Guts and glory: 2023's Indian sports saga captured – triumphs and tribulations
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (left to right) Photo: PTI
2023 was a landmark year in Indian sports, marked by an extraordinary series of achievements and memorable moments. The country basked in glory with its record-breaking medal tally at the Asian Games, demonstrating the depth and diversity of its sporting talent. The cricket team's remarkable journey to the World Cup final has captivated millions and epitomizes the spirit and passion that cricket brings to the country. However, the year also had its trials, especially for the wrestling community, which faced its own set of challenges. The photos below provide a snapshot of India's exciting and tumultuous sporting year, recapping the triumphs and tribulations that defined 2023.
A lot of medals: Neeraj Chopra (above, right) defended his javelin crown at the Asian Games. A step below him on stage was the unknown Kishore Jena (above, left). Parul Chaudhary (right) established himself as one of the best distance runners in Asia, claiming two medals in Hangzhou: silver in the 3,000 meters Steeplechase and gold in the 5,000 meters. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (below, left) and Chirag Shetty (below, right) also lived up to their hype by taking gold in the badminton doubles final. India finished with 107 medals, the country's highest ever tally at the showpiece event. The Sports Ministry confirmed the Khel Ratna award for Rankireddy and Shetty.
Kishore Jena & Neeraj chopra (left to right) Photo: PTI
Parul Chaudhary Photo: PTI
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (left to right) Photo: PTI
Fire and ice: India looked like a team possessed, winning ten matches in their march to the final of the ICC Men's World Cup. Virat Kohli (top) scored 765 runs, a World Cup record. He also overtook Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries in the showpiece event. Mohammed Shami (left) took 24 wickets from seven matches. He also achieved a seven-for in the semi-final against New Zealand – a first by an Indian pacer. Their tremendous efforts were not enough as Australia defeated India in the World Cup final. Shami bagged the Arjuna Award for his stellar show.
Virat Kohli (Photo: PTI)
Mohammed Shami (Photo: PTI)
Sparkling in white: The Indian women's cricket team defeated England in seven sessions in a Test match. It followed this up by recording its first-ever win in the traditional format against Australia. The year also witnessed the first auction for the Women's Premier League.
Women's cricket team (Photo: PTI)
R Vaishali with younger sibling R Praggnanandhaa (Photo: PTI)
Record player: Novak Djokovic improved Rafael Nadal's record of 22 majors in men's singles at Roland Garros and won the 24th Major at the US Open. That year, the Serbian also became the first player to win at least three Majors on three different surfaces. It also marked the eighth time he finished the year as the No. 1 ranked player.
Novak Djokovic (Photo: Reuters)
Eighth miracle: Lionel Messi won a record eighth Ballon d'Or for best player. The Argentine talisman, who last won the prestigious award in 2021, had played a crucial role in guiding Argentina to its first World Cup title in 36 years in 2022..
Lionel Messi (Photo: Reuters)
On the mat: Angry and frustrated over the lack of action against BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for his alleged misconduct against women wrestlers, Olympic medalists like Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik (pictured below ) and Yogeshwar Dutt protested from Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Later that year, Malik announced her retirement after Sanjay Singh, a close aide of the MP, was elected WFI president. The Sports Ministry suspended the newly elected WFI panel and directed the Indian Olympic Association to manage the federation's activities.
Sakshi Malik (Photo: PTI)
Photo: Reuters
First print: December 29, 2023 | 12:20 pm IST