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Top 5 moments of Indian sports from January 2020

Top 5 moments of Indian sports from January 2020
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By

Umaima Saeed

Published: 31 Jan 2020 2:47 PM GMT

New Year 2020 began on a high note for the Indian sports

contingent, with the first month of the calendar witnessing some glorious

moments. In the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics 2020, every win by an Indian

athlete in an Olympic sport will take us one step closer to creating and

re-creating history. As January comes to an end, here is looking at the top

five moments from the world of Indian sports which made our chests swell with

pride.

Sania Mirza wins the

Hobart International

Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza (Image: WTA)

On January 18, Sania Mirza along with Nadia Kichenok won the Hobart International tournament. This was a grand comeback to professional tennis for Sania, who was on a two-year break due to marriage and maternity. She had last played in China Open 2017 before returning to Hobart and along with her partner, defeating Zhang Shuai and Peng Shuai of China 6-4, 6-4 in the finals. This was Sania’s 42nd WTA doubles title and first since the Brisbane International trophy in 2017 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

However, Sania’s return to the Grand Slam was cut short last week when she was forced to retire midway through her first-round match in women's doubles at the Australian Open due to a calf injury. As per reports, she is likely to recuperate for the next two months.

Bajrang Punia and

Vinesh Phogat win Gold at Rome Ranking Series

Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat (Image: UWW)

On the same day when Sania did India proud on the tennis court, ace India grappler Bajrang Punia did the same on the wrestling area. Punia defeated Jordan Oliver 4-3 in the final of the Rome Ranking Series in the 65kg freestyle category to win his first gold medal in 2020. This feat came only a day after another star Indian wrestler and Olympic medallist Vinesh Phogat won gold in the women's 53kg category. Vinesh beat Ecuador's Luisa Elizabeth Valverde 4-0 in the final.

Bajrang and Vinesh were the only two Indian wrestlers to win a medal in the competition. Jitender (74kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) failed to sail past their rivals in the knockouts.

Indian men's hockey

team beat Netherlands

India vs Netherlands
India vs Netherlands (Image: Hockey India)

The Indian men's hockey team made a dream debut at the FIH on January 19. They beat world number three Netherlands 5-2 in the opening match and followed that up with another 3-3( Penalities 3-1) in the second. The victory is a great boost for India in their preparation for Tokyo.

They next play world champions Belgium at home on February 8

and 9 followed by two more home games against Australia on February 22 and 23. They

will then play a couple of away games in Germany and England respectively,

before returning home to host New Zealand in May and then once again travel to

face off Argentina in June.

Neeraj Chopra

qualifies for Olympics

Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra (Image - The Print)

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra qualified for the Olympics with a throw of 87.86m at the Athletics Central North East Meeting League meeting. This was a dream return to the circuit for Chopra, after recovering from an elbow injury which side-lined him the entire 2019. The 22-year-old breached the Olympic qualification mark of 85m in his fourth attempt.

The major tournaments that Chopra missed due to the injury were the IAAF World Championships, the Diamond League and the Asian Championships. His last major international competition was the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games where he won gold.

Also read: 8 quotes by Indian athletes that prove their struggle is real

“Feeling super awesome to be back in the competition mode.

Thank you everyone for your good wishes and supporting me always,” tweeted

Neeraj.

Ronaldo Singh becomes

the World No. 1 cyclist

Ronaldo Singh
Ronaldo Singh (Image: MYAS)

In the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) world rankings released on January 8, India’s young cyclist Ronaldo Singh claimed the top spot in three men’s junior track event categories.

The 18-year-old claimed the top spot in the Men’s Junior Sprint Ranking, Men’s Junior Keirin Ranking and Men’s Junior 1km Time Trial Ranking. In nation-wise ranking, India lead in both sprint and Keirin in Men’s Junior Rankings. In Men Junior 1km Time Trial Ranking, they are second only behind Belgium. Ronaldo currently has 1530 points in Sprint.

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