INDIA WINS TEST SERIES IN PAKISTAN: A jubilant Indian cricket team after their victory at the end of the third and final Test match against Pakistan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on April 16. India blazed to a historic Test series win over Pakistan by an innings and 131-runs on a cloudy fourth day of the third and final Test match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, sparking jubilation back home. It was India’s first Test series victory on Pakistani soil since the two countries began playing Test cricket in October 1952. (File Photo: AFP)

‘ASIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR:’ Arjun Atwal was named ‘Asian Player of the Year for 2003’ by Asian PGA Tour on Jan. 31 after winning the Order of Merit title.

PROFESSIONAL CRICKET IN U.S.: From left, Kamal Verma, owner of American ProCricket; Ajay Jadeja, former Test all-rounder, and Anshuman Gaekwad, formerng batsman, at the press conference in Manhattan, N.Y., on June 23 where ProCricket officials announced the launch of professional cricket in 8 U.S. cities. Eight teams were to play 24 regular season matches and the championship round across the nation.

VIJAY SINGH BECOMES WORLD NO. 1: Fiji’s Vijay Singh took over as World No. 1 from Tiger Woods of U.S. after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship at the Tournament Players Club of Boston on Sept. 6. Singh clinched his sixth PGA Tour title this season, the biggest haul of his career, and his 10th since the start of last year.

AD ON FAUJA SINGH: AN AD READING, “FAUJA SINGH: Age 93/Champion International Marathon Runner/Father of Six/Grandfather of 13… Vegetarian”…made its debut on the route of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sept. 26. Singh, 93, became the toast of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon by establishing one of the two world records that were set at the event.

SETHI-SHARMA UMPIRE AT U.S. Reetu Sethi-Sharma was the first Indian woman to qualify as an umpire at the U.S. Sharma, 25, who is a White Badge Umpire or Line Umpire, was chosen from among 1,500 contenders. She officiated in several matches in the U.S.

UBEROI SISTERS IN U.S. Indian American tennis player Shikha Uberoi put up a courageous fight before losing 5-7, 1-6 to Venus Williams in the second round of the U.S.in Flushing Meadows, NY. Neha Uberoi, Shikha’s sister, lost in the first round to fellow-American Cory Ann Avants 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6. In the doubles event, the sisters lost their first round match to Eleni Daniilidou of Greece and Katarina Srebotnik of Croatia 4-6 1-6.

UBEROI SISTERS IN U.S. Indian American tennis player Shikha Uberoi put up a courageous fight before losing 5-7, 1-6 to Venus Williams in the second round of the U.S.in Flushing Meadows, NY. Neha Uberoi, Shikha’s sister, lost in the first round to fellow-American Cory Ann Avants 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6. In the doubles event, the sisters lost their first round match to Eleni Daniilidou of Greece and Katarina Srebotnik of Croatia 4-6 1-6.

ITF TITLE FOR MIRZA: Sania Mirza won the $25,000 ITF title in the Nigerian capital Lagos on Oct. 17, beating top seed Chanclee Scheepers of South Africa. Mirza’s victory, which gave her the second successive ITF title, took her into the top 200 of the world rankings.

JUNIOR WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONS: P. Harikrishna, right, 18, became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to be crowned Junior World Chess Champion at Casino Hotel in Kochi, Kerala. The girls’ title was won by top seed Ekaterina Korbut of Russia, left, with 10.5/13.

ANIL KUMBLE REACHES 434TH MARK: Anil Kumble joined Kapil Dev as country’s top Test wicket-taker with his 434th wicket in second Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. on Dec. 2.

RAINA RAJVAIDYA IN U.S. SOFTBALL TEAM: Raina Rajvaidya was a member of the U.S.A. Athletes International Softball team which won the Aruba Softball Tournament, with Rajvaidya, playing 3B/2B for the team.

RANDHAWA WINS VOLVO MASTERS: Jyoti Randhawa won his only title this year at the Volvo Masters of Asia after defeating Australian Terry Pilkadaris at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, on Dec. 12.