A to Z of a sporting year

The year 2007 had its share of the good (like Iraq's Asian Cup soccer triumph), substantial portions of the bad (betting, doping, match-fixing etc) and intermittent doses of the ugly as well (Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's death and soccer violence). It was bizarre (food poisoning claims against the Russians during a Davis Cup tie) as well as brilliant (some Rugby World Cup matches, a few Formula One races and some sublime performances by Roger Federer, Kaka and Tiger Woods) and occasionally even comical (like the F1 row which was kicked off in a nondescript photo copying shop). Here's the second and final section of the two-part series on A to Z of sports in 2007 by Vijay Mruthyunjaya.

N - David Nalbandian

The year 2007 was a remarkable one for this Argentine of Armenian origin. He became the third man to beat both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal since they assumed the No 1 and No 2 positions in the same tournament; the other two men being Tomas Berdych and Novak Djokovic. The 26-year-old also beat Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer in consecutive rounds becoming the third player after Boris Becker and Djokovic to defeat the world's top three players in a single tournament at the Madrid Masters. To prove it was not a flash in the pan, he defeated Federer for the second time on way to winning his second straight ATP Masters Series title in Paris thus becoming the first player to win Madrid and Paris Masters back-to-back since former World No 1 Safin in 2004.

O - Beijing Olympics

'One World, One Dream' is the world's most populous nation's slogan for this year's biggest sporting extravaganza - the Olympic Games. Beijing beat Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka to host this event way back in 2001, and since then it has been the centre of world attention: as much as for its rapidly growing economy as its environment. But given China's gift for precision and perfection, one can expect a real spectacle with a unique oriental touch. China is expected to give the US a close run in the medal rush.

P - Michael Phelps

Time magazine aptly calls him the Pool Shark after his record haul of eight medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, including six gold to tie the Olympic record for medals at a single Games held by gymnast Alexander Dityatin since 1980. Anybody else would have been over the moon after a feat like that. But not Phelps. Simply because the 22-year-old was aiming to break Mark Spitz's mark of seven gold medals (1972 Games in Munich) having entered in eight events, including five individual events. Had he achieved his goal, Phelps was eligible for a $1-million bonus offered by his sponsors Speedo. Thankfully, four years down the line, the bonus is still on and Phelps is in peak form again. Watch out for him in Beijing.

Q - Yasser Al Qahtani

Al Qahtani, the Asian Player of the Year, had a very fruitful year, both on the off the field. He was the joint-leading scorer in the Asian Cup with four goals for Saudi Arabia who lost 0-1 to Iraq in the final. The 25-year-old striker impressed every time he played with his movement, awareness and eye for goal. Many critics rated him as the 'complete package'. His goal against Indonesia was the perfect example of the art of a timed jump and header from a centre forward. The latest is that Al Qahtani has turned town an offer from Manchester City and is set to play for his club back home in Saudi Arabia in 2008.

R - Kimi Raikkonen,

The Iceman was the comeback man of the year. Having trailed closest rival Lewis Hamilton by 26 points at around the halfway mark, the Flying Finn staged one of the most remarkable rallies to beat the McLaren pair by just one point to win his maiden F1 title. It was a fitting reward for his patience, perseverance and painstaking efforts, particularly after having come close to beating Schumacher in 2003 and Alonso in 2005 when he was driving for McLaren, the team whose hearts he has just broken. More importantly, Raikkonen remained impeccable both on and off the track in the most scandalous year for Formule One. Another sportsman to watch out for in 2008.

S - Kumar Sangakkara

He saved his best for last becoming the first batsman ever to make single innings scores in excess of 150 or more in four consecutive Test matches on December 4. He was already in the company of greats like Don Bradman and Walter Hammond, among a few others, to have scored five or more double centuries in Tests, including back-to-back efforts - 200 and 222 in the second and third Tests against Bangladesh. He signed off the year with a glorious 192 in defeat against Australia. He will start 2008 as the most exciting player after Adam Gilchrist.

T - Ian Thorpe

He described his high profile retirement as a 'joyous' occasion of celebration, but was close to tears when thanking his Australian fans. The 'Thorpedo' was one of the greatest swimmers of his era winning five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian. He also won 11 World Championship golds, the second-highest number of any swimmer. He will be certainly missed in 2008, the year of the Beijing Olympics.

U - US

Victory in Davis Cup was the biggest achievement of 2007 for the US. It ended a 12-year drought, its longest since the 1920s. The victory was also its first on home soil in 15 years. The last time the US won the Davis Cup was in 1995. Since then, three Americans - Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick - won 16 Grand Slam titles between them, but as a nation drew a blank in the biggest team event in tennis. No wonder, the Yankees celebrated this victory in great style.

V - Dilip Vengsarkar

The Indian chief selector made the news for all the wrong reasons in 2007. Be it his relationship with former Indian captain Rahul Dravid or the officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, he made the headlines. If Dravid quit captaincy in disgust, the Indian board officials made peace with him. But how long it will last is anybody's guess as we enter 2008.

W - Tiger Woods

A great year on and off the greens. Of the eight titles he won in 2007, his 13th major at the PGA Championship was the most important as it took him closer to Jack Nicklaus' world record of 18. He had a great time off the field as well with the birth of his daughter Sam Alexis. It eased the pain of losing his father Earl in 2006. 2008 may well see him raise the bar even further.

X - Liu Xiang

The only child of a truck driver and a waitress is the pride of China and has continued his astonishing growth on the international circuit. If his 110m hurdles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games (12.91 seconds, tied world record) was China's first in men's track and field, the victory at the World Athletics Championship (12.95 seconds) in August this year made him the world champion for the first time. But the icing on the cake is that he is the first Chinese athlete to achieve the "triple crown" of athletics (world record holder, world champion and Olympic champion) concurrently. The biggest nation on the planet now expects an encore from its greatest son at the Beijing Olympics later this year. No one is under more pressure than this talented athlete right now.

Y - Yuvraj Singh

He can be rated as the only Indian cricketer to have had a reasonably good year. Two events ensured that: the first, a record six sixes in one Stuart Broad over in a 12-ball 50 during India's fairytale victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa. Second, a bristling and brilliant Test hundred against Pakistan at Bangalore. One to keep a close look on in 2008.

Z - Zinedine Zidane

If 2006 was a forgettable year for one of the greatest football players of our time, 2007 was just the opposite. As an UN goodwill ambassador, this Frenchman made news all over the world by working selflessly "to do something to make the world a better place."

He voluntarily served three days of community service on Fifa's behalf as a substitute for the match ban imposed on him following his controversial head butting during the 2006 World Cup. Apart from playing in numerous charity matches, he took part in the fifth annual Match Against Poverty in Malaga, Spain. If there is someone to keep a close look on and off the field in 2008, it is definitely this man.