‘First Ladies’ from the region to be facilitated by President

THE FEAT GIRLS President of India will felicitate 112 women achievers who have achieved a first in any field. Known as ‘First Ladies’, these women have been identified by the Union ministry of women and child development. HT gives a brief profile of the a

DEEPA MALIK

The wheelchair-bound athlete from Haryana became the country’s first woman para-athlete to win a medal in Paralympics. She clinched silver medal in the shotput event. The winner of Arjuna award and Padma Shri, Deepa, has to her credit Asian record in the javelin throw for five consecutive years.

HEENA SIDHU

Ludhiana-born Heena became first Indian woman to win gold in World Cup Shooting. She won gold in women’s 10m air-pistol at the Commonwealth shooting event. Her pairing with Jitu Rai at ISSF World Cup won gold. She won bronze in women’s 10 air pistol at Grand Prix of Liberation Plaza Shooting tourney.

GEETA PHOGAT

The Bhiwani girl created history by becoming India’s first woman wrestler to win gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2010. She is also the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Her father Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler is her coach.

SAKSHI MALIK

She became the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal at Olympics. She is also the fourth woman Indian athlete to win an Olympic medal. In 2016, she was given the highest sporting award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna followed by Padma Shree (2017). She is from Rohtak and is married to wrestler Satyawart Kadian.

KALPANA CHAWLA

She was an Indian American astronaut and the first woman of Indian origin in space. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997, as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. In 2003, she was one of the seven crew members who had a fatal incident in the Space Shuttle.

SAINA NEHWAL

Hisar-born Saina became the country’s first shuttler to win an Olympic medal. The Arjuna awardee won bronze in the 2012 London Olympics. In 2006, she became the first Indian woman and the youngest Asian to win a 4-star tourney and won Super Series title. She also won gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

RADHIKA AGGARWAL

She is the co-founder and chief business officer at ShopClues.com. She is the first Indian woman co-founder to enter the prestigious echelons of the Unicorn Club, with an aim to provide the best online shopping experience. She received the CEO of the Year award in 2016. She hails from Gurgaon.

SUNIL DABAS

Jhajjar’s Sunil became India’s first woman kabaddi coach to be conferred with the Dronacharya Award, highest coaching honour, in 2012. She has been the coach of national women kabaddi team since 2005 and under her coaching the team won seven gold medals in international championships.

KAVITA DEVI

She is an accomplished power-lifter who won gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games, while representing India. She also has the distinction of being the first Indian woman to compete in a WWE ring during her participation in the Mae Young Classic. Kavita hails from Haryana.

NEELU ROHMETRA

Director of Indian Institute of Management, Sirmaur (IIMS), HP, Prof Neelu Rohmetra is the first ever woman director to head any IIM. With 5 gold medals to her credit for academic achievements, she has participated in the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) USA (2006).

PRIYA JHINGAN

Shimla-born Priya is the first lady cadet to join the Indian Army. She had joined the army on September 21, 1992 and was commissioned on March 6, 1993. She retired after 10 years of service. She has been a judge in the army, conducting 18 court martials and editor of a weekly supplement of Sikkim Express.

PADMA SACHDEV

Padma is the first modern woman poet of Dogri language. She belongs to a family of Sanskrit scholars of Jammu. She began her literary career at the age of 16 and her first poem ‘Raje Diyan Mandiyan’, which won her Sahitya Akademi Award in 1971. She received Padma Shri award in 2001.