30 December,2016 03:30 PM IST | | Agencies
As 2016 comes to an end, mid-day enlists some of the glorious performances by Indian sports stars that ensured a year-round celebration
Virat Kohli, PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar, Jhajharia,
Courting glory
Shutter PV Sindhu cemented her position as a dominant force on the world stage with an Olympic silver after losing 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 to Spain's World No. 1 Carolina Marin in Rio. Sindhu also became only the third Indian to win the China Open Super Series in November and reached the Hong Kong Open final in the same month. She finished the year as semi-finalist at the World Super Series Finals in Dubai this month.
Wrestle mania
Sakshi Malik wrestled her way to stardom by becoming India's first woman wrestler to bag an Olympic medal at the Rio Games. Sakshi fought back from 0-5 down to beat Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 8-5 in the dying seconds of the bronze medal play-off match in women's 58kg freestyle.
Dipa's high
Though she did not win a medal, Dipa Karmakar gave Indian gymnastics some unprecedented moments of glory at the Rio Olympics. She became the first Indian gymnast to reach an Olympic final before missing out on the podium finishing fourth. The 23-year-old Tripura girl mystified all with her death-defying Produnova vault in Rio.
Winners take it all
The Indian Test team are unbeaten under Virat Kohli's captaincy this year, winning nine out of 12 matches with three drawn. India became the world's No. 1 Test team after beating NZ in the second Test at Kolkata in October.
Good as gold
India's paralympic stars claimed four medals at the Rio Games in August. Devendra Jhajharia broke his own record to win gold in F-46 javelin throw, while Thangavelu Mariyappan won gold in T-42 high jump. Shot putter Deepa Malik bagged silver, and Varun Bhati claimed bronze in high jump.
World at their feet
India beat Iran 38-29 to win the Kabaddi World Cup held in Ahmedabad in October. The victory gave Anup Kumar's men the third World title in as many World Cups held this far. India beat Iran in the finals of all three editions.
Stick tricks
India's Jr hockey team created history by winning the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup after 15 years with a 2-1 win over Belgium in Lucknow this month. The seniors also did well year-round. They beat arch-rivals Pakistan 3-2 to win the Asian Champions Trophy in October in Malaysia. Earlier, India won a historic silver for the first time in 36 years, at the FIH Champions Trophy against Australia.
Tee and smacks
A teenaged Aditi Ashok rose from obscurity to take Indian golf by storm. The 18-year-old was the brightest star on the Indian golfing horizon this year and was fittingly named the Ladies European Tour's 'Rookie of the Year' for becoming the first Indian to win two back-to-back titles, Women's Indian Open and Qatar Ladies Open, in her first year on the tour.
