After a year of riveting sporting action, 2023 is finally drawing to a close. From euphoric highs to heart-breaking lows, here is a look at the year that was for Indian sports, including some epic milestones, through reels that left us reeling with a bag of emotions!
Century and more at the Asian Games
‘Iss Baar 100 Paar’ was the tagline for the Indian contingent going into the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Well, that's exactly what our athletes achieved – 107 medals to finish off India's most successful campaign. Several athletes gained national recognition after their performances at the Games and Reliance Foundation Youth Sports made this wholesome reel to celebrate the athletes and their efforts to make the Tricolour fly high.
Sheetal Devi makes history
Probably the most inspiring story to come out of Indian sports this year concerned Sheetal Devi, a 16-year-old girl who took the Paralympics world by storm by winning gold at the Asian Para Games in the Compound Archery event. Devi’s incredible feat of surmounting the odds to claim success was recognised as the Paralympics moment of the year on the official Instagram page of the Paralympics.
Indian football continues its rise
A reel shared by Indian football on Independence Day took a look at the growing passion that is surrounding the beautiful game in India. From near-empty stadiums to almost-packed houses now, the senior men’s team is getting all the support they need and it's showing on the field in the form of the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championship wins that had the players getting emotional and the crowd going gaga. Each Blue Tiger even received their own personal chant from the crowds, and this video of the crowd singing Maa Tujhe Salaam is sure to give you goosebumps!
Checkmate from R Praggnanandhaa
Becoming the youngest Indian to take part in a Chess World Cup finals, R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian since Vishwanathan Anand to make the World Cup finals. At just 18, Praggnanandhaa is already regarded as one of the best Chess Grandmasters in the world. For him, the sky's the limit now, even in his early days. Watch this reel from India Cultural Hub to know his story and you are sure to be proud of this young lad from Chennai.
Khelo India Para Games
Khelo India has already started producing future athletes who will make India proud in the years to come. But 2023 holds great significance for young para athletes across the nation as we have just had the first edition of the Khelo India Para Games. The competition took place in New Delhi between December 10 and 17 and featured 1,450 para athletes with 913 medals being handed over to the winners. Take a look at this reel from Paralympic India to get a glimpse of the event.
The King Overtakes the Master
While Indian cricket didn’t really taste glory despite a superb World Cup campaign, it’s difficult to cap off a year for Indian sports without mentioning Virat Kohli. This reel from ICC got over 78.2m views. Why? Well, it's the moment Kohli reached his 50th ODI ton at Mumbai in the semi-finals against New Zealand. The moment Kohli got to the landmark no other batter had achieved, India’s talisman bowed to his hero, Sachin Tendulkar, in the stands, in an iconic example of how the baton of greatness has been passed in Indian cricket. Kohli has hit many exquisite shots this year, but the fact that this flick was viewed more than any other will tell you the sheer hold this man has over the emotions of an entire nation.