Numerous Indian athletes achieved remarkable feats that, while underappreciated, warrant equal recognition and celebration.
1/6While fans were engrossed in the IPL matches, Indian athletes were silently etching their names in history across global stadiums. Spanning disciplines like athletics and badminton to shooting, numerous Indian stars exhibited record-breaking performances that flew under the radar yet truly deserve to be celebrated.
2/6Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty | Returning to the top, India’s premier men’s doubles pair has ended a title drought lasting two years by securing the Singapore Open men’s doubles championship against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Fikri. After a slow start, they rallied to win with scores of 18-21, 21-17, 21-16, marking their first title win since the Thailand Open in 2024. (Image Instagram)
3/6Pooja Singh | Pooja Singh made headlines by clinching gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships with a career-best jump of 1.93 meters in Hong Kong. This outstanding leap not only set a new national record but also surpassed Sahana Kumari’s previous mark of 1.92 meters, standing for 14 years. Additionally, it broke the Asian U20 Championships record of 1.90 meters, previously held by Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Radzivil since 2006. (Image Instagram)
4/6Gurindervir Singh | On May 23, Gurindervir Singh shattered the men’s 100m national record at the National Senior Federation Competition in Ranchi, finishing in a remarkable 10.09 seconds. The record battle commenced in the semifinals, where he clocked 10.17 seconds. Shortly after, Animesh Krishnan responded with a time of 10.15 seconds, but Gurindervir dominated the final with his winning time. (Image Instagram)
5/6Vishal TK | The 2026 Senior National Federation Cup marked a significant moment in Indian athletics, with Vishal TK joining Gurindervir Singh as the first Indian to complete the 400m in under 45 seconds. He achieved an impressive time of 44.98 seconds, surpassing his own national record of 45.12 seconds, setting a new standard for 400m runners in India. (Image Instagram)
6/6Shooter Esha Singh | Esha Singh achieved a remarkable feat by setting a world record in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. The 21-year-old excelled in the finals, scoring 43 points out of 50 to clinch the event. Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp took second place with 38 points, while Bulgaria’s former world champion Miroslava Mincheva finished third, scoring 31 points. (Image Instagram)
