Unseen, Unheard, Uncheered But Unstoppable: The Story of India's Sportswomen

She wins medals. She breaks records. She lifts a nation's pride. And yet, she barely earns the headlines—or the money.

- NAMRATA KOHLI

For the first time in the history of sports, the Indian Women's National Football Team—affectionately known as the Blue Tigresses—have qualified for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup 2026, marking a momentous first-time qualification via merit (not as hosts). Sangita Basfore, the midfielder in the Indian Women's Football Team, led India to a historic AFC Asian Cup 2026 qualification. But unless you follow obscure hashtags, you probably missed it.

What should have been hailed as a tipping point in Indian sports history is barely known. For the first time, India's women's football team has a real shot at the global stage—aiming to finish among the top six in Asia to secure a place in the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers or playoff contention. The AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, set to be held in Australia from March 1-21, 2026, doubles as a gateway to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In short, this is not just another tournament—it's India's golden ticket to elite international football.

India's sportswomen have carried the nation on their shoulders in global arenas—from Mary Kom's punches to PV Sindhu's smashes, from Mirabai Chanu's Olympic lifts to the Blue Tigresses' historic AFC Asian Cup qualification. But even as they bring home the glory, the spotlight continues to shine mostly on their male counterparts—win or lose.

How many of us even know that Annu Rani, India's javelin queen, is a national record holder who has been quietly rewriting the women's circuit while all the spotlight falls on Neeraj Chopra? Or that Savita Punia, the goalkeeper of India's women's hockey team—nicknamed the Wall of India—was instrumental in our Olympic semi-final run in Tokyo? And then there's Manasi Joshi, a para-badminton world champion and techie-turned-athlete, who is a fierce voice for inclusivity in sports—yet is overshadowed by more famous names.