Sports Personalities of Gujarat | Gujarat State PSC (GPSC) Preparation: All subjects - GPSC (Gujarat) PDF Download

Sports Personalities of Gujarat

Hetul Shah

• Hetul Shah is a chess prodigy from Gujarat. At just nine years and six months old, he made history by defeating a grandmaster during the seventh Parsvnath International Open chess tournament. 
• His remarkable achievement set a record until it was surpassed in 2012. Shah's early success highlights his exceptional talent and determination in the world of chess.

Darpan Inani

• Darpan Inani is a distinguished blind chess player from Vadodara, India. As of November 2013, he holds the highest ELO rating among blind chess players in India, with a rating of 2053. Inani achieved a bronze medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Belgrade and is the youngest ever to win the National Blind Chess Championships. 
• In August 2018, he made history by winning the first prize at the Creon Open Chess Tournament in France, an international open sighted event, marking a significant achievement for Indian chess. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was awarded the Yuva Ratna award by the All India Marwari Yuva Manch in April 2018 and the Navratna Award – 2018 by Yuma Television. He has also appeared in an HDFC Life commercial.

Sarita Gayakwad

• Sarita Gayakwad is an accomplished Indian sprinter known for her expertise in the 400 metres and 400 metres hurdles.
• She was a pivotal member of the Indian women's 4 x 400 metres relay team that clinched the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
• The Gujarat Government has honored her by appointing her as the brand ambassador for the Gujarat State Poshan Abhiyan.

Lajja Goswami

• Lajja Goswami stands out as an Indian markswoman and a dedicated policewoman.
• Originating from the village of Jitodia near Anand in Gujarat, she has displayed exceptional talent and dedication in her field.
• Recognized for her skill, she received the Raksha Mantri medal and secured the silver medal in the women's 50-metre rifle 3 position event at the ISSF World Cup in Granada, Spain in 2013.
• Goswami is a pioneer as the first female sportsperson appointed as a police inspector in the Gujarat police cadre under the sports quota.

Hardik Pandya

• Hardik Pandya, an eminent Indian cricketer, represents Baroda in domestic cricket and Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
• Known for his versatile skills, he is an all-rounder proficient in right-handed batting and right-arm fast-medium bowling.
• As the younger sibling of Krunal Pandya, he has showcased his talent in 11 tests, 45 ODIs, and 38 T20Is, establishing himself as a key player in the Indian cricket scene.

Krunal Pandya

• Krunal Himanshu Pandya is a professional cricketer from India known for his skills as an all-rounder. He is a left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. 
• Krunal represents Baroda in domestic cricket and plays for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. His international debut for the Indian cricket team took place in November 2018.

Jasprit Bumrah

• Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah is a prominent Indian cricketer recognized for his remarkable performance across all formats of the game. Known for his rapid pace, Bumrah consistently delivers balls at speeds ranging from 145 to 150 kilometres per hour, making him one of the fastest bowlers in India. He specializes in bowling in-swinging yorker deliveries, showcasing exceptional skill and precision.
• Following successful stints with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and his domestic team Gujarat, Bumrah earned a spot in India's squad for the 2015-16 series against Australia, filling in for the injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His debut in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals transpired during this series. Notably, Bumrah holds the distinction of being the first Asian bowler to secure 5 wickets in a test innings in South Africa, England, and Australia within the same calendar year. Additionally, he ranks as the third highest wicket-taker in test matches during a debut year, having claimed 48 wickets in 9 matches.

Smit Patel

• Smit Kamleshbhai Patel is a talented cricketer renowned for his role as a wicketkeeper. He was part of the India Under-19 cricket team's World Cup winning squad in 2012 and has also made a solitary List A appearance for Gujarat, showcasing his skills on the professional stage.
• Parthiv Patel played a crucial role in India's Under-19 World Cup victory by scoring an unbeaten 62 runs at Tony Ireland Stadium. He formed a vital partnership with Unmukt Chand during the match.
• During a game in December 2012 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, Patel showcased his talent by scoring his maiden first-class century, leading Gujarat to a strong batting performance against Hyderabad.
• In the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy season, Patel emerged as the top run-scorer for Tripura, accumulating 526 runs in just six matches.

Ankita Raina

• Ankita Ravinderkrishan Raina is a prominent Indian tennis player, currently ranked as the top Indian in women’s singles. She has achieved notable success on the ITF Women’s Circuit, with one WTA Challenger title, eight singles titles, and 14 doubles titles. 
• In April 2018, Raina broke into the top 200 of the singles rankings, becoming only the fifth Indian player to do so. Her highest doubles ranking was No. 159 on August 28, 2017.
• Raina also earned gold medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles at the 2016 South Asian Games. In Fed Cup play, she holds a win-loss record of 18–14. Raina is currently supported by the Sports Authority of Gujarat and works with ONGC.

Maana Patel

• Maana Patel is an accomplished backstroke swimmer from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. At the age of 13, she set a national record in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:23.41 at the 40th Junior National Aquatics Championship in Hyderabad, surpassing the previous record of 2:26.41 held by Shikha Tandon since the Asian Age Group Championship in Tokyo, August 2009. 
• Maana has also secured gold medals in both the 50m and 200m backstroke events at the National Games. Additionally, she won a gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the 60th National School Games in 2015, setting a new national record. Alongside Rashi Patel, Gitanjali Pandey, and Dilpreet Kaur, Maana earned a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the same event.