India's Sporting Triumphs in 2025: A Year to Remember
A Memorable Year for Indian Sports
As 2025 approaches its conclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the year as a significant milestone for the nation in sports. He highlighted India's remarkable achievements, including the men's cricket team winning the ICC Champions Trophy, the women's team clinching their first ICC Women's World Cup, and numerous para-athletes earning medals at the World Para Athletics Championships held in New Delhi. This was shared during the 129th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat' program.
During his address, PM Modi remarked, "2025 has been a remarkable year in sports. Our Men's Cricket team secured the ICC Champions Trophy, while the women's cricket team made history by winning the World Cup for the first time. The daughters of Bharat also achieved a historic victory in the women's blind T20 World Cup. The Indian flag was raised high as we triumphed in the Asia Cup T20. Our para-athletes showcased their determination by winning multiple medals in world championships."
Victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India's first major sports victory in 2025 was the ICC Champions Trophy, co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. Matches were played in Dubai due to a hybrid hosting model. Key performances came from star players like Rohit Sharma, who scored a crucial 76 in the final against New Zealand, and Virat Kohli, who made significant contributions with scores of 100* against Pakistan and 84 against Australia in the semifinals. Shubman Gill also played a vital role with a century against Bangladesh.
In the middle order, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer were instrumental, with Rahul amassing 140 runs across four matches and Iyer leading the team with 243 runs in five innings. On the bowling side, spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, along with pacer Mohammed Shami, were key players, each taking nine and seven wickets respectively. The campaign concluded with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand while chasing a target of 252.
Record Performance at World Para Athletics Championships
From September 26 to October 5, India hosted the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time, featuring over 2,200 athletes from more than 100 countries competing in 186 events. India achieved its best-ever performance at home, securing 22 medals: six gold, nine silver, and seven bronze. Notably, para javelin thrower Sumit Antil excelled, winning two Paralympic gold medals and two World Championship titles, while also setting a world record with a throw of 73.29 meters.
Historic Women's 50-Over World Cup Win
In November, the Indian women's cricket team, under the leadership of 16-year-old veteran Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Amol Muzumdar, made history by winning their first-ever 50-over World Cup on home soil. They defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final, with Shafali Verma contributing a stellar 87 runs and all-rounder Deepti Sharma playing a crucial role with both a half-century and a five-wicket haul.
First-Ever Women's Blind T20 World Cup Victory
In the same month, the Indian women's blind cricket team achieved a historic milestone by winning the inaugural women's Blind T20 World Cup, overcoming Nepal in the final. Led by Captain Deepika TC, the team showcased dominance throughout the tournament, which included teams from Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, and the United States. The final took place on November 23 in Colombo.