India’s honour has been restored at the Rio Olympics by the Indian women athletes with their grit and determination. A series of world-class performances by these athletes, who hail from lesser known places in the country that are alienated from the mainstream, has created new National icons for India.

Sakshi Malik had opened India's account at the Games; P.V. Sindhu won a silver medal for India in badminton, Dipa Karmakar created history by reaching the finals of Gymnastics where she narrowly missed a podium finish while Lalita Babar became the first athlete to compete in the finals after 1984.

We can draw inspiration from these women who have fought hard for a medal and motivated India’s youth for the Olympics to come.

Dipa Karmakar showed us that courage and the ability to defy death for the sake of honour can help you become a world-class gymnast against all odds.

From Lalita Babar, a girl from an agrarian family in a remote village of Satara we can learn that even when life becomes a battle against hunger, it is possible to break every existing Indian record, become an Asian champion and race against the best at the Olympics.

PV Sindhu inspired us that a childhood dream can become a reality if you are willing to get up at 3 am and then travel 60 km daily for several years in its pursuit.



Sakshi Malik's medal is a fitting salutation to the sporting revolution started by just one girl from Haryana: Geeta Phogat, who was ahead of her rival and just a fight away from a medal but tore a ligament and had to quit midway.

The entire Nation rejoiced when these women athletes defied all odds and redeemed India's pride by not returning empty-handed from the Olympics and gave a clear message to the country: Beti bachao, medal pao. (Save girls, win medals.)