NEW DELHI: In a year brimming with individual brilliance from Indian athletes, several teams have carved their names into the annals of their respective sports, earning accolades and nominations for the prestigious TOISA 2023 Team of the Year award.
The year 2023 proved to be a stellar one for Indian sports, marked by triumphs at the Asian and Para Asian Games, as well as successful qualifications for the upcoming 2024 Olympics.
Among the standout performances, the Indian men's hockey team secured its ticket to Paris with a remarkable gold medal in Hangzhou.
Meanwhile, the Indian men's cricket team showcased their prowess by storming into the ODI World Cup final unscathed, although they ultimately succumbed to Australia in the summit clash. The Indian women's cricket team also made history by clinching their maiden gold at the Asian Games.
Additionally, the Indian men's 4x400m relay team captured international attention with their stellar performances, making the world sit up and take notice of their remarkable achievements.
Here are the major achievements highlights of the esteemed nominees for the coveted honour:
Indian men's hockey team
Major Achievements in 2023:
* Won Asian Champions Trophy title
* Gold at Hangzhou Asian Games
The Indian men's hockey team showcased their dominance on the international stage with significant achievements. They secured the Asian Champions Trophy title, displaying exceptional prowess and teamwork in the tournament. Further enhancing their stellar year, the team clinched the gold medal at the Asian Games after 9 years. The emphatic victory also helped India seal the berth for the Paris Olympics.
Team Intro: The Asian Champions Trophy victory in Chennai in August was a validation of the efforts the core group had put in. The changes new coach Craig Fulton had brought about began to show. A dominant Indian team then went on to win gold at the Asian Games and book its ticket to Paris Olympics with a 5-1 victory over defending champions Japan in the final.
Indian men's cricket team
Major Achievements in 2023:
Tests
* Won Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 (Australia in India, four-match series)
* Finished runner-up in WTC final
* Won two-match Test series vs West Indies in West Indies 1-0
ODIs
* Won 3-match series vs Sri Lanka 3-0 at home
* Won 3-match series vs New Zealand 3-0 at home
* Won 3-match series vs West Indies 2-1 in West Indies
* Won ODI Asia Cup title
* Won 3-match series 2-1 vs Australia at home
* Finished runner-up in ODI World Cup title
* Won 3-match series 2-1 vs South Africa in SA
T20Is
* Won 3-match series 2-1 vs Sri Lanka at home
* Won 3-match series 2-1 vs New Zealand at home
* Won 3-match series 2-0 vs Ireland in Ireland
* Won Gold Medal at Asian Games
* Won 5-match series 4-1 vs Australia at home
In an eventful 2023, the Indian men's cricket team showcased their prowess across formats. In Tests, they secured a historic 2-1 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home and finished as runners-up in the WTC final. The team also triumphed in the West Indies, winning a two-match series 1-0. In ODIs, they dominated series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and West Indies, clinching the ODI Asia Cup title. Despite a runner-up finish in the ODI World Cup, they conquered South Africa in a 2-1 series win. In T20Is, the team excelled globally, including winning a gold medal at the Asian Games and defeating Australia 4-1 at home.
Indian women's cricket team
Major Achievements in 2023:
Tests
* Won one-off Test vs England at home
* Won one-off Test vs Australia at home
T20Is
* Won Gold Medal at Asian Games
* Won 3-match series 2-1 vs Bangladesh in Bangladesh
The Indian women's cricket team emerged victorious in one-off Tests against England and Australia at home, demonstrating their prowess in the longer format. In T20Is, the team secured a gold medal at the Asian Games, underscoring their dominance in the continental competition. Additionally, they displayed their T20 prowess by winning a hard-fought 3-match series 2-1 against Bangladesh in Bangladesh.
Indian men's 4x400m relay team
Major achievements in 2023:
Hangzhou Asian Games: Gold (Timing - 3:01:58)
World Athletics Championships: 5th (Timing - 2:59.92)
* Broke Asian record with a timing of 2:59.05 in the heats to qualify for the final
Asian Athletics Championships: Silver (Timing - 3:01.80)
In 2023, Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh showcased exceptional prowess in athletics. Their 4x400m relay team stunned the world by breaking the Asian record with a timing of 2:59.05, challenging eventual world champions USA during the heats at the World Athletics Championships. Achieving a commendable 5th place in the Worlds final, they continued their remarkable form, securing another sub-three-minute run (2:59.92). Their dominance extended to winning gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games and claiming silver at the Asian Athletics Championships. Their stellar performances marked a breakthrough year for Indian athletics, inspiring pride and setting new standards of excellence on the global stage.
