Sportskeeda's Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2016 - No. 5 to No. 1

In life, you win some, you lose some. The story is no different in sport.

For India, 2016 has been a landmark year, in spite of a largely disappointing performance at the Rio Olympics. Keeping aside the disappointments and the heartbreaks, there were moments to cherish, moments that Indians would love to relive. And it is for these moments that we must appreciate our athletes.

We at Sportskeeda, in an attempt to show our gratitude to the athletes, have compiled a list of India’s top 25 standout talents from the 2016 sporting season, culminating in the crowning of Sportskeeda’s Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2016.

Here are the top 5:

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#5 Mariyappan Thangavelu

A year ago, no one knew the name of Mariyappan Thangavelu. And now, he is one of the most popular sporting heroes of this year. The high jumper made India proud at the Rio Paralympic Games by clinching the gold medal, India’s first at the Paralympics since 2004.

Mariyappan had lost his leg when he was only five years old after a disastrous accident. However, he did not let this stand in his way. This year, the 20-year-old jumped a distance of 1.78m in the men’s high jump T-42 event at the IPC Grand Prix in Tunisia. The A-Qualification Standard for the Rio Paralympics was set at 1.60m and he crossed it with ease.

In Rio, he jumped a distance of 1.89m, a world record, on his way to the gold medal. Mariyappan is currently ranked number one in the world and finds his name 5^th on our list.

#4 Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal

If anything, 2016 was the year of the underdog. And one of them was Sakshi Malik. The 24-year-old wrestler had always lived in the shadow of the Phogat sisters, but all that changed in the Rio Olympics.

First, she defeated Geeta Phogat at the Olympic trials and secured her berth in Rio. And then, at Rio she became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal when she clinched the bronze.

Much was expected from the wrestling contingent, but the performances were dismal. Sakshi single-handedly saved India’s blushes in the sport with her achievement and took some of the attention away from the rest of the controversy.

Her never-say-die attitude endeared her to the millions of Indian fans, and Sakshi’s incredible achievement sees her at 4^th on our list.

#3 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin received the ICC Test Cricketer and the ICC Cricketer of the year awards

Ravichandran Ashwin has been in top form throughout the year. His performances both with bat and ball have helped India win many matches and he was deservedly awarded the ICC Cricketer and Test Cricketer of the Year awards.

In 12 Test matches, the off-spinner claimed 72 wickets, a stat which is more than enough to prove how lethal Ashwin was this year. Moreover, he performed with the bat as well on several occasions pulling the Indian team out of danger.

During the Test series against England, Ashwin became only the fifth player in the history of the game to claim over 25 wickets and score over 300 runs in a series. He is unplayable, especially in the subcontinent, and has already won seven Man of the Series awards in just 44 Tests.

In 17 T20Is, he took 23 wickets as he helped India reach the semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup in March-April. His performances in 2016 see him sit in the 3^rd spot.

#2 PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu has completely owned 2016. Following the exit of Saina Nehwal in Rio, not many expected India to win a medal in badminton at the Olympics. And yet, Sindhu rose above all expectations to win the silver medal and save India’s blushes at the Games.

In her first Olympics, the 21-year-old showed immense maturity to beat some much higher-ranked and more experienced players, one after the other, as she made her way into the finals. In the final match, she faced the world number one Carolina Marin.

After the gruelling match that Carolina won, Sindhu’s magnanimous gesture of handing her rival her racquet and congratulating her, despite her own loss, showed the world what true sportsmanship was.

Later in the year, the meteoric rise continued as Sindhu went on to win the China Open Superseries, and then finished runners-up at the Hong Kong Open Superseries. Her incredible achievements throughout the year ensure her the second spot on the list.

#1 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli dominated cricket throughout 2016 like no other

Virat Kohli failed to win any ICC award this year but his form in 2016 was outstanding. The Indian Test team captain was on a record breaking spree throughout the year and dominated the sport across all formats like no other.

In 12 Test matches, Kohli scored an incredible 1215 runs, slamming three double centuries. He averaged a mammoth 75.93 in Test matches. In ODIs, Kohli accumulated 739 runs in only 10 matches at an average of 92.37 in 2016 with four centuries to his name.

However, he was at his most destructive in T20Is, scoring 641 runs in 15 matches at an average of 106.83. Moreover, he almost single-handedly took India to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup.

While his batting was well above the mark, Kohli also showed what a brilliant captain he was. He successfully led the Test side to nine victories in 12 games without losing a single match.

For his amazing performances throughout the year, we have crowned Virat Kohli as the Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2016.