The British broadcasting company had come up with a unique way to celebrate female athletes across the globe. It was started last year and PV Sindhu became the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2020. This year too there are five important nominees. Let’s have a look at the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2021 Nominees.
Dutee Chand
The famous professional Indian Sprinter is the current national champion in the women’s 100 metres event. She is also the first Indian athlete to openly declare herself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She is also the first Indian sprinter to win a gold medal at Universiade. Her personal best records are 100 m in 11.22s and 200 m in 23.00s
Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker plays air gun shooting and has won many medals. She became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup. She won a gold medal in 2018 Commonwealth Games. It was her debut in Commonwealth. In addition, she also plays martial art, boxing, tennis and skating. She has even won medals at the national games in these games.
Vinesh Phogat
The only wrestler having been qualified for Tokyo Olympics is known as freestyle grappler. She has gold medals from both the Commonwealth and Asian Games on her name. She is the cousin of famous wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat. In 2019 she became the first Indian athlete to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards. She has won Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjun Award.
Rani Rampal
The Indian field hockey player was the youngest player to play at the World Cup in 2010 at the age of 15 years. She is the captain of Indian Hockey Team and it was under her captainship that India won silver in 2018 Asian Games. She plays at the forward position and is a well-known striker who doubles up as mid-fielder. She has scored a total of 134 goals.
Koneru Humpy
Koneru Humpy was once the youngest female chess Grandmaster in history of chess. She had won gold medal in Asian Games. She enjoys the title of being the women’s World Rapid chess champion. She has been awarded with Asia’s youngest Woman International Master (WIM), India’s youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM), Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, Skolkovo Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20, Monaco Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20, Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship and Cairns Cup.
So these are the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2021 Nominees. The voting lines are open till February 24 and the winner be announced on March 8.