Sports anime where the Underdog wins

Key recommendations

• Sports anime underdogs showcase inspiring journeys from weak to strong.
• Characters fight for their dreams against powerful opponents through determination and teamwork.
• Stories like Yowamushi Pedal, Kuroko's Basketball, and Ace of Diamond highlight those who rise to the top.

Disadvantaged people exist in all spheres of life. These individuals are labeled as the weak link, seen as a person without potential, and have the least chance of being the best or winning. Most of the time, they are severely understated, but they are a work in progress, and when the work is done, they come out to shine, going from weak to strong.

In the world of sports anime, there are underdogs and there are stories that feature the thrilling and inspirational journey of an underdog as they triumph. Watching a team or individual rise from humble beginnings, overcome obstacles and defy the odds resonates with audiences, providing a sense of hope and excitement. These characters fight for their dreams against powerful opponents through sheer determination, teamwork, or personal growth.

1 Yowamushi pedal

Sakamichi Onoda goes from riding a bike for fun to a professional cyclist

Onoda has been riding a bicycle since the fourth grade. Now in high school, he still rides his bike weekly and unknowingly fulfills the requirements to become a professional cyclist. On a weekly ride, Imaizumi, a classmate of Onoda's high school, sees him practicing his riding and at first does not feel threatened by Onoda and even makes fun of the bike until he sees Onoda riding up the hill on who practices it. on perfect. Imaizumi convinces Onoda to join their school's bike racing club and he does.

Onoda is the weakest in this anime because he starts cycling as a total beginner with no professional cycling knowledge. His natural talent and determination made him stand out and rise to compete against seasoned athletes. Joining the bike club enhanced Onoda's personality as he grew from being a shy child to being confident.

2 Kuroko's basketball

Kuroko makes it his responsibility to make sure the Seirin basketball team rises to the top

When middle school students graduate, they separate and go to different high schools, creating new experiences and so on. Teiko Middle School had five-star players who made their basketball team known all over the country, and after graduation, they all went on to different high schools. The sixth unknown player, Kuroko, moves on to Seirin High and joins the basketball team. Together with Kagami, they make a name for themselves in Seirin by going against the teams that host the other star players from Teiko Middle School.

The weakest of this anime is Seirin High. Seirin is a relatively new and unknown school in the basketball world, and the team, with the help of Kuroko and Kagami, defeats strong opponents to prove their strength.

3 Ace of Diamonds

Sawamura aims to be the ace of the best

Sawamura has talent as a left-handed pitcher in baseball. This talent causes a scout to take an interest in him, and he finds himself receiving an offer to join the elite baseball program at Seidou High School, a powerhouse in high school baseball. Seidou High is home to the best baseball players in the country, and in the midst of it all, Sawamura seems to be the weakest and most unskilled, even with his potential and talent.

Not wanting to be the underdog, Sawamura strives to be the ace of the team. This is not easy, as Sawamura starts out as an unpolished pitcher with a lot of potential but no real technique. He must work tirelessly to improve his control, learn new pitches and face stiff competition to catch up with the more talented players on the team.

4 Haikyuu!!

Hinata makes her glorious school team champions again

Volleyball catches Hinata's attention, and the young man, though inexperienced, is ready to put in the effort to become a star volleyball player just like the Karasuno High players he's seen on TV. Unfortunately for Hinata, the Karasuno High Volleyball team is not what she saw on TV and the once glorious team full of champions is now empty and it is up to Hinata to recruit players.

Karasuno High is considered an underdog team because of how badly they fell. With the help of Hinata and Kageyama, this explosive duo takes it upon themselves to rebuild Karasuno High's volleyball club, restoring their reputation as champions and making them a formidable competitor against more established schools.

5 Hajime no Ippo

Ippo Makunouchi goes from bully victim to professional boxer

This boxing-themed anime follows the stories of Ippo Makunouchi, a shy kid who is constantly bullied, but one day, a random stranger helps him after his bullies knock him out. This stranger turns out to be a novice boxer named Mamoru Takamura, and he takes Ippo to the gym, where he treats his injuries and waits for him to wake up.

Ippo had been a disappointment to his bullies, but Takamura saw potential in him and introduced him to boxing. Takamura gave him some boxing videos to watch and this ignited his interest in boxing. With relentless training and fierce determination, Ippo grows from a weak and inexperienced fighter. He rises through the ranks, facing increasingly skilled opponents and eventually becoming a professional boxer. The once shy Ippo that viewers have come to know from the beginning becomes a confident and strong person, overcoming his bullies and pushing his limits.

6 The Salaryman's Club

Mikoto Shiratori struggles to be the professional she once was

The Salaryman's Club combines badminton with corporate life, focusing on a group of salarymen who work corporate jobs and play competitive badminton for their companies. One of those employees is Mikoto Shiratori, who was once a force in the badminton world. Mikoto was a child prodigy, but a game stripped him of his status and confidence, pushing him to the ground to pick up the pieces. Instead of doing that, he joins the sales department of Sunlight Beverage and slowly finds himself back in the sport.

Mikoto is considered an underdog due to his fall from grace and reluctance to return to the sport. His defeat shattered his confidence and unfortunately he was unable to bounce back, causing other players to perceive him as weak. However, throughout the anime, his stay at Sunlight Beverage causes him to rebuild his confidence, abilities, and trust in himself and his peers. He overcomes his past and ultimately becomes the winner as he once again excels in sports.