Top 10 sporting moments for India in 2023

Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold at the World Athletics Championships was a moment for pride for every Indian.

Sporting moments are memorable events that occur in the realm of sports. They can be spectacular achievements, surprising outcomes, displays of exceptional skill, or dramatic comebacks. These incidents can have a profound emotional impact on the sports community and society at large. They can inspire people to take up sports or pursue their dreams. Witnessing such moments can give fans immense joy and pleasure, and sometimes even goosebumps.

2023 has been a great year for Indian sports, especially the blockbuster Asian Games, which was a huge success. We witnessed many splendid moments and comebacks this year, as well as some emotional retirements and surprises.

From getting emotional for Virat’s 50th ODI century to witnessing Neeraj’s world champion throw late at night when all Indians were asleep, we stood for the Indian national anthem 28 times at the Asian Games and many more. These are some of the highlights of Indian sports in 2023.

Top 10 sporting moments for India in 2023

India defeat Pakistan in squash men’s team events at Asian Games

In an epic showdown, India triumphed over Pakistan in a nail-biting match to secure the gold medal. The Indian team, consisting of Saurav Ghosal, Abhay Singh, and Mahesh Mangaonkar, overcame Pakistan with a score of 2-1 to seize the gold. Despite Mahesh Mangaonkar’s loss in the initial match, veteran Saurav Ghosal revitalized India’s hopes by comfortably winning his match.

As the final match commenced, the intensity escalated. The contest was not only fought on the court but also off the court, with both teams fervently cheering for their squads. Abhay Singh emerged victorious against Pakistan’s young player, Noor Zaman, clinching the gold medal and leaving the Pakistan team in shock after their loss despite having 2 match points.

Maintaining his composure, Abhay made a remarkable comeback from 8-10 down, scoring 4 consecutive points to win the match.

Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal at World Athletics Championships

India’s golden boy, Neeraj Chopra, made a record-breaking throw of 88.17m in his second attempt to become the world champion in men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Championships 2023. The Olympic champion is the first Indian to win a gold medal and the only Indian athlete to win two medals at the World Athletics Championships.

He is also the third athlete, after Jan Zelezny and Andreas Thorkildsen, to become both Olympic and World Champion in men’s javelin.

Satwik-Chirag’s Asian Games gold

The Indian badminton duo, Satwik and Chirag, became the first Indian shuttlers to win the gold medal at the Asian Games. They made history by defeating Korea’s Choi Sol Gyu and Kim Won Ho. Their exceptional performance not only earned them the top position on the podium but also propelled them to a new career-high rank of World No. 1, marking a significant milestone for Indian badminton.

Their extraordinary feat, filled with thrilling and memorable moments, has etched a new chapter in the history of Indian badminton.

Virat Kohli’s record 50th ODI Century

Indian cricket superstar, Virat Kohli, added another record to his name as he surpassed Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. This feat was achieved during India’s semi-final match against New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

After reaching the milestone, Kohli rose from his knees, removed his helmet, and basked in the applause of the Mumbai crowd. The Indian superstar then looked up to his wife and blew her kisses. He also bowed towards Sachin Tendulkar, whose record he had broken at the Wankhede Stadium.

HS Prannoy’s win over Viktor Axelsen BWF World Championships

In another joyous moment, HS Prannoy defeated the defending champion, Viktor Axelsen, in the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships. India’s No. 1 player made a remarkable comeback after losing the opening game to defeat Viktor Axelsen and secure his maiden world championships medal. The Giant Killer was coming off a tough battle against the 2021 World Champion, Loh Kean Yew.

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Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena’s 1-2 finish at Asian Games

India’s golden boy, Neeraj Chopra, alongside Kishore Kumar Jena, clinched gold and silver medals respectively. The world and Olympic champion, Neeraj Chopra, registered a massive throw of 88.88m in his fourth attempt to seize the gold medal. The athlete from Odisha, on the other hand, made a massive throw of 86.77m in his third attempt to take the lead.

However, Neeraj soon took the lead with his winning throw of 88.88m. Kishore further improved his personal best with a throw of 87.54m in his fourth attempt to win the silver medal. In the process, he also qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 after surpassing the automatic qualification mark of 85.50m.

Parul Chaudhary’s last-minute sprint to win gold in women’s 5000m at Asian Games

Parul Chaudhary won the silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase, and, in less than 24 hours, she returned to the stadium to compete in the 5000m. She was trailing for the majority of the event, but in the last 30m, she overtook the Japanese athlete to win the gold medal.

It seemed that Parul would have to settle for another silver, but the moment the Japanese athlete looked back, Parul seized the opportunity to overtake her. She increased her pace and surpassed Ririka Hironaka.

Sutirtha Mukherjee-Ayhika Mukherjee’s Victory over China at Asian Games

They became the first Indian women’s doubles team to win the historic bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games when they defeated China’s home favorites, Cheng Meng and Wag Yigdi, in the quarterfinals. China, a country that has been dominating table tennis for decades, has won eight gold medals and five silver medals in the history of the Asian Games in women’s doubles.

They defeated a pair that includes multiple Olympic and World Championships gold medallists. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee scripted one of the most astonishing results at this Asian Games.

Sheetal Devi’s silver at Para Archery World Championships

Sheetal became the world’s first female armless archer to win a medal (silver) at the 2023 Para Archery World Championships. She is from the northern Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. With limb hypoplasia due to phocomelia, a rare congenital abnormality, Sheetal’s journey in archery is an inspiration to many.

Equestrian Dressage gold at Asian Games

The Indian Equestrian team, led by their stellar quartet of Sudipta Haleja, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, and Anusha Agrawal, astounded spectators and competitors alike with their synchronized performances. The team showcased remarkable cohesion, earning them a total score of 209.205 points, securing the gold in a nail-biting competition.

The competition was stiff, but India stood out due to their faultless execution and precision. Anush Agrawalla, spearheaded the effort for India, finishing first with a score of 71.088. This incredible achievement cemented India’s domination in the event.

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