2014 was a great year for the world of sports. With the FIFA WORLD CUP in Brazil, The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, sports fans around the world looked forward to this year with great excitement and enthusiasm. As the year comes to a close, we can now look back and say that 2014 was a very exciting year for sports and we were glad to be a part of it.
FIFA WORLD CUP
The biggest international sporting event of 2014 was the long awaited FIFA WORLD CUP in Brazil. It was one of the most talked about events, in general, on twitter and other forms of social media this year. This edition of the world cup, unlike the previous two editions, 2006 and 2010, lived up to its’ name, and gave fans around the world the excitement and entertainment they were looking forward to.
The big highlight of the tournament was the 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil by Germany. Advancing into the finals, Germany faced off against Argentina, another South American heavyweight, against whom, after a goalless first 90 minutes, Germany scored one goal in extra time that won them the title of World Champion.
ICC World Twenty20
It was a matter of great honour for the people of Bangladesh when the ICC declared Bangladesh as the hosts of the 2014 T20 world cup back in 2010. The next 3 years, after that announcement by the ICC, saw enthusiastic preparations being made for the T20 world cup in the country. It included the increase of hotels and accommodation for players, coaching staff and tourists as well as the increase in number of stadiums in addition to the already existing ones.
So after 3 years of preparations, the T20 world cup was held in Bangladesh in 2014 in 3 different cities, namely, Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong. The hosts failed to advance beyond the group stages of the super 10, finishing bottom of the group, and ultimately, the final was played at Mirpur between Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lanka won that match by 6 wickets to claim themselves the title of T20 World Champions.
REAL MADRID ACHIEVES LA DECIMA
The last time Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League was more than a decade ago back in 2002. It was the 9th time in their history that they won the tournament. So the wait for LA DECIMA – THE 10TH -was a long and patient one for Real Madrid fans around the world, but the day did finally arrive, when Real Madrid faced their city rivals Athletico de Madrid in the final of the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE in 2014. Real won the game 4-1 in extra time, achieving what seemed to be impossible for any club to achieve – 10 UCL titles.
THE DJOKER PREVAILS
Novak Djokovic (THE DJOKER as he is known) showed astounding improvements in his game the last few years, which has taken him to the top of the men’s ranking in the world of tennis, which he still holds now, after a triumphant run in 2014. He finished the year with a 61-8 win-loss record as well as the winner's title of the Grand Slams, the Australian Open and the Wimbledon Championships.
Elsewhere Nadal sealed his 5th consecutive and 9th French open title, proving his clay court superiority to the rest of the tennis world.
Roger Federer defied the tolls of age and showed what proved to be a resurrection of his old game. At the age of 33, he stands at no. 2 in the men’s world rankings, with a DAVIS CUP, five titles (including 2 masters 1000s) and he came very close to winning another Wimbledon title where he eventually got overpowered by The DJoker. But with 17 career Grand Slams and finally a Davis Cup to add to that, Roger Federer stands tall.
ROHIT SHARMA’S RECORD BREAKING INNINGS
Rohit Sharma, the 27-year old Indian batsman inscribed his name in the history books by scoring an undefeated 264 against Sri Lanka early on November this year. This was the highest individual innings scored by any batsman in a One Day International (ODI) match which beat Tendulkar’s 200, and after playing this wonderful innings, Sharma became the only player in ODI history to score more than double century. A host of other records has also been broken at the same time, like that of most runs scored from fours and most runs scored from sixes etc.
THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF PHIL HUGHES
The Australian opening batsman, Philip Hughes, died two days after being hit in the neck by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match. He fell unconscious as soon as the bouncer hit him and was immediately taken into hospital. He was in a state of induced coma for two days in the hospital, before his premature death, three days before his 26th birthday.
ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB ENDS TROPHY-LESS RUN
After a long hard run without having won a trophy, 9 years to be exact, Arsenal Football Club finally won their long awaited trophy when they beat Hull City in 3-2 in the FA Cup final and that ended their trophy-less drought.
CRISTIANO RONALDO WINS BALLON D’OR
The Portuguese star who plays for Real Madrid C.F has finally won his 2nd Ballon D’or title this year after losing 4 years in a row to Lionel Messi.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS WINS NBA
San Antonio Spurs defeated Lebron James’ Miami Heat to 4-1 in a 7-game series, which clinched the spurs for their first NBA title since 2007 and the 5th in their history. Kawhi Leonard was named as the Final’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2014
The 2014 Commonwealth Games was held in Glasgow, Scotland. The games came back to this country after 28 years, the first time was in 1986 in Edinburgh. The tournament featured 4950 athletes from 71 nations, competing in 18 different sports. England finished the top of the medal charts, for the first time since 1986, the last time it was held in Scotland.
Abdullah Hel Baki from Bangladesh won the silver medal for Bangladesh in the 10-metre air rifle event in this Commonwealth Games.
XXII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
The 2014 Winter Olympics was held in Sochi, Russia. A total of 98 events, in 15 winter sports disciplines, was held during the Games. A number of new competitions—a total of 12 accounting for gender—were introduces in this year’s Games. The medal charts were topped by Russia, trailed by Norway, Canada and the United States.
We can’t wait to see what 2015 will bring in the International Sports arena. This is Champ21.com wishing Happy New Year to everyone!