Best sporting moments for India in 2018

#5 The Golden Run of Hima Das

Hima Das became a nationwide sensation as she became the first Indian to win a gold event in Athletics World Championships at any level. Hima clinched gold in the 400 m final in World Under-20 Athletics Championships at Tampere, Finland. She clocked 51.46s in the final.

Hailed as the Dhing Express, Hima also went on to clinch a gold and two silvers at the Asian Games. She has been appointed as the country's first youth ambassador by UNICEF-India.

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#4 Neeraj Chopra throws a surprise

Neeraj Chopra had a sensational year, as he bagged four golds and one silver, including gold in CWG and Asian Games on debut. Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold in both of these events, throwing 86.47 m and 88.06 m, respectively, to claim the top spot at the podium.

The flag bearer for India in Jakarta, he set a new national record with his throw at the continental event. He was also highly successful in international meets held in Europe, winning remaining of his medals there.

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#3 10,000 club - 'Virat' entry in the 'Mahi' way

Two biggest icons of Indian cricket at present, Virat and MSD breached the 10,000 figure mark in the ODIs this year, becoming the fourth and fifth Indians respectively to achieve the feat. While Dhoni achieved the milestone against England at Lord's, while Kohli achieved it against Windies at Visakhapatanam.

Virat broke Sachin Tendulkar's record as the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs, achieving it in his 205th innings. Interestingly, both these players are the only ones to achieve this landmark at an average of more than 50.

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#2 A 'Merry' year for Mary Kom

MC Mary Kom won a record 6th medal at the AIBA World Championships

MC Mary Kom created history, as she became the joint-most successful boxer, punching her way to a sixth gold medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. Mary Kom defeated her opponent on a unanimous decision and became the first woman to win six golds.

She is currently tied with Cuba's Felix Savon's tally of seven medals. She also won the gold at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

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#1 Golds galore for Young 'Guns'

Saurabh Chaudhary was arguably the best Indian athlete of 2018

2018 was a breakthrough year for Indian shooting. More pleasantly, the campaign was led by young guns such as Manu Bhaker, Anish Bhanwala, Shardul Vihan, Mehuli Ghosh and Saurabh Chaudhary. Anish Bhanwala became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal for India at the CWG, with his heroics in the 25m air pistol, while his compatriot Shardul Vihan became the youngest to win a medal at the Asian Games, with a silver in the Men's Double Trap.

The women's campaign was led by Manu Bhaker and Mehuli Ghosh, with the latter winning silver medals at the CWG and World Championships in the 10m individual and team event respectively. Manu Bhaker had a better outing, starting off with a gold at Gold Coast, and continuing with a gold and silver each in the World Cup and the Youth Olympics, all in the 10m air pistol.

Saurabh Chaudhary was arguably the best Indian athlete of the year, as he won almost everything that was on offer. A 10m air pistol specialist, the teenage shooting sensation clinched gold in the Asian Games, outwitting four-time Olympic Gold Medallist Jin Jong-Oh of South Korea.

He also won a gold and a bronze in the ISSF World Junior Shooting Championships. Chaudhary also claimed gold in the Youth Olympic Games, as well as three gold medals in the Asian Airgun Championships. The 16-year-old demonstrated calmness and maturity well above his age in each of the events and ended the year by shooting 248.2m, 4.6m more than the World Record.