Youngest to oldest, sportspersons defied ageism

Indian sports had a successful year, but it also marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one

- Deepti Patwardhan

He's too young, they said. Too inexperienced. The temperament was questioned, so was the endurance. But over a fortnight in Toronto in April, and then a historic few days in Singapore in December, Gukesh Dommaraju dispelled all doubts. The Indian beat an eight-player field to win the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 and earn a place at the world championship table.

Once there, Gukesh endured a tense, nervy, close-fought match against reigning champion Ding Liren. Gukesh and Liren battled it out for 14 rounds. In a high-pressure final game, the Chinese grandmaster blinked first. At 18, Gukesh had become the youngest chess world champion.

Gukesh's triumph not only underlined the strides India has taken in world chess in recent times—India also won the men's and women's Chess Olympiad in 2024—but also anchored another impressive sporting year for the country. If Indian sport in 2024 ended with Gukesh being crowned the youngest world champion, it had started with Rohan Bopanna becoming the oldest men's doubles Grand Slam champion. In between, Indians also won a cricket World Cup, six medals at the Olympics and lit up another record-breaking Paralympics.

BETTER WITH AGE

For years, Bopanna had played in the massive shadows cast by Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza. But with Paes and Bhupathi fading away and Mirza calling it quits last year, Bopanna emerged as India's flagbearer at tennis Grand Slams.