In photos: Medal or not, Indian women are clearly outclassing the men at the Rio Olympic

Close your eyes and think of Indians at Rio. The abiding image will be of Dipa Karmakar in mid-air, or of PV Sindhu pumping her fist, or of Sakshi Malik draped in the national flag, or, a little farther from the limelight, of Aditi Ashok following the course of the gold ball she's just hit.

The men are history. Women are leading India's Olympic charge. And here are the pictures that capture their march. These are the images we will remember.

It began with Dipa Karmakar storming into the vault final where she finished an impressive fourth and put Indian gymnastics on the map. Then came wrestler Sakshi Malik, who became the first woman wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics, bagging a bronze in the 58 kg freestyle event.

As for 18-year-old golfer Aditi Ashok, she planned her trip to Rio four years ago. Clearly, winning a medal is more important than winning a major for her. And she's not only running the leaders close – but is outperforming India's men golfers significantly. And PV Sindhu has become the first Indian woman to be assured an individual Olympic gold or silver.

Remember that cliché every time school board results are declared? "Girls outperform boys". Well, here you have it.

Dipa Karmakar

Gymnast Dipa Karmakar did the impossible by performing and almost perfecting the life-threatening Produnova vault.

Karmakar missed out on a medal by a mere 0.15 points. However, she achieved more than anyone could have imagined.

Karmakar's decision to go with the Produnova was a calculated act of courage.

Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik created history by becoming the first woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal.

Malik beat Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 8-5 in the final seconds of the match for the medal.

The new queen of Indian wrestling is an inspiration for grapplers across the country.

PV Sindhu

Badminton star PV Sindhu is a win away from securing a historic gold medal – a first for an Indian woman at the Olympics.

Sindhu has secured India its second Olympic badminton medal in history after Saina Nehwal took the bronze in the London Olympics.

The 21-year-old seems ready for the biggest game of her life after her dominating show throughout the tournament.

Aditi Ashok

At 18, this teen clearly has the determination for becoming the first golfer to win an Olympic medal.

Bagging a medal or not, making it to the Olympics as India's lone woman golfer is clearly Ashok's biggest achievement for many.