Administratively, it hasn’t been the best year. While Khelo India Khelo is a great grassroot initiative launched by the sports ministry under Rajyavardhan Rathore, the report submitted by the PMO appointed task force in the immediate aftermath of the Rio Games, which included Abhinav Bindra, Gopichand and others hasn’t been implemented yet.
The TOPS scheme too isn’t in the best shape and it’s just two and a half years to go for the Olympics, this is hardly time enough to get prepared and compete with the world’s best.
Like every year, numerous sportspersons sweat it out for hours and hours. However, they did not get their due share of recognition by virtue of our ‘benevolent’ media. Even if they managed to get a place in the innermost pages of newspapers, they were gently brushed aside by the ‘magnanimous’ public. Therefore, it’s high time that we update ourselves with the proceedings of Indian sports.
From Saina Nehwal’s win in Malaysia to Viswanathan Anand’s victory in Saudi Arabia, it has been a great year for Indian sports. Sure, the Indian cricket team also had a stupendous run in 2017 but other sports — from hockey to football and badminton to chess — also had their (well-deserved) moment in the sun.
Here’s looking back at 2017’s biggest moments in Indian sports:
1. Saina Nehwal wins gold at Malaysia Open
The year began on a good note for the Badminton ace. Saina Nehwal had just recovered from a knee injury, but bounced back by bagging the first spot at the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix badminton tournament. The 27-year-old beat Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.
2. Indian women’s cricket team enters the World Cup finals for the first time in 12 years
India took on England at the home of cricket at Lord’s in the World Cup finals in July. After a heroic effort by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team beat Australia, the defending champions, by 36 runs in the semi-finals. Even though the team, led by Mithali Raj, lost the nail-biting match against England, they won the hearts of the nation.
3. India achieves highest ever tally at the World Para Athletics Championship
Talking about winning hearts, India earned its highest ever tally of five medals at the World Para Athletics Championship held in London this year. Sharad Kumar won a silver and Varun Singh Bhati earned a bronze in the men’s T-42 category high jump, while Amit Kumar Saroha and Karam Jyoti had won a silver and a bronze in men’s club throw F-51 and women’s discus throw F-55 respectively. Sundar Gurjar (above) clinched the lone gold for India in men’s javelin throw F-46.
4. Vijender Singh wins and retains his WBO Asia Pacific, Oriental title
Boxer Vijender Singh clocked in 10 straight victories since he began boxing in 2015, and he won the last two this year. He retained his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Asia Pacific Super middleweight title and gained the WBO Oriental title in August, when he won a tough match against China’s Zulpikar Maimaitiali with a broken nose. He then went to defend both his titles against Ghana’s Ernest Azamu in December in Jaipur and won all rounds.
