List Of India's Sports Stars (Other Than Cricket)

India is obsessed with cricket. The sports in India means cricket. Go to any Indian social bookmarking site and most of them would have category of cricket in it.cricketers are seen every where on television. Playing the match , walking the ramp or featuring in the ads. Cricketers are
brands and huge brands. Any cricketer who has played even one tournament and has been in IPL is crorepati.

There is no doubt that nothing unites India more than unfortunate act of terror or cricket. Cricket transcends all divides.

Cricket match sees entire nation rally around its players. All form of divides be it be religious , caste based , region based , politically based seize to exist.

But at same time cricket has sidelined other sports. India has produced some world beaters in many games which never get their due credit except amongst fans of that sport.

This hub is dedicated to Seven Indian sports person who have done India proud. Seven Indian Sports person who have won championships/medals. Seven Indian sports person who have excelled in international tournaments and deserve the recognition at par with cricketers . I have not included sania mirza in the list because she is already at par with cricketers as being recognized , followed is concerned.

1) Abhinav Bindra :

Very few Indians get excited with name of Olympics. India hardly wins any medal in the grand sports event. I still remember the day abhinav bindra won gold medal in 10 m Air Rifle event. As soon as news flashed in my gtalk alert , I clicked on the link. My first reaction was who is abhinav bindra and in which event did he won gold medal?.

Abhinav Bindra is now well respected name . Before winning gold medal in Olympics abhinav had made India proud by winning gold medals in ISSF World Shooting Championships and common wealth tournaments (two medals).

He is brand ambassador for BSNL and features along with deepika padukone.

2) Vijender Singh :

The handsome gabru jawan from haryana won bronze medal in Olympics in boxing (Middleweight). Currently he is number one ranked in middle weight category list. Vijender is credited for bringing boxing to limelight and has featured in various media events/shows after the olympics.

3) Sushil Kumar :

Wrestler sushil kumar won bronze medal in men's Freestyle (66 kg) in same olympics in which bindra and vijender made India proud. Sushil kumar has won three gold medals in common wealth games.

4) Saina Nehwal :

Saina shares her name with popular sports star of India sania mirza. Media used this similarity to make sure viewers click on the link. But saina nehwal soon became herself a star and is growing faster to become one of most followed , cheered sports
stars of India.

Currently she is world number 3 in badminton and she would be shouldering hopes of billion people along with bindra ,
vijender and sushil for winning medal in upcoming common wealth games which would be held in delhi , India.

5) Mahesh Bhupathi :

Tall name in tennis world in India. Mahesh along with leander paes won many medals in doubles events. They were number one before both broke away their partnership. He is among eight tennis players who have achieved Career Mixed Doubles Grand Slam.

6) Leander Paes :

Another famous name of Indian tennis , leander paes has 11 grands slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles category. He has rare distinction of winning both doubles and mixed doubles Wimbledon. At 37 he still seems unstoppable.

7) Viswanathan Anand :

Coolest vishwy or viswanathan anand is ace chess player and current World Chess Champion. One of most respected Indian , anand has large fan following in India and the world.