Internet Desk: 2016 was a busy year for sports fanatics around the country as lots of major sporting events surrounded the calendar year. Events like Olympic games and Paralympics and Kabaddi World Cup were integral part of the year.
Mixed Bag Olympics
India captured a silver and a bronze in the Rio Olympic Games in August. PV Sindhu lost the Gold medal bout against Spain’s Carolina Marin to settle for a silver medal in Women’s Singles Badminton event whereas Wrestler Sakshi Malik brought Bronze medal from the repechage round in Women’s 58 KG Freestyle wrestling.
Athlete Lalita Babar surprised the world as she reached 10th spot in the Women’s 3000M steeplechase.
The newsmaker of the year can proudly be labelled to Dipa Karmakar, who finished 4th in the Women’s gymnastics, but her performance was well appreciated by all the critics.
Records galore at Paralympics
India had a dream run in the Paralympics this year, as the 19 member team won 4 medals, with 2 golds and a bronze and silver. Deepa Malik bagged a silver in the women’s shot put F53 event. India got both gold and bronze in men’s high jump T42 event, thanks to Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati, who won gold and bronze respectively. In the men’s javelin throw F46 event, Javelin thrower Devendra Jharjharia won the gold medal by creating a new world Record.
Kabaddi glory for India
The Kabaddi team,as expected to lift the crown, bagged the World Cup by defeating Iran in the final. The tournament was marred with off the field political controversy as the Pakistani tean didn’t participate in the world cup, due to rising bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan.
Vijender Singh’s all win record
Indian Pro Boxer Vijender Singh had a sensational 2016 under his name as the 31-year-old improved his unbeaten streak to 8-0. He started the year by gaining a knockout victory over Hungary’s Alexander Horvath in march, followed up by consecutive knockout wins against Matiouze Royer(France) and Andrej Soldra(Poland). Then came the biggest moment of his professional boxing career so far, as he defeated Kerry Hope(Australia) for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Championship in July. He successfully defended the title against former World Champion Francis Cheka, who was Vijender’s 7th Knockout victim out of the 8 opponents he faced. He stated his intention to challenge for more titles in 2017.