While there were many ups and downs for individual players and teams across different sports, the year 2017 turned out to be a happening year. Here’s a look at some major events and individual achievements.
Script: Saswat Singhdeo; Editing: Suraj Wadhwa
CRICKET
1) There is no second opinion on the fact the past year was dominated by Indian skipper Virat Kohli in the world of cricket. He smashed his 52nd century and joined Hashim Amla as the fastest to reach 50 centuries in International cricket. Kohli surpassed Sir Donald Bradman and Indian legend Rahul Dravid as he scored the fourth Test double-century on consecutive series.
Another Indian player who stayed in the limelight for his many blistering innings is Rohit Sharma, who became the first One Day International player to score three double centuries on different occasions. His latest one came against Sri Lanka.
The best performance by the Indian team was delivered in October 2017 during the Sri Lanka tour when India made a clean sweep against the home team by winning three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is.
However, amidst landmark victories and individual achievements, the year is also marked by the resignation of Anil Kumble as coach when rumours of a rift between him and Kohli surfaced. Subsequently, former player Ravi Shastri took charge replacing Kumble. A big shock for India came after suffering defeat at the hands Pakistan in the final of Champion’s trophy 2017.
Indian Women Cricket team led by Mithali Raj showed some spectacular performance and reached the final of World Cup, but unfortunately couldn’t win the title.
2)FOOTBALL
It was a happening year for Football despite no World Cup event scheduled in the year at the senior level.
Spanish club Real Madrid retained its Champions Leauge Trophy after beating Juventus 4-1 in June. In August 2017, Brazilian superstar Neymar broke the famed 'MSN' trio and the bank with a world-record fee after moving from Barcelona to PSG in the summer transfer window. In the month of October, England beat Spain 5-2 in the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata. In November 2017, Gianluigi Buffon retired in tears after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup after six decades with the Italian press calling it the 'apocalypse'. In December, Cristiano Ronaldo, the self-proclaimed world's greatest ever player, won the Ballon D'Or for the fifth time equaling Lionel Messi's record
3)HOCKEY
It was an eventful year for Hockey but the continental giants India struggled for global success in 2017. They finished third in the Sultan Azlan Shah Memorial in April-May.
India beat Malaysia 2-1 in a nail-biting final to clinch their third Asia Cup hockey title, ending their 10-year wait for continental triumph. In Hockey World League Final, Argentina beat India in the first semi-final match at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The age-old malady of inconsistency remained unaddressed but Indian hockey did take baby steps towards global success in 2017, a year which reaffirmed the nation's continental supremacy in the sport.(PTI input)
4)TENNIS
Two names that dominated the world of Tennis in 2017 are Roger Federer and Rafale Nadal. While Federer won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Nadal clinched the titles at the French and US Open.
Both the top-seeded players had to go through phase of injuries but nothing could stop them to make it a great year for them
Among women players, Serena Williams put on quite a show after winning a record 23rd Major at the Australian Open. She later revealed that she was already pregnant. She will defend her title in the upcoming month of January 2018.
5)BADMINTON
It was a year of achievements for Indian shuttlers. Kidambi Srikanth became the only Indian to win four Super Series events in a calendar year and only the fourth male shuttler to achieve the feat, After getting the second position in the Singapore Open, Srikanth won Indonesia Open and Australian Open back-to-back and won two consecutive Super Series later in the year at Denmark and France.
Similarly, PV Sindhu won two Super Series titles and a silver at World Championships.
Former World no.1 Saina Nehwal won the Malaysia Masters in 2017.
In November, Nehwal won the singles' title in the Senior National Badminton Championship after beating Sindhu, quite incredibly, in straight games.
