Indian sports are undergoing an incredible transformation of the landscape. Gone is the time when cricket had a monopoly of the sporting imagination of the nation. The world today is seeing the rise of a new breed of youthful Athletes in the various fields, such as accuracy in shooting, speed in a car race, badminton tracks, or strength training platforms. These are not mere participants but dominating record breakers and role models to millions of young Indians who pursue their sporting dreams.
The generational peculiarity is that they are highly successful in sporting activities that were initially niche in India.
1. Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu is now a household name in India that is associated with power, will and Olympic glory that gripped a nation. Mirabai was born in May 1994 in Manipur and her story of how she managed to become a champion weightlifter is one of overcoming the odds. She won her first national recognition when she won a silver medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and it was a sign of her huge potential and placed the sporting talent of Northeast India squarely on the national radar.
Nevertheless, it was the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that made Mirabai as much of a legend and a national icon as it could be. She became only the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after she had secured a historic silver medal in the women 49kg category. Its pictures of her lifting and the emotional consequences of the event, her weeping with euphoria in her eyes and the national flag on her shoulders, inspired millions of Indians, and she was a national icon in the whole country and proved that dreams do not have geographical limits.
Mirabai has been known to demonstrate an outstanding standard of clean and jerk lifts that reflect not only technical expertise but sheer strength as well, becoming one of the new Indian champions of weightlifting.
Her success has underscored the importance of having stronger support systems to support athletes in Northeast India and this has created awareness of untapped talent in a very diverse Indian geographic.
2. Jaspal Rana
Born in June 1976, Jaspal Rana is one of the most successful sport shooters in India, whose success ensured that the current generation could achieve success. He is a specialty athlete in the 25m Center Fire Pistol event, and in 2006, he won three gold medals at the Asian Games, and a world record was also achieved in the process, which was a tribute to his great performance and mental prowess.
In the Commonwealth Games, Rana went on to win several golds as well, and at the 2002 games, he won six medals with one of the most memorable achievements in the Indian Commonwealth Games record.
The successes that he has achieved in his professional career have solidly made him one of the best shooters in India and his legacy still goes on to guide young pistol shooters in the country who admire his style and accuracy.
3. Pranavi Urs
Born in April 2003, Pranavi Urs is progressing into the Indian golf scene as a budding star and she has already established herself in the international scene. In 2020 she caused an impetus when she won two Hero Women golf tournaments with such a demonstration of her own talent and spirit of competition at such a young age.
In 2023, she won her first title in the Ladies European Tour at the age of only twenty-six years the first Indian in history to do so and had her coming-out party on the world stage. Pranavi is an up-and-coming star with great talent and achievements at a young age, and she will sweep through golf courses across the world. Her flowy swing and course control skills have been compared to some of the best golfers in the world and it is estimated that she can be the most successful female golfer in India.
4. Hima Das
In a small village in Assam, a young girl from a farming family dared to dream beyond the rice fields. Hima Das, affectionately known as the “Dhing Express,” has become synonymous with speed and determination in Indian athletics. Born in January 2000 to farmer parents Ronjit and Jonali Das, along with four siblings, Hima’s journey to becoming India’s sprint sensation reads like a fairytale forged through relentless hard work.
Hima is unique in the sense that she is so steady when she is under pressure. In July 2019 alone, she gained a feat she had never accomplished before: five gold medals in various European events in a month. Her wins at Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland on July 7th and then golds at Kladno on July 13th, Tabor, on July 17 th, and Nove Mesto on July 20th in the Czech Republic, were not only her personal victory but also Indian reputation in the athletics of the track and field.
It was her golden performance in the 2018 World U-20 Championship in Finland that gave rise to her national record of 400 meters in 50.79 seconds, whereas previously her numbers were 50.97 seconds in the same event. It was a historic time when Dew became the first Indian athlete to become a gold winner in any World Championship in a track event.
Her status was further solidified by the silver medals she won in the 400m sprint and the 4x400m mixed relay in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. She was subsequently recognized by the Arjuna Award on September 25, 2018, and made the first youth ambassador of UNICEF India.
5. Jehan Daruvala
Jehan Daruvala is the hopeful Indian presence in international motorsports. This Mumbai-born racer was born in October 1998 and over the last few years, he has competed in Formula E with Maserati MSG racing and this is one of the biggest milestones in his already sensational career. His career started in 2011 when he appeared on the One in a Billion talent search organized by the Force India F1 racing team; he was declared the most promising young racing talent in India at only thirteen years old.
Since that breakthrough moment, Jehan has steadily climbed the motorsport ladder through some of racing’s most competitive series. He competed in Formula 3 and Formula 2 the traditional stepping stones to Formula 1 gaining valuable experience against some of the world’s best young drivers.
His aggressive yet calculated racing style, combined with strong technical understanding of the cars and race strategy, has made him one of India’s brightest racing prospects with genuine Formula 1 potential.
What’s particularly impressive about Jehan is his ability to adapt to different racing series and car specifications, from the high-downforce Formula 2 cars to the innovative electric-powered Formula E machines. As he continues to gain experience at the highest levels, Jehan is paving the way for future Indian drivers to compete in Formula 1 and other premier racing championships.
6. Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker stands as perhaps the most decorated among India’s young shooting stars, with a story that showcases versatility before specialization. This talented athlete excelled in martial arts, boxing, and tennis before choosing to focus on pistol shooting. Inspired by her grandfather, the late Ch. Rajkaran Saheb, who was himself a skilled shooter, Manu transformed what started as a hobby in a small shooting range into an Olympic-level pursuit.
Her achievements speak volumes about her competitive spirit and dedication. At the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, she announced her arrival with gold medals in pistol events, becoming the youngest Indian shooter to achieve this feat. The momentum continued through 2019 with gold medals in the 10m air pistol mixed team events at World Cups in both Munich and Beijing, showcasing her ability to perform under international pressure consistently.
At the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Manu’s versatility shone through as she secured both gold and silver in different pistol events. Her ability to break records set by seasoned shooters and her fearless approach to competition have made her a role model for aspiring young shooters across India.
7. Yuven Sundaramoorthy
Yuven Sundaramoorthy represents India’s growing presence in motorsports on American soil. Born in February 2003, this American racing driver of Indian descent currently competes in Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports, bringing Indian heritage to one of the world’s most competitive racing circuits, where few Indians have ventured successfully.
Yuven’s journey has been marked by consistent podium finishes and multiple victories in the Cooper Tires USF 2000 Championship Series. His ability to handle high-speed racing while maintaining precision around challenging oval and road courses has drawn attention from motorsport enthusiasts globally.
Beyond the USF 2000, he has also competed in the MRF Challenge Series and the Formula Race Promotions F1600 Championships, securing impressive results across different racing formats.
What makes Yuven particularly interesting is how he’s carrying forward India’s motorsport legacy in international circuits where Indian representation has historically been minimal. His rising career trajectory suggests that he could become one of India’s most successful racing drivers in American motorsports.
8. Lakshya Sen
When badminton runs in your blood, excellence becomes almost inevitable. Lakshya Sen, coming from a family where his father, D.K. Sen serves as a national coach and his brother, Chirag Sen, plays internationally, was destined for the court. But destiny only opens doors; walking through them requires exceptional talent and unwavering dedication.
In 2017, this young shuttler achieved something special by claiming the number one spot in the BWF World Junior rankings a remarkable feat that announced his arrival. His performances since then have justified that early promise with medals across multiple continents. The silver medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina demonstrated his ability to handle pressure at major tournaments against the world’s best young players.
That same year proved incredibly successful as he secured gold at the Asia Junior Championship 2018 in Indonesia and bronze at the World Junior Championship 2018 in Canada. His victory at the 2019 BWF International Challenge in Belgium showed his readiness to compete at senior levels.
What scouts and coaches appreciate about Lakshya is his tactical awareness and ability to adapt his game mid-match qualities that suggest a long and successful career ahead.
9. Elavenil Valarivan
Elavenil Valarivan represents the jubilant face of Indian shooting’s future. Born on August 2, 1999, in Tamil Nadu, this young marksman has already etched her name in the record books with performances that have left experts astounded.
At just twenty years of age, she established a world record by scoring an incredible 631.4 in the 10m air rifle category a performance that redefined what’s possible in the sport.
Her international credentials extend beyond records. At the 2019 ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Elavenil secured gold in the 10m air rifle women’s junior event, demonstrating her ability to deliver under pressure. She had previously won gold at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Sydney in the same category, proving her consistency across different venues and conditions.
The 2018 World Championship in Changwon saw Elavenil claim silver in the 10m air rifle event, competing against some of the finest shooters globally. Her performances have always been a center of attraction, marked by technical excellence and remarkable consistency that suggests she’ll dominate international shooting for years to come.
10. Jemimah Rodriguez
Cricket in India has always been male-dominated in terms of visibility and resources, but young athletes like Jemimah Rodriguez are changing that narrative with every powerful stroke and clever bowling spell. Born on September 5, 2000, in Mumbai, Jemimah grew up in a sports-centered family where her father worked as a coach in her school, and she used to practice bowling with her brothers.
Starting her cricket career at thirteen, she became part of the Under-19 State Cricket Team and never looked back. An all-rounder and hard hitter, she has already played 25 T20 Internationals with a total of 608 runs and 10 ODIs in which she secured 186 runs impressive numbers that showcase her consistent performance.
Her most memorable innings came in November 2017 when she scored 202 runs in just 163 balls during a match against the team of Saurashtra, becoming the second woman to score a double century in a 50-over cricket match, the first being Smriti Mandhana.
She was named in the national squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa in 2018, and that same year, she was also selected for the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies, cementing her position as a key player in India’s future cricket plans.
How These Young Stars Are Growing Together
The only thing that unites these young sport stars is the fact that they are transforming the sporting culture of India. They belong to one of the ends of the country: to rural Assam, Manipur, Haryana, or Karnataka, but they are equally strong-willed and determined. Their stories demonstrate that talent can be developed everywhere, either in more grassroots, better coaching, or in the sense of the increasing acceptance of non-traditional sports.
Their success has created a strong inspirational movement. Each of the medals or records motivates additional kids to participate in athletics, shooting, badminton, cricket, motorsport, or golf. This increased enthusiasm is driving actual transformation of more and more academies and improved training hubs and enhanced investment in all disciplines.
The young talent in India is establishing new standards as the number of programs in sports such as Khelo India, TOPS, and new professional leagues continues to grow. The list of their achievements is larger than the victory and the trophies; they leave the doors to the new generation and demonstrate that Indian talent could be shining in every world arena.
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Final thoughts
The young generation of sportspersons of India is not only winning a lot of medals but also changing the way in which sports are perceived in the country. These top ten emergent stars represent various parts of India, small villages, and big cities, but each of these stars shares the same beliefs, heart, and hope that talent can just be anywhere.
Their tours demonstrate the distance that India has traveled in backing sports by means of enhanced coaching, grassroots initiatives and expanding the possibilities beyond the conventional. traditional sports. All the records they set make thousands of young children dream even greater. Each medal is a new investment, a new Academy, a new hope.
The future of Indian sports is now more than ever with the continued growth of activities such as Khelo India, TOPS and professional leagues. These young heroes are not only making history, but they are also paving the way for the future generation. And as their passion is the flagship, the sporting ascent of India has not yet started.
