 2003.

The best female Athlete National Games in the year 2001 & 2002.

Anjali Bhagwat (Shooting)

Anjali Bhagwat is a professional Indian shooter. Bhagwat was born on December 5, 1969 in a Marathi family from Mumbai. To date, she has won 31 Gold, 23 Silver and 7 Bronze medals. She has set 13 new records in International competitions and has won 55 Gold, 35 Silver and 16 Bronze medals, with 8 new records in national competitions in India. She became the World Number One in 10m Air Rifle in 2002. She also won her first World Cup Final in Milan, in 2003, with a score of 399/400.

Bhagwat has two siblings; a younger brother and an elder sister. She is a tennis and cricket enthusiast. She is a self-confessed foodie and her favorite foods include fish, tandoori chicken and red wine. Austria is her favorite destination and she has visited the country on many occasions. Yoga and meditation form a large part of her daily routine. Her mother sang for AIR (All India Radio) while her sister is a singer too. An avid reader, she enjoys fiction.

Inspired by the legendary athlete Carl Lewis, Bhagwat developed interest in sports. Her first brush with shooting occurred during her stint as a cadet in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). A student of Judo Karate and advanced mountaineering, Bhagwat was very much attracted towards NCC. She joined Kirti College in Mumbai mainly due to its close affinity with the NCC. As a part of her curriculum she got into MRA (Maharashtra Rifle Association). She started shooting at the age of 21 and within 7 days of holding a gun.

In December 2000, she married Mumbai-based businessman, Mandar Bhagwat. The couple has a son named Aradhya born in 2010. In 2006, she shifted her base from Mumbai to Pune due city's better sporting facilities. Bhagwat is currently coaching six shooters in Pune, for which she also utilizes her own range. The 10m range is a part of her house and she usually practices there.

Bhagwat uses a Feinwerkbau, a German-made rifle for her Air Rifle events. For 10m she prefers a Feinwerkbau while for 50m she uses a .22 Walther. Bhagwat's first kit was gifted to her by Bollywood actor and a fellow shooter, Nana Patekar in 1993. She was officially sponsored by the Hinduja Foundation in 2000, and later by the Mittal Champions Trust in 2008. Hyundai Corporation also supported her training prior to 2004.

She participated in her first international event in 1995, in the SAF games. Her first international Gold winning performance was in the Commonwealth Championship in Auckland in 1999, where she won 3 Gold medals and a Silver medal in Air Rifle, 3P individual and the team event. She is the only woman to have won the World Cup for India. During the year 2006, Laszlo re-joined the national shooting squad as the team Coach, and Bhagwat trained with him till 2008. Bhagwat has ranked her victory as the Champions of Champions in 2002 as the best moment in her career. She still remains the only Indian to have ever win the title.

Awards:

Awards	Year
Shree Shiv Chattrapati Award	1992
Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar	1993
Vasantrav Naik Pratisthan Puraskar	1993
Arjuna Award (Sports)	2000
Indo-American Society Young Achiever Award	2002
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna	2003
Times Group Maharashtra Shaan	2003
Hero Indian Sports Award – Best Sportswoman	2003
HISA Sports Woman of the Year	2003
HISA Shooter of the Year	2003
HISA Shooter of the Year	2004
Great Women Achiever’s Award	2005
Teacher’s Achievement Award	2005
FIE Foundational National Award	2006