Revisiting 11 Most Glorious Moments In Indian Women's Sports In 2022

Women have proved their mettle as world-class athletes for long enough to be given not just equal opportunities but also recognition. While there's still a long way to go to attain a level-playing field across all sports, this year's magnificent sporting moments in women's sports will go down in history as one of the most glorious ones.

From women cricketers getting equal pay as their male counterparts to the launch announcement of women's IPL to several female athletes breaking records and registering historic wins, this year turned out to be monumental for female sportspersons.

Let's take a look at 11 incredible moments in women's sports from this year.

Suggested reading: Batting For Equality: Women Cricketers Getting Equal Pay Sets Course For Change

Best Moments In Sports In 2022

1. Equal Pay

Starting the list with a historic moment that paves way for not just an acknowledgement of women athletes but also sets the course for a change that the world of sports has long been waiting for.

In October this year, the BCCI announced that India's centrally contracted women cricketers will now be receiving the same match fee as the male cricketers in the country for all international matches' appearances under the board’s new pay equity policy.

Equal pay is a wider, more significant area, we must talk about women cricketers getting their due monetarily to bear fruit to the years of hurdles they have endured to be treated at the equal capacity as that male cricketers. This moment may not have happened on the field, but it marks one of the most important moments in the history of sports in India.

India Women's National Cricket Team

2. Women’s IPL

It may have taken us fifteen seasons of the Indian Premier League - solely men's - to realise that it's time to bring in female cricketers for their league too.

Well, 2022 will be a kickstart of this idea that was a long time coming. On October 18, in a historic decision, the BCCI announced the inauguration of the Women's Indian Premier League (IPL). The WIPL will take place in March 2023, and given the growing acknowledgement and popularity of women's cricket in India, the tournament will be nothing short of exemplary.

3. Historic Win By The Indian Women's Lawn Bowls Team

The Indian Women's Lawn Bowls Team not just participated at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom but also came out with flying colours at the end of their last stint.

On August 2, in the team's maiden appearance in the finals, the four members o the team performed exceptionally well and won their final match by defeating the South African team.  The players Lovely Choubey, Pinki, Rupa Rani Tirkey and Nayanmoni Saikia beat the South African team 17-10 and won the gold medal. This marked India's first-ever win and first-ever gold medal in Lawn Bowls.

Indian Women's Lawn Bowls Team

4. The Year Of Mirabai Chanu

Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu has emerged as India's most competent weightlifter in the past few years. The 28-year-old became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the 49 kg weightlifter category at Commonwealth Games at the 2022 Birmingham chapter.

Chanu not only performed brilliantly lifting a total weight of 201kg (88+113) but also made a record in the competition. This month, the Padma Shri awardee bagged a silver at the World Championships taking place in Colombia.

Mirabai Chanu

5. Jyothi Yarraji Breaks National Record

6. Manu Bhaker Wins Five Gold Medals

Ace shooter Manu Bhaker bagged not one but five gold medals at the 2022 National shooting competition. The 20-year-old Olympian from Haryana clinched a gold medal in the junior women's 10m pistol event at the 2022 National Shooting Championship in Madhya Pradesh. She earlier won gold medals under various categories in the 25 m pistol event.

8. Karman Kaur Thandi's Rise To The Top

India's tennis player Karman Kaur Thandi's win at the W60 International Tennis Federation (ITF) event in Saguenay, Canada in October led her to become the number one female tennis player in the country. Now ranked as India’s leading singles tennis player in the women's category, 24-year-old Thandi also rose by 91 places in the Women's Tennis Association internationally.

Karman Kaur Thandi

7. PT Usha becomes IOA President

8. Jyothi Chauhan and Soumya Guguloth Selected For European Football

In a country where men's football is barely credited, two Indian football players proved their mettle and earned a spot in a European football team this year. 21-year-old Soumya Guguloth and 23-year-old Jyoti Chouhan entered the Women In Sports tryouts in Kolkata and participated in one of the most significant trials in their careers, where five internationally acclaimed coaches were recruiting players for their clubs. The duo was signed by ŽNK Dinamo for pre-season, extended tryouts and offered season contracts. The two players from the country’s most rural backdrops shared their journeys with SheThePeople where they spoke about their careers, accomplishments and future in Indian and European football arenas.

Soumya Guguloth And Jyoti Chouhan

9. Munita Prajapati Breaks National Record In Race Walk  

In the 2022 National Games held in Gujarat, Munita Prajapati from Uttar Pradesh created history by not just winning gold but also setting a new record in the 20 km Race Walk with 1:38:20 timing.

10. Manisha Kalyan Becomes First Indian Player in UEFA Women’s Champions League

India's Manisha Kalyan made her debut in the UEFA European Women's Championship by playing for the Apollon Ladies Football Club in Cyprus. The Haryana-based player became the first Indian to not just be selected for a match at UEFA but also play there as part of the official team.

11. Harmanpreet Kaur Scripts History By Becoming Highest Capped Player In T20I