Young Indian Athletes Shine on Global Stage in 2025
A New Era for Indian Sports
In 2025, a wave of young Indian athletes emerged, making significant impacts on the international sports scene and reshaping the narrative of Indian athletics. While seasoned players continued to excel, this year was particularly notable for a bold group of youngsters who not only participated but triumphed on major platforms. From cricket to chess, these rising stars ensured that the Indian flag was raised higher and more often than ever before. Below is a summary of key sporting events where young Indian talents made their mark globally.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Cricketing Triumphs
The cricketing world was captivated by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose performance in the 2025 season was nothing short of extraordinary. He received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, becoming the youngest player to secure an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract. Additionally, he set records as the youngest centurion in T20 cricket with a remarkable 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans, and he achieved the fastest century in U19 ODIs with a stunning 52-ball 143. His accolades also include becoming the youngest centurion in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the youngest player to score a century in men's List A cricket.
Divya Deshmukh's Chess Victory
In the realm of chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made headlines by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. She triumphed over the renowned Humpy Koneru in an all-Indian final held in Georgia, marking her as the fourth Indian woman to achieve the Grandmaster title.
Anahat Singh's Squash Milestone
Squash witnessed a remarkable transition as 17-year-old Anahat Singh took the lead. She achieved a rare milestone by defeating veteran Joshna Chinappa three times in crucial finals throughout the year. Her crowning achievement came in Chennai, where she guided the Indian team to its inaugural Squash World Cup title, securing victory against Hong Kong with her straight-games win, complemented by contributions from Chinappa and Abhay Singh.
Sheetal Devi's Historic Gold in Archery
The inspiring journey of 18-year-old Sheetal Devi reached new heights at the World Para Archery Championships in Gwangju. She made history by winning the gold medal in the women's individual compound archery category, defeating Turkiye's world number one Oznur Cure Girdi with a score of 146-143. In addition to her gold, Sheetal also earned a silver in the team event and a bronze in the mixed team event.
Sachin Yadav's Javelin Performance
At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, 25-year-old Sachin Yadav captured attention by throwing a personal best of 86.27m, finishing fourth and narrowly missing a medal. His performance ensured that the Indian flag remained prominent in the javelin arena.
Samrat Rana's Shooting Achievement
In shooting, Samrat Rana made history by winning the men's 10m air pistol gold at the ISSF World Championships 2025 in Cairo. He became the first Indian to secure a senior individual world title in an Olympic pistol event, indicating a promising future for Indian shooting at the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics.
Shafali Verma's World Cup Performance
In a landmark year for women's cricket, Shafali Verma established herself as a key player. During the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 final against South Africa, her aggressive innings of 87 runs off 78 balls made her the youngest cricketer, male or female, to score a half-century in an ODI World Cup final. Her Player of the Match performance was instrumental in India Women clinching their first-ever senior World Cup title.
Animesh Kujur's Sprinting Records
The athletics scene welcomed a new sprinting star in Animesh Kujur, who shattered the long-standing national record in the 100m by clocking 10.18 seconds at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting 2025 in Greece. He also set a new record in the 200m with a time of 20.32 seconds and became the first Indian sprinter to qualify for the World Championships with a finish of 20.63 seconds at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai, marking India's return to the global sprinting arena.