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Young World
Winners and losers
NANDITA SRIDHAR
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An eventful year in the sporting calendar. India had a fair share of lows but also some brilliant successes.
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For an Indian fan, the year’s defining sporting images have a healthy variety to them. India’s Twenty20 triumph, the Test series win at England, Viswanathan Anand’s coronation as the World Chess Champion, the hockey team’s Asia Cup win, the football squad’s Nehru Cup triumph and Sania Mirza’s ascent to the top-30 have all been uplifting successes in Indian sport. Interestingly, with the exception of Anand’s, the others weren’
t expected to happen.
Outside the Indian sporting universe, Roger Federer reaffirmed his superiority with three Grand Slams, Australia ruthlessly dismantled oppositions in the World Cup, Formula One waited till its last Grand Prix to crown Kimi Raikkonen as the champion and Muttiah Muralitharan broke Shane Warne’s record for the most Test victims. Fans were offered plenty this year.
India’s premature exit from the cricket World Cup at the West Indies was a big blow (though Bob Woolmer’s death during the tournament was the biggest shock); but it was followed by better results and performances. The win in England was achieved with inspirational batting and exceptional swing bowling.
Travelling to South Africa as a bunch of underdogs without its batting mainstays, India played out of its skin at the Twenty20 Championships. The new format unearthed surprises and brought the best out of the energetic, spirited Indian side.
Successes galore
The nation’s performances beyond the cricket field — on tennis courts, football grounds, hockey fields and chess squares — were the most encouraging.
Anand won his title undefeated and was greeted by the innumerable children who’ve gained inspiration from his achievements. A path-breaker in her sport, Sania brushed off a mediocre 2006 with a splendid season post-Wimbledon to break into the top-30 for the first time in her career. Hockey and football offered the biggest surprises, providing both games with a much needed boost.
Federer’s domination suffered after the Australian Open, but the world No.1’s genius saw him through the big matches and placed him alongside Bjorn Borg with five consecutive Wimbledon titles. Justine Henin was nearly as dominant in the women’s game, despite the Williams sisters promising plenty. The world’s No.1 golfer Tiger Woods clinched his 13th Major after winning the US PGA Championships.
Formula One saw clashes between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, and McLaren and Ferrari in a controversial season. Doping claimed a high-profile victim in Marion Jones after she confessed to taking performance-enhancing drugs in 2000.
Like all sporting years, this one’s been eventful, marred by its share of lows but eventually rescued by brilliance. What will stand out will be the successes. 2008, one hopes, will be even better.
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