With an eye on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, India's top athletes impressed atvarious continental events in the year which also saw many new faces coming intolimelight.
Apart from the World Championship in Osaka, Japan, there were not many reallybig ticket events this year but Indians managed to make some impression at thecontinental events where many new athletes showed promise.
India finished second behind sporting powerhouse China in the Asian AthleticsChampionship held at Amman.
The event was originally scheduled for Beirut but security concerns in theLebanese capital came in the way. There was a good chance that the championshipcould come to India but it was eventually hosted by the Jordanian capital at avery short notice.
The 41-member Indian team came back with 15 medals, including five gold (justtwo less than China).
Kerala athlete Renjith Maheshwary, who emerged as a force to be reckoned with inthe triple jump this year, claimed top honours with an effort of 17.19m with awind-aided performance.
Maheshwary had earlier broken the long standing national record when he becamethe first Indian to cross the 17m barrier, thereby surpassing the mark of 16.79mset by Mohinder Singh Gill way back in 1971.
The historic effort of 17.04m came at the Asian Grand Prix held in Guwahati.Maheshwary bettered the national mark twice at the same meet and claimed goldmedals at all three legs of the Grand Prix circuit.