Temporal Analysis of Indian Female Participation and Achievements in International Sports Events

Abstract

This paper reviews the participation of Indian females in international sports over time. Despite representing about half of India’s population, female participation in sports, particularly at the international level, has been lower than desired. However, female athletes have achieved significant success in international competitions. The study analyzes the participation and achievements of Indian females in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympic Games. At the Rio Olympics in 2016, India had 120 participants, with 54 males and 66 females, making female representation 45%. At the Tokyo Olympics 2020, women made up 53 of the 121 participants, securing 3 out of India’s 7 medals (approximately 43%), including one silver and two bronze. The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 was India’s most successful, with 19 medals (5 – gold, 8 – silver, and 6 – bronze). Female athletes also excelled, with Bhavina Patel winning India’s first Paralympic medal in table tennis, and shooter Avani Lekhara becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal and multiple medals in the Paralympics. The analysis shows that sports like archery and badminton have higher female participation, while athletics, golf, shooting, and wrestling have more male participants. There is no female representation in judo, rowing, and boxing, and no male representation in gymnastics.