Yearender: Sportspersons who made ‘India proud’ in 2017

With 2017 coming to an end, let’s look back at the 10 most precious moments where Indian sportspersons made the country proud and captured the hearts and minds of the people.

Virat Kohli-led team India became World No. 1 in both ODIs, Tests 

Following their 5-wicket victory against Australia in September this year, India surged to the top of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official rankings. Virat Kohli’s troops became the first ever Indian team to reach the number one position in both Test and ODI rankings since the ICC team rankings began in 2002.

Mirabai Chanu won gold at World Weightlifting Championships

On November 30, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian in over two decades to win a gold medal at the World weightlifting championships. Chanu lifted 85kg in snatch and 109kg in clean and jerk, to total an impressive 194 kg, in the women’s 48kg, in the process of setting a new national record. She is only second Indian weightlifter after Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari to achieve this feat. Karnam had won the top prize in the Worlds twice in 1994 and 1995.

Indian women’s hockey team won 2017 Asia Cup title

Indian Women’s Hockey team won the 2017 Asia Cup hockey title In November. India defeated China by 5-4 goals in a penalty shootout in the final match held in Japan. With this victory, India qualified for the 2018 World Cup. It was India’s second Women’s Asia Cup title. The first one was won in 2004.

Sundar Singh Gurjar clinched gold medal at World Para Athletics

21-year old Sundar Singh Gurjar made India proud after he grabbed a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event at World Para Athletics Championships in London, United Kingdom in July 2017. In the F46 category, Sundar recorded his personal best effort of 60.36m ahead of Dinesh Priyantha Herath (Sri Lanka) who emerged second with 57.93m, followed by defending champion Guo Chunliang (China) with 56.14m.

Mary Kom claimed gold in Asian Women’s Boxing Championships

Five-time world champion Mary Kom won a gold medal in Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Light Flyweight (48 kg) category in November. Kom defeated North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the final bout 5-0 by unanimous judges’ decision, in the final match which held in Vietnam. This was Mary Kom’s first international gold medal since 2014 Asian Games.

Sushil Kumar clinched gold at Commonwealth Wrestling Championships

Sushil Kumar secured a gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa in December 2017. The Double Olympic medalist returned to international wrestling after a gap of almost three years. The Indian wrestler defeated New Zealand’s Akash Khullar in the final of the men’s 74-kilogram freestyle category. It was Sushil’s first international medal since his gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Gopi Thonakal became 1st Indian man to win gold at Asian Marathon Championships

In November, Gopi Thonakal clinched gold to become the first Indian man to win Asian Marathon Championships in Dongguan. Gopi clocked 2 hours 15 minutes and 48 seconds to grab the medal in the 16th edition of the event. After formation of separate Asian Marathon Championships, Gopi became the first Indian man to win the title. Earlier, Asha Agarwal won the women’s title when it was part of the biennial Asian Track and Field Championships.

Indian men’s and women’s teams claimed 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championships    

The Indian men’s and women’s kabaddi teams were both crowned the champions of Asia after beating Pakistan and South Korea in Gorgan, Iran, in November. Star raider Ajay Thakur led from the front in the men’s final, as India beat their arch-rivals Pakistan 36-22, winning the match by a comfortable 14-point margin. Meanwhile, the women’s team defeated South Korea 42-20 in their finals. At half-time, India had a seven-point lead at 19-12 before breaking away in the second, eventually winning by a 22-point margin.

PV Sindhu wins silver at World Badminton Championships

This year in August, Indian Badminton player PV Sindhu settled with a silver medal at the World Badminton Championships. She lost the women’s singles final to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 in the final of the competition held at Glasgow, Scotland. The ace shuttler made a fine comeback after losing the first game to win the next two against Okuhara. (Wion)