Indian women who ruled sports in 2014

2014 saw women take on the world, like never before. Women across all fields and races, changed notions and broke barriers. Women in sport did not disappoint us either. May it be Saina Nehwal winning the Women's Singles of 2014 Australian Super Series and the China Open; or an Indian woman referee officiating in a match featuring a current World champion at Incheon: women in the country have set new records this year.

Let’s take a look at some of these amazing women:

KABADDI WORLD CUP

Both the Indian women’s and men’s team won the Kabaddi World Cup this month. Great performances by Ram Bateri, Priyanka, and stopper Anu Rani, gave India its 5^th World Kabaddi Cup. Following their victory, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that starting next year; both men's and women’s teams will get equal prize money of INR 2 crores.

SAINA NEHWAL

This was great year for badminton player Saina Nehwal, who won two tournaments: the Women's Singles of India Open Grand Prix Gold Tournament and Women's Singles Australian Super Series. She also became the 1st Indian woman to win the China Open Super Series Premier after defeating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi.

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MARIA REBELLO PIEDADE and UVENA FERNANDES

Piedade and Fernandes became the first Indian women to officiate in the Asian Games women’s semifinal match between World champions Japan and Vietnam in Incheon this year. Where Maria adjudicated the match, Urvena was the assistant referee. Both the women have officiated three matches at the Asian Games.

LAISHRAM SARITA DEVI

The boxer who refused to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon this year, gained more media attention than many winners. Sarita Devi believed that the results were biased and handed over her bronze to silver medalist South Korea's Park Ji-Na. She was later barred by AIBA for a year because of this.

INDIA WINS 4X400 RELAY

This year, the Indian team won gold for the fourth time in record time (4x400 relay race,) at the Incheon Asian Games. Priyanka Panwar, Tintu Luka, Mandeep Kaur and M R Poovamma won in 3:28.68 secondsbreaking the record time of the gold-winning Indian team in 2010.

Compiled by Shubhangini Arora