Indian women too contributed a lot towards the country’s success in the 2014 Asian Games. Even though the likes of overrated Badminton players and Archers missed out medals, the remaining women athletes in the Indian contingent gave everything they could and made the country proud. Here is the list of women athletes who made the country proud in the 2014 Aisan Games.
Women’s Hockey Team
Indian women’s hockey team might have failed to repeat what their male counterparts did, but they managed to win the Bronze medal by taking revenge (for 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games) against Japan in the Bronze medal play-off match. The women went into the tournament with no one giving them chance to win a medal in the women’s section that has a much stronger Korea, Japan and China. But the eves fought throughout and made the country proud by winning a medal.
Laishram Sarita Devi
Sarita Devi might have failed to win a Gold medal, but she won the hearts of the fans across the country. After punching out her opponents, Sarita faced Korea’s Park in the semis and inspite of being the clear winner, the bout was robbed from Sarita and was gifted to the Korean boxer who eventually won the Silver. Sarita couldn’t even appeal the report as she was found $100 short of the $500. Since, the IOA officials fled away from the spot, Sarita borrowed money from her and a journalist to appeal the decision. In the podium, she refused to accept the Bronze medal and went to the Korean and gave away her Bronze medal before leaving the podium with her medal still at her place.
Women’s 4*400 Metres Relay team
In the initial days of the Athletics, women’s 400m runner MR Poovamma sealed the Bronze medal in her event and in the next few days, PT Usha’s student Tintu Luka missed out on the Gold in the last few metres of the women’s 800m. But in the penultimate day, these two champs along with Priyanka Pawar and Mandeep Kaur made sure that they strike Gold in women’s 4*400m relay and that too with a Games Record timing. The quartet completed the race in 3:28.68 to break the earlier Games record of 3:29.02 which was also created by the gold-winning Indian team in 2010.
MC Marykom
“Magnificent Mary” – This is enough to describe the Manipuri Champion. The five time World Champion won her first Asian Games Gold as she knocked her opponents one after the other without showing any mercy. She won the Gold which she missed out in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Women’s Kabaddi Team
Inspite of their consistent performances for the country over the last few years, they are the ones who gets the least appreciation. This is the reason why they are included in the first place in this list. Once again. Indian Kabaddi team (both men and women) won Gold medal quite easily as both remained the team to beat throughout the tournament. No wonder, many feel that Kabaddi should be included in Olympics.
Note: Discuss Thrower Seema Antil, who won Gold in women’s Shot Put is also one among the Women Athletes Who Made the Country Proud and we take privilege in honouring Seema for her feat.