Sports anime where the underdog wins

Key takeaways

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

Underdogs exist in all walks of life. These individuals are tagged as the weaker link, seen as a person without potential and have the least chance to be the best or win. Most times they are grossly underrated, but they are a work in progress, and when the work is done, they come out to shine and grow from weak to strong.

In the world of sports anime, there are underdogs, and there are stories that showcase an underdog's exciting and inspiring journey as they triumph. Seeing 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 raw determination, teamwork or personal growth.

1 Yowamushi pedal

Sakamichi Onoda goes from cycling for fun to a professional cyclist

Onoda has been cycling since fourth grade. Now in high school, he still cycles every week and unknowingly fulfills the requirements to become a professional cyclist. On a weekly ride, Imaizumi, a fellow student at Onoda's high school, sees him practicing his riding, and at first feels unthreatened by Onoda, even mocking his bike until he sees Onoda climbing the hill he is practicing on. on seamless. Imaizumi convinces Onoda to join the school's cycling club, and he does.

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

2 Kuroko's basketball

Kuroko takes it upon himself to make sure the Seirin High Basketball Team reaches the top

When intermediate students graduate, they are separated and move on to different high schools, creating new experiences and so on. Teiko Middle School had five-star players who made their basketball team known across the country, and after graduation, they all went to different high schools. The unknown sixth player, Kuroko, advances to Seirin High and joins the basketball team. Along with Kagami, they make a name for Seirin by going against the team that houses the other star players from Teiko Middle School.

The underdog 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, overcome powerful opponents to prove their strength.

3 Ace of Diamonds

Sawamura aims to become an ace among 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 receives an offer to join the elite baseball program at Seidou High School, a powerhouse in high school baseball. Seidou High houses the best baseball players in the country, and among them all, Sawamura seems to be the weakest and most uneducated, even with his potential and talent.

Sawamura does not want to be the underdog, but strives to be the team's ace. 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 courses and face tough competition to catch up with the more talented players on the team.

4 Haikyuu!!

Hinata does her once glorious school team champion again

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

Karasuno High School is considered an underdog team because of how badly they have fallen. With the help of Hinata and Kageyama, this explosive duo takes it upon themselves to work hard to rebuild the Karasuno High 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 being a bully's victim to a 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 out after his bully knocks him out. This stranger turns out to be a novice boxer named Mamoru Takamura, and he takes Ippo to his gym, where he treats his wounds and waits for him to wake up.

Ippo had been an underdog to his bullies, but Takamura saw potential in him and introduced him to boxing. Takamura gave him some boxing videos to watch, and this piqued 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 ultimately becomes a professional boxer. The once shy Ippo that viewers knew from the beginning becomes a confident and powerful person who overcomes his bullies and pushes his limits.

6 The mercenary club

Mikoto Shiratori struggles to become the professional he once was

The mercenary club mixes badminton and corporate life, focusing on a group of salarymen who work corporate jobs and play competitive badminton for their companies. One of those salarymen 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 begins to get back into 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 he was unfortunately unable to make a comeback, causing other players to perceive him as weak. However, throughout the anime, his stay at Sunlight Beverage causes him to rebuild his confidence, his skills, and his trust in himself and his fellow players. He overcomes his past and eventually becomes the underdog who wins as he once again excels in the sport.