Biopics Of Female Athletes We Would Love To Watch
India is a cricket crazed nation and we make no bones about it. There is no other sport that is celebrated in the country at large. While the male cricketers are still enjoying most of the limelight, over the past few years, many other sports personalities have been able to make a positive mark.
Moreover, currently we are witnessing inspiring rise of many female athletes. Over the past decade, players such as such as Sania Mirza, PV Sindhu, Mary Kom have become household names.
The success of movies such as Dangal and Mary Kom is an encouraging example of people wanting to know more about different players. The latest buzz is actor Taapsee Pannu is set to star in Shabaash Mithu, a biopic on Indian women's cricket team captain Mithali Raj. A biopic on Saina Nehwal titled Saina is also underway, with Parineeti Chopra playing essaying the role of the badminton champion.
We’ve put together a wish list of sorts, on the biopics we would love to watch.
Ashwini Nachappa
This track and field star is probably best known for beating PT Usha twice in the early 90s. She is also a shining example of an athlete also leading a fulfilling life away from sport. After Ashwini retired, she joined the Karnataka film industry for a while. Later, she teamed up with Mercy Kuttan and Rao, to start Clean Sports India, to discourage drug abuse in Indian sports. She also started a sports academy in Coorg by the name Karaumbiah’s Academy for Learning & Sports that is named after her husband, who played junior hockey for India. All this would translate into a great story to be savoured on the big screen.
Apurvi Chandela
When they talk about 10-meter air rifle events, Arjuna awardee Apurvi Chandela's name comes right on top. The 26-year-old hailing from the 'Pink City' has won not one but two medals at the Commonwealth Games. In February 2019, Chandela shattered the world record with a gold making it her third individual medal at a World Cup. She also won bronze in the Changwon World Cup in 2015 before winning silver at the ISSF World Cup Finals in the same year. A peek into what goes behind the hard work for this sport would be amazing to watch.
Poulomi Ghatak
This table tennis player from West Bengal made it to the pages of history when she represented India at the 2010's Commonwealth Games held in Delhi and won a silver medal. The 36-year-old paddler, who started playing the sport at the age of nine, has brought home several laurels including a bronze at the 2006's Commonwealth Games at Melbourne. Ghatak has five golds in her kitty and for her contribution to the sport, she was bestowed the Arjuna Award in 2009.
Dipa Karmakar
Despite being born with a flat foot, Dipa did not give up on her dream of becoming a gymnast and we are so grateful for that. Dipa became an overnight sensation for all the right reasons after her successful stint at the Summer Olympics 2016, where she lost out on a bronze by a whisker. Rising from a humble background, this Tripura girl fought against all physical and financial adversities to make India proud internationally.
Tania Sachdev
Not many people know but Tania is India's most prominent female player in the field of chess and has many titles to her name. Tania is the most prominent Indian name in the field of women's chess. She has the titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster to her name. She started playing chess at the age of six and she presently works as chess presenter and commentator, apart from playing. Who’s to say this couldn’t be our desi Queen’s Gambit!
Deepika Pallikal
Deepika is county’s premier squash player, who was the first Indian to break into the top 10 in the PSA Women's rankings. She was started getting noticed in 2011, when she won three WISPA (Women's International Squash Players Association) tour titles and attained a career-best ranking of 13th. The sport and her rise in the field makes for a great screenplay.
(Edited by Varnika Gupta)
