Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) The following are the highlights of Indian sport in 2010:* The 101 medals (38 gold, 27 silver, 36 bronze) at the Commonwealth Games are India’s best haul at the event.

* At the Asian Games, India won 64 medals (14-17-33) for its best haul at the event.

* Discus thrower Krishna Poonia became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold in athletics after Milkha Singh’s gold in the 400m at the 1958 Cardiff Games.

* Somdev Devvarman became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games singles gold in tennis, which made its debut at New Delhi.

* Bajrang Lal Thakar won India’s maiden gold medal in rowing in Asian Games.

* Ashwini Chidananda became the first sprinter to win the 400m metre hurdles since legendary P.T. Usha’s triupmh at the 1986 Asian Games.

* Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to win the badminton singles gold at the Commonwealth Games. The legendary Prakash Padukone (1978) and the late Syed Modi (1982) were the two men players to win singles golds at the Games.

* Saina Nehwal emulated Prakash Padukone to win three consecutive titles — the Indian Open, the Indonesian Open and the Singapore Open in June. She added her career’s fourth Super Series title by winning the Hong Kong Open in December.

* Tarundeep Rai clinched the first silver medal by an Indian archer at the Asian Games.

* Woman boxer M.C. Mary Kom won her fifth consecutive World Championship title.

* Shooter Tejaswini Sawant became the first Indian woman World champion, winning the gold in the 50m rifle prone event at Munich.

* Sushil Kumar became the first Indian wrestler to clinch a World championship title, winning the gold in the 66kg freestyle at Moscow.

* Ashish Kumar became first Indian gymnast to win an international medal, bagging bronzes at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

* Veerdhawal Khade’s bronze at the Asian Games was the first by an Indian swimmer since Khazan Singh Tokas’ silver at 1986 Asian Games.