Young Indian Athletes Shine on Global Stage in 2025
A Year of Triumph for Young Indian Athletes
In 2025, a remarkable group of young Indian athletes made significant strides in the world of sports, reshaping the narrative of Indian athletics. While seasoned players continued to excel, this year was particularly notable for a fearless cohort of youngsters who not only participated but also triumphed on the international stage.
From cricket to chess, these young stars ensured that the Indian flag was raised higher and more often than ever before.
Let’s explore some of the key sporting events where Indian youth showcased their talents globally, elevating the Indian tricolor:
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Cricketing Brilliance
The cricketing world was captivated by the extraordinary talent of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had a record-breaking season in 2025. He was awarded 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 stunning 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans, and he achieved the fastest century in U19 ODIs with a remarkable 52-ball 143. His accomplishments also included becoming the youngest centurion in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and in men's List A cricket, marking his emergence as a generational talent.
Divya Deshmukh's Chess Triumph
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 legendary Humpy Koneru in an all-Indian final held in Georgia, becoming the fourth Indian woman to earn the Grandmaster title.
Anahat Singh's Squash Success
Squash witnessed a remarkable transition as 17-year-old Anahat Singh dominated the sport. 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 led the Indian team to its first-ever Squash World Cup title, securing gold with her straight-games victory alongside contributions from Chinappa and Abhay Singh against Hong Kong.
Sheetal Devi's Historic Gold
The inspiring journey of 18-year-old Sheetal Devi reached new heights at the World Para Archery Championships in Gwangju, where she made history by winning gold in the women’s individual compound archery category. She triumphed over Turkiye’s world number one Oznur Cure Girdi with a score of 146-143 in the final. 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 World Championships Performance
While Neeraj Chopra garnered attention, 25-year-old Sachin Yadav shone at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. He achieved a personal best throw of 86.27m, finishing fourth and ensuring that the Indian flag remained prominent in the javelin arena.
Samrat Rana's Shooting Victory
In shooting, Samrat Rana made history by winning gold in the men’s 10m air pistol event 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, paving the way for a promising future for Indian shooting at the LA 2028 Olympics.
Shafali Verma's World Cup Heroics
In a landmark year for women’s cricket, Shafali Verma solidified her reputation as a clutch performer. During the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final against South Africa, her aggressive innings of 87 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 pivotal in India Women clinching their first-ever senior World Cup title.
Animesh Kujur's Sprinting Records
The athletics scene saw the emergence of 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 (20.32s) and became the first Indian sprinter to qualify for the World Championships with a time of 20.63s at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai, marking a significant moment for Indian sprinting.