UP Board Solutions Class 8 English Chapter 15 The Glorious Sportswomen of India

Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

dominated - हावी हुआ, encouraged - प्रोत्साहित किया, conferred - प्रदत्त किया, virtues - सद्गुण, motivated - प्रेरित किया, glory - सम्मान मिलना या गर्व महसूस होना, fortunately - सौभाग्यवश, athlete - खेलकूद प्रतिभागी, honoured - सम्मानित किया।

Translation of the Lesson (पाठ का हिन्दी अनुवाद)

In India, men still dominate the world of sports. Women are often not encouraged to take part in sports. From childhood, girls are taught good household virtues, while boys are encouraged to play outdoor games. Even today, when parents buy toys for their children, they buy dolls, indoor games, and kitchen sets for their daughters, and cricket bats and footballs for their sons. However, many Indian female athletes have honored the country by winning medals and titles for India. Now, many things have improved for women. Indian women's contribution and status in sports have become equal to men. Fortunately, we have many female athletes who are inspirations for the youth. Their success has motivated other girls to make sports their career.

PT Usha is known as India's best female athlete. She has won many national and international awards. She was called the 'Queen of Indian Track and Field'. PT Usha received 'Padma Shri' and 'Arjuna Award'. She was named 'Best Athlete of the Century' by the Indian Olympic Association. Saina Nehwal is called the 'Golden Girl' of Indian Badminton. She is the first Indian woman in the history of Indian sports to be ranked first in World Badminton. She received 'Padma Bhushan', 'Padma Shri', 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna' and 'Arjuna Award' for playing Badminton. Sania Mirza is one of the most famous faces in Indian sports. She is the only Indian woman in lawn tennis who ranked first in the women's doubles category. She received 'Arjuna Award', 'WTA Newcomer of the Year', 'Padma Shri', 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna' and 'Padma Bhushan' awards. PV Sindhu is a rising star in the world of badminton, ranking number two in the BWF world rankings. She is the first Indian female singles player to win a medal in the Badminton World Championship. She received 'Arjuna Award', 'Padma Shri', and 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna' awards.

MC Mary Kom is also known as 'Million Rupee Baby'. This strong woman has been a five-time World Boxing Champion and has also won an Olympic bronze medal. She is the first woman boxer from India to win a bronze medal at the London Olympics. She has been honored with 'Padma Bhushan', 'Padma Shri', 'Arjuna Award', and 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna' awards. Mithali Raj is a well-known face of the Indian women's cricket team and is ranked first in the ICC Women's Cricket Ratings. She is the highest run-scorer in women's international Test and One-Day cricket. She received 'Arjuna Award', 'Padma Shri', 'Youth Sports Icon of Excellence Award', and many other awards. Geeta Phogat is an Indian wrestler and the first female player from India to be selected for the Olympics. She is a freestyle wrestler who won India's first gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games. She received the Arjuna Award for outstanding achievement in the National Games in 2012. Arunima Sinha is the first disabled woman from India to climb Mount Everest. Arunima, a former national football and volleyball player, lost her legs in 2011 when she was attacked by thieves and thrown from a moving train. She received 'Padma Shri' and 'Arjuna Award', as well as the 'Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award'. There are many such Indian female athletes who bring honor to their family and country. Our society still needs to understand that encouraging girls in sports is as important for their personality development as education. Qualities like team spirit, leadership, decision-making ability, and humility can be better learned on the sports ground.

Exercise (अभ्यास)

Comprehension Questions

1. Answer the Following Questions:

Question 1. Who is known as the 'Golden Girl of Indian Badminton'?
Answer: Saina Nehwal is known as the 'Golden Girl of Indian Badminton'. Her exceptional talent and consistent performance in the sport have earned her this prestigious title.
In simple words: Saina Nehwal is called the 'Golden Girl of Indian Badminton'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to clearly state the name associated with the title, as these are often direct recall questions.

Question 2. Who is the highest run scorer in women's international cricket?
Answer: Mithali Raj holds the record for being the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket. She is a celebrated batter and former captain of the Indian team, known for her consistent scoring.
In simple words: Mithali Raj has scored the most runs in international women's cricket.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering questions about records, ensure the name and the specific record are accurately stated.

Question 3. Who is your favourite sportswoman and why?
Answer: My favorite sportswoman is Arunima Sinha. Even though she lost her leg in an accident, she never gave up her spirit of adventure or her love for sports. She became the first Indian female amputee to climb Mount Everest, showing incredible strength. Her story teaches us that with strong will, anything is possible.
In simple words: Arunima Sinha is my favorite because even after losing her leg, she bravely climbed Mount Everest.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a personal favorite, always provide a clear reason that highlights positive qualities or achievements.

Question 4. What qualities can be learned on the sports ground?
Answer: Many valuable qualities can be learned while playing sports. These include team spirit, where everyone works together, and leadership, which helps in guiding others. Sports also teach decision-making ability and flexibility, both important skills for life. Playing in a team also teaches good sportsmanship and how to handle both wins and losses gracefully.
In simple words: On the sports ground, you learn team spirit, how to lead, make quick decisions, and be flexible.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions asking about benefits or qualities, try to list at least 3-4 distinct points to ensure a comprehensive answer.

Question 5. What do you do in order to encourage girls to take up sports?
Answer: To encourage girls in sports, I cheer for my country's women's cricket team during their matches. I also motivate my younger sister to give as much focus to her favorite game or sport as she does to her studies, showing her that both are important. Creating a supportive environment helps girls feel confident in pursuing sports.
In simple words: I support our women's cricket team and encourage my younger sister to balance sports with her studies.

🎯 Exam Tip: Personal experience-based answers should be practical and demonstrate positive actions or attitudes towards the topic.

2. Tick (✔) the Correct Options:
1. Who among the following is known as the 'Queen of Indian Track and Field'
(a) Mithali Raj
(b) PV Sindhu
(c) P T Usha
(d) Saina Nehwal
Answer: (c) P T Usha
In simple words: P.T. Usha is famously called the 'Queen of Indian Track and Field' because of her great achievements in running.

🎯 Exam Tip: Familiarize yourself with common nicknames or titles given to famous personalities, especially in sports.

2. MC Mary Kom is also known as
(a) million rupee baby
(b) one dollar child
(c) 500 rupee note
(d) crorepati of India
Answer: (a) million rupee baby
In simple words: MC Mary Kom is sometimes called 'Million Rupee Baby' because of her huge success and popularity in boxing.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to specific phrases or titles associated with famous people, as they are often tested in MCQs.

3. Who is the recipient of 'Tenzing Norgay Award'?
(a) Geeta Phogat
(b) Sania Mirza
(c) Arunima Sinha
(d) Saina Nehwal
Answer: (c) Arunima Sinha
In simple words: Arunima Sinha received the 'Tenzing Norgay Award' for her brave climbing of Mount Everest despite her physical challenges.

🎯 Exam Tip: Awards are given for specific achievements; connecting the award to the person and their feat helps recall.

4. Who is the highest run scorer in Women's International Cricket
(a) PT Usha
(b) PV Sindhu
(c) Mithali Raj
(d) MC Mary Kom
Answer: (c) Mithali Raj
In simple words: Mithali Raj has scored more runs than anyone else in women's international cricket matches.

🎯 Exam Tip: Verify facts like "highest scorer" or "first Indian" carefully, as they are precise details.

Word Power

Question 1. Match the expressions with their meanings:
Answer:

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding idioms and phrases enriches your language and helps in comprehension and expression.

Question 2. Read the following abbreviations and their full forms:
Answer: The full forms of the given abbreviations are:

• IOA - Indian Olympic Association
• BWF - Badminton World Federation
• ODI - One Day International
• ICC - International Cricket Council
• WTA - Women's Tennis Association

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorizing common abbreviations, especially in specific fields like sports, is useful for general knowledge and exams.

Language Practice

Question 1. Put the verbs given in the brackets into the correct form and use 'going to'. One is done for you:
Answer:
1. It (rain), (It is going to rain)
2. They (eat) are going to eat apples.
3. We (help) are going to help you.
4. d. (wear) am going to wear blue shoes tonight.
5. It is 8:30 pm. You (miss) are going to miss your train.
In simple words: To talk about plans or things that will happen soon, we use "going to" with the main verb.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use "going to" for future plans or predictions based on present evidence, like dark clouds mean "it is going to rain."

Question 2. Complete the following sentences using 'through' or 'across':
Answer:
1. We swam across the river.
2. We walked through the forest.
3. The train was passing through the tunnel.
4. There is a bridge across the river.
5. They walked across to the other side of the street.
6. He hit the nail through the wood.
In simple words: "Across" means going from one side to the other, like a river. "Through" means passing inside something, like a tunnel or forest.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Across" implies surface or boundary movement, while "through" implies entering and exiting an enclosed space or medium.

Let's Know More

Do it yourself.

Activity

Let's Write

Question. Write a few lines about the ‘Values of Games’ in Life.
Answer: Games play a significant role in our life. Playing outdoor as well as indoor games enhances our focus, alertness, physical and/or mental strength, team spirit and sportsmanship. We should play games on daily basis. Engaging in physical activities like games also releases stress and boosts mood.
In simple words: Games are very important for us. They help us focus better, stay alert, become strong, work in teams, and be good sports. We should play games every day.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing about values, provide multiple benefits and support them with brief explanations.

Question. Do it yourself.
Answer: This activity requires personal participation and cannot be provided as a written answer. Please follow the instructions and perform the activity as directed.
In simple words: This is a task for you to do on your own, not something to write down.

🎯 Exam Tip: Instructions like "Do it yourself" often involve practical application rather than written responses, so understand the task's nature.

Question. Names of some games are given below. Mention the names of some famous players associated with these games:
Answer:
1. Tennis - Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi
2. Cricket - M.S. Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh
3. Football - Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri
4. Badminton - Jwala Gutta, Pullela Gopichand
5. Hockey - Sardara Singh, Dhanraj Pillay
In simple words: Here is a list of popular sports and some famous players who are known for playing them.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing prominent figures in various sports can be helpful for general knowledge and competitive exams.