Athletics in 2019: Doping, over-age controversies hog limelight; injuries hamper Neeraj, Hima

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.

Amid the many disappointments, Dutee Chand scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to clinch a gold medal at the World University Games, winning the 100m event. The country also booked 2020 Olympic Games berths in mixed 4x400m relay and men's 3000m steeplechase event (Avinash Sable).

In 2018, India watched with joy, the transformation of Chopra into a world-class javelin thrower as he grew in maturity after the 2016 world junior record to clinch both the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals.

But the 22-year-old from a village near Panipat injured himself during training in Patiala and underwent surgery on his right elbow in May this yea. As a result, he remained on the sidelines and could not defend his ...