Sportskeeda's Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2015 - counting down from No. 10 to No. 1

2015 is coming to a close, and the year has shown us several athletes young, older, new and experienced, who put in some brilliant performances in their respective sports. In a country with no dearth of sporting talent – talent that is not highlighted enough – these athletes have defied the odds, set records, and broken paths and barriers.In doing so, they’ve dented the invisible glass ceiling that athletes are restricted by in India, where sporting careers are not viewed with much regard unless they are in cricket. Despite the trials they faced on course to achieving their dreams, these athletes persevered until they found success.Here are our picks for India’s 10 standout talents from the 2015 sporting season, culminating in the crowning of Sportskeeda’s Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2015.Related: Sportskeeda’s Sportsperson of the Year: Our top 10 list

#10 Apurvi Chandela

Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela may only be 22 years old, but she’s already displayed prodigious skill at every event she’s played. At 21, the young woman won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, hosted in Glasgow, Scotland.

This year, she put in standout performances at the ISSF World Cup and the ISSF World Cup Shooting Finals. Participating in the 10m air rifle event, she won Bronze at the initial event in Changwon, Korea, progressing to the finals of the event in Munich, Germany.

There, she’d go one better, pulling off a brilliant performance to take the silver medal at the event.

Following the ISSF Finals, Chandela won a host of medals on the home stage and she took gold in the 10m air rifle at the National Championships in Delhi.

Considering she has already won gold at the world stage, Chandela is hopeful of a good performance at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and if her track record is anything to go by, she will do well in Brazil. If she is able to carry her 2015 momentum into the new year, she could well be the first ever Indian woman to win Olympic gold.

#9 Eugeneson Lyngdoh

Bengaluru FC’s Eugeneson Lyngdoh has had a strong 2015 season, to say the least.

Picked as the I-League Midfielder of the Year and the AIFF Footballer of the Year, he was voted unanimously as both the fans’ favourite Player of the Year and the players’. The 29-year-old was the first player to be sold for over a crore at the ISL auctions in 2015, to Pune City FC, overtaken only by Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri (who signed with the Mumbai franchise).

Lyngdoh's base price had been 27.50 lakh.

His list of awards in 2015 is never-ending. In September of this year, he was voted the best player of the year by the Football Player Association of India (FPAI) and soon after, he was given the same honour by the sport’s chief governing body in India, the AIFF.

This year was also special for the Shillong native from the nationalistic point of view. He was first called up to the national team in March, and was involved in the assist for India’s second goal in their 2-0 victory over Nepal in a pre-FIFA World Cup qualifier.

#8 Anirban Lahiri

The name Anirban Lahiri has become synonymous with golf in India, and he stands out as one of the best talents ever produced by the country. Although he has been a strong golfer since the beginning of his career, 2015 has been a breakout year for the 28-year-old.

He has created history on several occasions this year. Responsible for a series of firsts, Lahiri recorded the highest ever finish for an Indian at the PGA Championship this year, and in the process became the first ever Indian golfer to qualify for the Presidents Cup.

Lahiri also won two European titles this year – the Maybank Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open, and was lauded by his colleagues and contemporaries – among them Shiv Kapur and Sharmilla Nicollet, both of whom spoke openly of their admiration for the player and their faith in his immense potential.

In perhaps one of the best compliments he will have received this year, however, Lahiri was hailed by golf legend Tiger Woods, regarded as one of the greatest the sport has ever seen, with the American describing Lahiri as the flagbearer of Indian golf.

Bringing laurels to the country in a sport that is not given nearly as much attention as it should be, Lahiri has been in stellar form that he looks set to continue into the new year.

#7 Leander Paes

He’s been India’s sportsperson of the year several times over, and enjoyed his biggest successes with long-term doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi. While he has gone past the highest point of his career, with 17 Grand Slams Paes is doubtless one of doubles tennis’ best ever exponents.

In 2014 there had been no indication of that was to follow; he won a single Major and not much else last year.

In 2015, the 42-year-old Paes, playing his 25th season on the ATP World Tour, partnered South African Raven Klaasen to the finals of the Aircel Chennai Open, and partnered Klaasen again in Auckland as he set a record for at least one trophy every season in the past 18 years.

He then joined up to partner Martina Hingis in the mixed doubles, with the pair going on to win the first Grand Slam event of the year at the Australian Open. They’d go on to notch wins at Wimbledon and the US Open as well. Although Paes did not achieve success at the French Open this year, during the tournament he became only the seventh male player in the Open Era to complete 700 match wins in doubles.

At an age where most players are retired and only playing exhibition matches, Paes is still winning Grand Slams, and still has not lost his magical volleying skills.

He hopes to compete in the Rio Olympics next year, and considering his form, he should be able to manage it easily.

#6 Inderjeet Singh

If there was one name who dominated the Indian athletics scene in the year 2015, it was shot putter Inderjeet Singh. The 27-year-old had a staggering run this year, where he won eight gold medals, that included three straight ones at the Asian Grand Prix Games in Thailand.

Inderjeet was India’s first athlete to make the cut for Rio 2016 after clinching the gold at the Federation Cup in May, and a month later won the gold at the Asian Athletics Championships. He created history in July when he became the first Indian to win a medal at the World University Games, winning the gold again with an effort of 20.27m.

Despite having had some fine talents in the past, India is yet to win an Olympic medal in athletics. But in Inderjeet lies one of the country's hopes to achieve the dream in Rio next year.

#5 Joshna Chinappa

Indian squash had many reasons to cheer about in 2015, particularly in the junior circuit. But even in the seniors there were some very fine performances, particularly from the racquet of Joshna Chinappa. The Chennai-born player was the standout Indian performer, winning the Victoria Open in August, followed by the Mumbai-leg of the NSCI Open.

She then caused a major upset in the opening round of the Qatar Classic, beating top seed Raneem El Weliliy to bring a lot of happiness among the fans. These exploits were rewarded at the end of the year 2015 when she finished as the highest-ranked Indian in the world at Number 13.

2016 promises to be yet another exciting year and India will certainly need an in-form Joshna if they are to do well in the major tournaments.

#4 Amjyot Singh

While everybody spoke in wholesome praise of Satnam Singh Bhamara’s entry into the NBA, there was one other Indian player who was making giant strides both nationally and internationally. After playing a key role in India’s win over China at the FIBA Asian Championships in 2014, Amjyot Singh Gill further impressed many an expert and fan with his excellent performances in 2015 as well.

The 23-year-old was selected by the Hyogo Starks in the Japan Development League along with fellow teammate Amrit Pal Singh in June. Following that stint, he looked a more well-oiled player at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships, netting in 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists; he was one of the bright spots for the team during the entire duration of the campaign.

It would be fair to say that despite having issues off the court, the Indian basketball scene has seen steady if not rapid growth in recent times. And if players like Amjyot continue to deliver regularly, then we can definitely hope for an even better 2016.

#3 Sania Mirza

As much as is said about Sania Mirza’s 2015 performances, its not enough. From being derided for her singles performances, dealing with naysayers, brickbats, speculation on her life, marriage and so much more, Mirza has answered all her haters and detractors with her racquet.

To say that she has had an exceptional 2015 would be a gross understatement. The 29-year-old has specialised in the doubles since an injury put paid to her singles career, and started her winning momentum in 2014. But although she had a few strong performances that year, it was a patchy season overall for the Indian and her then-doubles partner Cara Black of New Zealand.

The pair broke into the top 5 in the doubles rankings that year, but Mirza did not then have the consistency required to be at the top of her game the whole season.

2015 did not bring instant results or the smooth start that Mirza would have wished for. With a new partner in Hsieh Su-Wei of Chinese Taipei after Black took a hiatus, and then with American doubles ace Bethanie Mattek-Sands, neither of those partnerships brought the results she likely desired.

In March this year, she announced she would team up with one of tennis’ greatest players of all time, Martina Hingis...and the rest is history. Hingis, in her heyday (arguably just now,, too) was the youngest ever Wimbledon champion, World No. 1, broke a series of records and continued in top form until her singles retirement.

She’d even beaten Mirza the previous year with then-partner Flavia Pennetta, who would go on to win the US Open this year.

The Hingis-Mirza pair blazed through their opponents, and quickly became top seeds at every doubles event they played. At the 2015 Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina, Sania Mirza made history as the first ever Indian woman to reach the doubles World No. 1 ranking.

This year, Mirza was also awarded the Khel Ratna for her services to sport.

And unlike several before them, who have peaked and then quickly lost it with a slump in form, Mirza and Hingis simply continued on their unstoppable juggernaut, and with two Grand Slams this year and eight titles ended the year in top spot.

#2 Ravi Ashwin

If there was one word to describe Ravichandran Ashwin’s performance in 2015, it would be imperious. The 29-year-old was India’s best bowler by a distance in 2015, picking up 62 wickets in 9 Tests at an average of 17.20, and 21 scalps in 13 ODIs at an average of 24.57.

He played a crucial role in India winning their maiden Test series in Sri Lanka in 22 years, picking up 22 wickets in the three Tests, and was an equally important member of the side that beat South Africa 3-0 at home, taking 31 wickets in four Tests at an average of 11.12.

As India head into the World T20 year, there is little doubting that Ashwin will be the main man for MS Dhoni, especially if the pitches offer the spinners assistance. And if the off-spinner performs as well as he did in 2015, then all Indian cricket fans would be over the moon.

#1 Saina Nehwal

If one had to describe Saina Nehwals exploits in 2015, then the first phrase that comes to mind is path-breaking. Some of the 25-year-old’s performances this year were just that.

Saina became the first female shuttler to reach the final of the All England Open, and a month later reached the top of the World Rankings, becoming the first Indian female to do so.

She then put up another fine show to reach the final of the World Championships in Jakarta, again becoming the first ever Indian to achieve that feat. Although injuries took a toll on Nehwal towards the end of the season, she remained resolute as ever and put up a good fight in most of the competitions that she took part in.

With 2016 being an Olympic year, she would be hoping to gain good momentum in the lead-up to it and maybe even clinch a second straight medal in August.

For her trailblazing exploits in 2015, Saina Nehwal is Sportskeeda’s pick for the Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2015. Way to go Saina!