India's best at Olympics

2012 was all about the London Olympics, but there were also other notable incidents that stood out in the year. Here's a look at the sportspersons and moments of the year that made headlines.

By Bikash Singh | Yahoo! India News – Tue 27 Nov, 2012 5:34 PM IST



A nation of 1.2 billion managed two silver and four bronze medals at the London Games - the country's biggest Olympic haul equaling the collective tally of India's previous seven campaigns in the quadrennial event. Shooter Vijay Kumar and grappler Sushil Kumar fetched silver medals while magnificent Mary Kom, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and shooter Gagan Narang bagged bronze medals.

The coveted gold medal eluded India this time around, but fans extended the kind of reception reserved otherwise for India's pampered cricketers in their welcoming of 81 athletes back from London. Four years ago, Abhinav Bindra had won the gold, while Sushil and boxer Vijender Singh had clinched the bronze medal in Beijing.

While the London haul is testimonial to the development India has made in recent times, sports infrastructure is still woefully poor in the cricket-crazy country. There is a large pool of sporting talent in India but what is needed is the right strategy, training and education to tap this talent and hone their skills for Rio in four years’ time.

Flashback 2012 »

  • Narendra Modi

    Narendra Modi

    From shaking up the very foundations of the Indian government to stirring up unseemly controversies, from showing incredible courage in the face of extreme adversities to losing a reputation built over years of hard work in just a blink of an eye, from setting the electoral hustings afire with golden speeches to getting into trouble for not speaking at all, there were many 'newsmakers' in 2012 who caught the common man's imagination. Some made it for stellar reasons, others for all there is wrong with the society. Here are 12 'newsmakers' that deserve a mention. More »

  • Kutch, Gujarat

    Kutch, Gujarat

    Trying to pick twelve travel destinations in India is a little like choosing the twelve best feathers on a peacock’s train, but pick we must. The most dramatic phenomenon we’ve observed in 2012 is the rising number of Indians choosing their own country for a great holiday. At one end of the spectrum, they are hitchhiking and backpacking. At the other they are patronising the most luxurious hotels and resorts once reserved for tourists brandishing wads of foreign exchange. Keen to experiment, they are experiencing everything from scuba-diving to cycling. Many are taking to wildlife and landscape photography with a passion. Here’s our selection of the 12 most captivating Indian holiday destinations of 2012. Feel free to argue but, most importantly, get up and pack! More »

  • Tendulkar’s 100th century

    Tendulkar’s 100th century

    Like any other year, this one too had its highs and lows, moments that captured the imagination for contrasting reasons. Here's a lowdown on what happened in the world of cricket in 2012. More »

  • Coalgate scam

    Coalgate scam

    It was an eventful year in the world of finance and business, one that actively involved all three actors: the government, people and even the common man. From violent employee agitations to controversial reform proposals and volatile economic indicators, we compile the twelve defining news events of 2012. More »

  • Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan

    Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan

    There was seldom a day which passed by without these celebs hogging the limelight. Here’s what they did More »