Indian athletics' two biggest stars -- Neeraj Chopra and Hima Das -- were largely sidelined due to injuries, leaving the sport with very little to celebrate and mired in doping and age fraud controversies in yet another barren year in terms of global medals.
Both Neeraj and Hima did not take part in the recently concluded World Championships while Dutee failed to qualify for the semifinals after a disappointing performance.
Initially, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had allowed Chopra to participate in the competition. On Wednesday, AFI had tweeted about his comeback to drum up interest around the event.
Neeraj Chopra will return after a year-long injury lay-off in the National Open Athletics Championship, which begins on October 10.
Hima Das has been selected for the 4x400m relay for the upcoming World Athletics Championships, but Neeraj Chopra is most likely to continue his rehabilitation.
It has been learnt that the recovery is likely to take three to four months, putting his participation at the prestigious Worlds (September-October) in serious doubt.
After announcing his arrival in 2016 with a junior world record, the 21-year-old had a phenomenal season last year, winning a gold each in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
With the year coming to an illustrious end, here are the top sportspersons of 2018.
Neeraj Chopra, Hima Das gave India hopes of getting more medals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with their performances in the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2018.
The National Awardees came together to reply to their fans in on a variety of subjects.
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was among 20 sportspersons picked for the Arjuna Awards.
Chopra broke the national record with a throw of 88.06m, while China's Liu Qizhen (82.22m) and bronze to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem (80.75m) were distant second and third respectively in Jakarta.
Chopra was at the third position till the fifth and penultimate round but the reigning Olympic champion Thomas Rohler of Germany came up with a 85.76m throw.
Neeraj's gold and three other athletics silver medals, along with Saina Nehwal's badminton singles bronze, propelled India's overall medal count to 41.
Chopra's gold is India's only second medal in the javelin throw in Asian Games history after Gurtej Singh won a bronze in 1982 in New Delhi.
Young Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the flag bearer, led the Indian contingent with players arriving in blue suits, smiling and with small flags in their hands, waving to the crowd.
PM Modi has offered his best wishes to the Indian contingent for the 18th Asian Games, which started on Saturday in Jakarta.
Most athletes and their coaches have already acknowledged that the Asiad is going to be a different ball game than the Commonwealth given the presence of powerhouses such as China, Japan and Korea.
Neeraj will lead the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games and the young athlete said it is an honour for him to be the flagbearer.
Neeraj Chopra is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion and won a gold in the Savo Games in Finland last month.
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