5 unsung heroes who made India proud in 2015

2015 has been a great year for the Indian sporting landscape.The Indian Cricket team winning the Test series against South Africa and ending their 9 year away undefeated spell, Satnam Singh becoming the first Indian to enter the NBA, Sumit Nagal winning Wimbledon Juniors Championship, Shuttler Saina Nehwal becoming the first Indian Woman to achieve World No. 1 ranking and Sania Mirza becoming first Indian doubles World No.1.While these achievements garnered media attention, several athletes did not get the media spotlight which they deserved for their achievements.Many of these athletes overcame serious barriers, both infrastructural and financial to be able to succeed on the international stage. Several of them have had serious impediments in terms of their finances, physical limitations and a lack of coaching, but they overcame all the odds to win.On the eve of The 67th Republic Day, we look back at those unsung heroes who made India proud but remained unnoticed.Here are 5 unsung heroes who made every Indian proud in 2015:

#1 Deborah Herold becomes cycling World No 4

Deborah Herold aslo helped the Indian team to improve its world ranking to 13th

Indian cycling sensation Deborah Herold became the country's first female cyclist to finish fourth in the UCI (the sport's world governing body) individual world rankings following the release of the latest rankings for the 500m time trial event.

The 20-year-old, from Andaman and Nicobar, collected 211 points in the 500m time trial and secured 4th place in the ‘World Elite UCI Women Ranking.’Prior to the recent Track Asia Cup held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex Velodrome, she was ranked 10th, but after that success, she rose six places. At the three-day event last month, her three medals were critical to India's cycling contingent finishing at third place with 11 medals.

With Deborah’s brilliant performance in the Track Asia Cup last month, the Indian team has also improved its world ranking to 13th.

#2 Thakur Anoop Singh winning Mr. World title (Bodybuilding)

Thakur defeated bodybuilders from 43 different countries

Thakur Anoop Singh won the gold medal at the 7th WBPF World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships on November 28, 2015.He also earned the coveted title of ‘Mr. World’ at the competition held in Bangkok, Thailand. Anoop finished first among 70 athletes from 43 different countries.

Singh gained fame on the TV serial Mahabharata, and years later he achieved this laurel, becoming only the second bodybuilder from India after Manohar Aich, to lift the title. Aich won it in 1952.

Singh is a former pilot and he finished third in the Mr Asia competition.

#3 Arantxa Sanchis becomes first Indian woman to win Billiards and Snooker World titles

Arantxa Sanchis with the World title

Arantxa Sanchis achieved the distinction of becoming the only female cueist in India to win World titles in both snooker and billiards in 2015.

The National Billiards champion won the inaugural IBSF World Billiards title (time format) in Adelaide, outclassing compatriot and veteran R Umadevi 414-255 in the two-hour final. Sanchis had also won the IBSF World team snooker title in 2013 with Vidya Pillai in Ireland.

Sanchis has taken both titles in the inaugural year of the championships. She overcame a degenerative eye disease to win the World title.

#4 Indian Sepak Takraw team winning silver medal at French Open

The Indian Sepak Takraw team

The Indian Sepak Takraw team made the country proud once again on the international stage.

This time around, they saw a second-placed finish at the International de France de Sepak Takraw Championship.Their loss to traditional heavyweights Malaysia in the final was their first in the entire tournament. In fact, they only went on to lose their first set in the semi-final clash against China.

The tournament was also a much needed warm up for the upcoming World Super Series finals to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2016.

#5 Devendra Jhajharia wins silver medal at IPC Athletics World Championships

Devendra Jhajharia in action

India's top para-athlete Devendra Jhajharia won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event to give the country its first medal in the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha.

35-year-old Jhajharia, who won gold in the 2013 edition of the event in Lyon, came up with a best throw of 59.06m to finish second behind Guo Chunliang (61.89m) of China at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.

With this effort, Jhajharia, an IPC world record holder in this event, booked a berth for 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

After winning back to back international tournaments, the Rajasthan-based athlete is expected to finish first at the 2016 Paralympics. Devendra is also a Padma Shri award winner.