The last month of the year is the ideal time to take stock. While we have seen the ups and downs of several athletes, across categories, it has been a stellar performance for Indian athletes on the whole. This year we had some great surprises, none more so than the performance of track and field athletes - who have had a terrific year and have done their confidence no harm before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The performances in shooting, cricket, badminton, and various other sports have been absolutely top-notch. There has been plenty to cheer about.
Here are India¡¯s best 2019 sporting moments:
A run that stretches back to 2013 and 12 series in total, India has been dominant at home. Last month, India beat Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs to take the two match series 2-0, to record their 12th series win on home soil. Having beaten the world record of 10 home series wins - they held jointly with Australia - after whitewashing South Africa 3-0 earlier to make it 11, the India team dismantled Banladesh in both games to extend their record to 12 series wins.
In that run, India have lost only a solitary game against Australia in 2017, and won a whopping 27 matches in total. An incredible record and a mark of invincibility. With how easily India is bulldozing teams, the record looks set to extend in the coming times.
What a year it has been for the young sprinter, 'Dhing Express' as she is known for lighting up the race tracks. Hima Das, one of the burgeoning sprinters has been instrumental in the ongoing purple patch for the track sport.
The 19 year-old sensation, has been the ultimate conqueror, winning six medals in a span of two months. It all started on July 2, in Poland. In her first competitive 200m race this year, Hima Das clocked 23.65 seconds, to sprint her way to gold at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix.
It was soon followed by another gold in the 200m race, at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix, clocking 23.97 seconds. Less than a week later, on July 13,? another gold in the 200m at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix, in Czech Republic. In a fortnight, another gold in the 200m, followed. This time at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix, in Czech Republic. It was succeeded by another gold, in her pet 400m competition, on July 20. It was all rounded off in fine style with a sixth gold medal in 300 m in the Athleticky Mitink Reiter 2019 today in Czech Republic.
Hima Das might have enjoyed a gold crazy purple patch, but ace sprinter Dutee Chand has had a terrific year too. In what has been a truly remarkable year for Indian sprinters, there have been some historic firsts in the track and field.?
At just 17 years of age, Manu Bhaker has tremendous potential, the Haryana native is making quite a name for herself. Looked at as a next big thing in Indian shooting. Manu scripted history at 2019 ISSF World Cup as she bagged India's first gold medal at the tournament this year in Women's 10m Air Pistol.
On course to her triumph, she broke the junior world record with her total of 244.7. Manu also became only the second Indian shooter after Heena Sidhu to win a gold medal Women's 10m Air Pistol at the ISS World Cup.
One of India's finest archers, Deepika Kumari won a truckload of medals across various international competitions, the 25 year-old is refusing to slow down. It has been almost a week since she added another feather to a glittering cap - winning the gold at Asian Archery Championships.
In an all Indian final, Deepika defeated Ankita Bhakat 6-0 to take the gold. Another medal in the bag that has quite a lot of them.
India have won gold in volleyball, athletics, archery, shooting, and badminton.
In September, Indian badminton reached a new high after PV Sindhu stormed to World Championship title after beating Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7. It was a first for an Indian, and a performance worthy of a champion. It was the moment that pronounced the real coming of Indian badminton and a fitting evidence of how far we have come in the sport.
PV Sindhu had come agonisingly close to a top finish on four previous occasions, but had to settle for two silver and two bronze medals.? She was not going to let this one go, not for a fifth time. She was full of appetite and minerals to change and script history. That she did, and in fine style - outclassing her Japanese opponent to become the first Indian shuttler to achieve the feat. It was one of the finest moments in India's recent sports history.?