Sportspersons who shone in 2017

Virat Kohli will finish 2017 as the highest run scorer in ODI cricket (1460 runs in 26 innings). He made runs against pretty much every opposition, making six centuries and seven half-centuries.

Photo: AP

This right-hander reached his career-best ranking of No. 2 in November this year. He won four Superseries titles — two successive titles twice in the season-including the three richest prize-money events on the BWF calendar. Notably, he defeated Viktor Axelsen after the Dane won the World title this year. He conquered Olympic Champion Chen Long to win the Australian Open. By his own admission, Srikanth is the enjoying the "best phase of his career". Win-Loss record in 2017: 37-8. World ranking: 5.

P.V. Sindhu enjoyed another good year (to back up a progressive 2016) in which she achieved a career-high No. 2 ranking on the back of two Superseries titles. She has set her sights on the summit ahead of the new year.

2017 belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, who secured his fourth Champions League medal and also won his second La Liga title with Real Madrid, bringing an end to a five-season wait. Winning these titles helped Ronaldo win a fifth Ballon d'Or trophy and draw level with Lionel Messi.

Lewis Hamilton made 2017 a year to remember by securing his fourth Formula One title, finishing a whopping 46 points more than Sebastian Vettel in second place in the Drivers' Championship.

Roger Federer secured his 18th and 19th Grand Slam titles by winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2017. The Swiss No. 1 played some of his best tennis in the three majors he partook in (the other being the US Open).

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Vijender Singh won two major bouts (from his career's perspective) in 2017, beating Chinese Zulpikar Maimaitiali and Ghanaian Ernest Amuzu. With these wins, Vijender retained the Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title and WBO Oriental title.

Sergio Garcia broke his Masters duck by winning the Masters Golf tournament in Augusta in 2017. This Spaniard, understandably, called this as his best year ever.

Rafael Nadal won the French Open and US Open, while he had been runner-up in the Australian Open in 2017. The Spaniard finished the year as No. 1. After a forgettable 2016, a year when he was constantly beset by injuries, Nadal will take great heart from winning two majors in a calendar year for the fourth time.

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Virat Kohli will finish 2017 as the highest run scorer in ODI cricket (1460 runs in 26 innings). He made runs against pretty much every opposition, making six centuries and seven half-centuries.