#12 Komalika Bari
All of 17, Komalika Bari became India’s third woman world champion in World Youth Archery and Cadet Championship in Spain this year. Jharkhand’s Paltan Hansda was the first to achieve this feat in 2006. Komalika became India’s third woman archer world champion in the Under-18 recurve women’s category after Deepika Kumari, who had won the title in 2009. Earlier this year, she made her international debut at the South Asian Championship and ensured herself spots on the Indian side for elite events including World Cups in Turkey and Germany, the World Championships in the Netherlands and the Olympic test event in Tokyo.
#11 Manu Bhaker
Young shooting sensation Manu Bhaker carved out a new record at the recently held ISSF World Cup after she bagged the first-ever gold medal for India at the tournament this year in the women’s 10m Air Pistol. In the process, Manu also broke the junior world record with a total of 244.7. However, Manu also became the second Indian shooter only after Heena Sidhu to walk away with the yellow metal in the women 10m Air Pistol event at the Shooting World Cup.
The 17-year-old Manu set a record in her first-ever Commonwealth Games appearance, after winning a gold medal. Barely 16 years of age, Manu went on bag two gold medals in women’s 10m Air Pistol in the ISSF Senior World Cup held in Mexico last year.
#10 Amarjit Singh Kiyam
The 18-year-old Amarjit Singh Kiyam captained the Indian side at the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Following his fierce display in midfield at the World Cup, Amarjit was selected to play for the Indian Arrows that consisted of Under-20 players. He soon made his professional debut in the team’s first match of the season against Chennai City. Amarjit made his India senior debut on June 5 this year in a 3-1 loss to Curacao.
Amarjit, as a promising youngster, had scripted history by moving from the India Under-17 team to the senior team in a span of just two years. He became the first player to be born after 2000 to compete in the senior squad. Having already booked a place in the squad for the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Oman and Qatar in September this year, Amarjit had to opt out of the team due to an arm injury.
