On-field achievements often jostled for space with off-field drama as Indian hockey endured a rollercoaster year during which the players scripted historical feats but coach Paul van Ass' acrimonious ouster and Gurbaj Singh's suspension created its share of storm.
India continued their dismal show in the crucial tour Down Under, losing 1-3 against Australia to suffer their fourth consecutive defeat in the five-match men's hockey Test series, in Perth on Friday.
Gurjit Kaur struck twice as the Indian women's hockey team beat title holders South Korea 4-1 to register its third consecutive win and also book a place in the semi-finals of the Asian Games, in Jakarta, on Saturday.
Five of the Australian goals were field efforts while three were from the penalty corners. Australia earned eight PCs as against five of the South Africans.
India's women's hockey team had a disastrous opening at the Commonwealth Games, going down 2-3 to Wales in Pool A match, at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, on Thursday morning.
New Zealand got plenty of opportunities to draw level in the form of five more penalty corners in the final three minutes but their execution was not up to the mark.
Germany decided against fielding their main team for the Champions Trophy as they are more keen to play the European Nations Cup in Spain next month.
Neeraj Chopra hoped to compete with other prominent international names in India
Despite taking a two-goal lead, India persisted with their aggressive style, maintaining pressure on Canada. However, they were unable to find more goals in the opening quarter as it ended 2-0 in their favour.
India lost 2-4 against the Netherlands in shootout after their return leg FIH Pro League match ended in a 1-1 draw in Rourkela on Wednesday.
Kalinga Lancers rode on Glenn Turner's twin field strike to cruise to a comfortable 4-0 win over Delhi Waveriders and register their fourth victory in the fourth Hockey India League in Bubaneswar on Friday.
India had something to cheer about after missing out on a berth in next year's World Cup as they defeated China 3-3 via the penalty shoot-out, after both the teams were locked 2-2 in regulation time, to clinch the bronze medal in the eighth women's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
P R Sreejesh emerged hero with a superb performance under the bar as the Indian men's hockey team beat Great Britain 4-2 in the shootout to enter the semi-finals.
Danish Mujtaba scored a brace as India came from behind to beat a gritty Bangladesh 5-1 in their final round robin match and qualify for the third round of the Hero Hockey World League at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.
former India hockey goalkeeper Alloysius Edwards believes there is a huge pool of talent in India and there is still hope for hockey in the country.
While India downed China, Ashari struck twice in Malaysia's 3-1 win over Pakistan.
The Indian defenders had another good day in office as they didn't put a foot wrong to deny Italy any open chance.
'The way we are playing now, if we continue to play the same hockey, no one can stop us from standing on the podium in Tokyo.'
After New Zealand and Spain played out a 2-2 draw earlier in the day, World No. 20, the lowest ranked side in the competition, France needed an outright win to qualify for the cross-overs and they came out with intent to achieve the goal.
All round the year the sportspersons have enthralled their fans with their sheer determination to excel, their athleticism and other gravity-defying moves. Rediff.com presents the best photographs of year from the world of sports.
The Indian eves had earlier defeated Uruguay 4-2 in a thrilling shootout in their opening match.
The Indian women's hockey team went down against Canada 1-3 in their second match ahead of the Women 's Hockey World League Round 2 in West Vancouver, Canada.
The view is that the attention on the national team is fleeting, incidental and dependent on the results they produce.
India's teen wizard Rani Rampal and defender Sardar Singh have made it to the FIH All Stars team, International Hockey Federation announced on Saturday.
He was a talismanic midfielder who played the game on his own terms with fitness being key to his success
Barely five months into the job, uncertainty looms large over Paul van Ass continuing as chief coach of India's men's hockey team.
Reader Virender Pal Singh sent us this picture from Dallas.
Pakistan, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and defending champions Argentina will battle for top honours from July 22-30.
India produced an inspired performance to thrash Malaysia 6-1 in their last Pool A match and qualify for the semi-finals of the women's hockey competition at the 17th Asian Games, in Incheon, on Friday.
Sandeep Singh said he will now serve the country in politics after doing so as a sportsperson.
Chairman of Hockey India League (HIL) Narendra Batra speaks about the promising start of the league and if this is a new dawn for Indian hockey.
The eight-time Olympic winners have been clubbed along with reigning champions Germany, Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and Netherlands in Pool B at 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The team won a four-nation tournament in Singapore, outclassing South Korea in the final.
India would look to work on their penalty corner conversion rate when they take on Malaysia in their next Asian Champions Trophy match in Chennai on Sunday.
India secured its place in the final round of Tokyo Olympic qualifiers by beating Chile 4-2 in the semi-finals of the women's FIH Series Finals hockey tournament.
India produced an impressive display but wasted chances galore as they held defending champions and world number two Australia to a 1-1 draw in their opening pool match of the Hockey World League Final, in Bhubaneswar, on Friday.
India lose 3-4 against Germany in shoot-out, to face Japan for Paris berth
India has been awarded the 2018 men's hockey World Cup, the second time in a span of eight years the country will be hosting the mega event.
Tennis star Rohan Bopanna, who is set to be crowned world number one in the doubles format, was on Thursday selected for the prestigious Padma Shri honour by the government along with six other athletes including veteran squash player Joshna Chinappa.
A large contingent of officials and media were present at the airport to receive the team, which finished fifth in the just-concluded Hockey World League Semi-finals in Antwerp.
