Year of Sport - 2010
The passing year 2010 will be known for several mega sporting events.
|
Spain, who lifted the World Cup trophy on July 11 |
The year 2010 has been the witness of various international sports,
including FIFA World Cup 2010, 19th Commonwealth Games 2010, 16th Asian
Games 2010, Hockey World Cup and ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
As the people are all set to say goodbye to 2010 and ready to welcome
prosperous New Year 2011, here are some highlights from the sporting
world.
FIFA World Cup
South Africa hosted a very successful FIFA World Cup in the year
2010. South Africa became the first African country to host the mega
event. Beating all the predictions, Spain and Netherlands managed to
enter the Football World Cup final but it was Spain who clinched the
coveted trophy by 1-0.
Pipping all the four favourites, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and
Italy, Spain and Netherland set the stage for Championship. Finally, it
was Spain, who lifted the World Cup trophy on July 11. Spain's striker
Andres Iniesta was declared Man of the Match.
Attractions of FIFA World Cup 2010:
|
Wedish Therese Islas Helgesson (R) vies with Norwegian Tonje
Larsen (C) and Heidi Loke (L) during their 9th Women’s
Handball European Championships final match in MCH Arena of
Herning on December 19, 2010. Norway won the gold medal by
25-20. AFP
|
The star predictor of the FIFA World Cup 2010 was Octopus Paul Baba,
who hogged limelight for its correct predictions. He earned huge fans
across the world while predicting accurate results of Germany's six
matches. Octopus Paul also correctly predicted the winner of FIFA World
Cup 2010. However, Paul the Octopus died on October 26, 2010.
Losers of the FIFA World Cup 2010:
|
AEK’s Ismael Blanco fights for the ball with Zenit’s Nicolas
Lombarts during their Europa League football game at the
Athens Olympic stadium. AFP |
On July 5, Brazilian coach Dunga and his entire staff was sacked by
the Brazilian Football Federation after the team's quarter-final exit
from the World Cup. Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed Dunga's successor
immediately.
July 28: Argentina coach and former football legend Diego Maradona
was booted out after Lionel Messi-led Argentina was eliminated from the
World Cup 2010 with a humiliating 4-0 loss to Germany in the
quarterfinals.
Men's Hockey World Cup in India
India hosted the Hockey World Cup 2010 in New Delhi. However, the
host failed to reach the final but they defeated arch rival Pakistan
4-1. Australia won the title for the second time after defeating Germany
2-1 in the final on March 13.
Commonwealth Games New Delhi
After topsy-turvy preparation works of CWG 2010, the entire world
hailed India for holding a successful international mega event. Despite
of being marred by several corruption charges, CWG opening and closing
ceremony was enough reply to the World that the New Delhi is capable
enough to hold the Olympics. The 19th Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi got
the ultimate pat on the back from the Commonwealth Games Federation
Chief Michael Fennell, who declared the mega-event as "truly
exceptional".
The Commonwealth Games 2010 is also important for India as far as
medals are concerned. India became 4th CGA to win 100 medals in one
Games.
|
Murali the best
The other achievement from the cricket filed was Sri Lankan
Spin Wizard Muttaiah Murlithrana, who bided adieu to Test
cricket after claiming 800th Test wicket. He achieved the
milestone against India in Galle Test. |
The final medal tally was led by Australia. The host nation India
gave its strongest performance yet to emerge second, while England
placed third.
Asian Games Guangzhou, China
The host country China dominated the 16th Asian Games aka Asiad 2010
with winning 416 medals alone. India finished the Asian games at six
place in the medal tally with 64 medals.
India's performance in Guangzhou pales in comparison with China, but
by winning 64 medals in a variety of events with varying degrees off
success, the athletes have proved that country is headed in right
direction for the 2012 London Olympics.
India's 14-Gold haul at the Asiad was crucial, India managed to won
Gold in rowing (Bajrang Lal), Five Gold in athletics, Billiards, Boxing
and Shooting.
India's Preeja Sreedharan-Kavita Raut won Gold in Women's 10, 000 m
final. Another sprinter Sudha Singh claimed Gold in 3000 m run. AC
Ashwani claimed gold in women's 400 m hurdles event while Joseph Abraham
won Gold in Men's 400 me hurdle.
Cricket
|
Jean Pascal (R) lands a punch into Bernard Hopkins during the WBC Light
Heavyweight World Championship at the Pepsi Coliseum in
Quebec City, December 18, 2010. TOPSHOTS AFP
|
US gold medallist Rebecca Soni competes in the women’s 200m
breaststroke at the 10th FINA World Short Course Swimming
Championships in Dubai on December 19, 2010. Soni came first
in 2:16.39. AFP |
Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar achieved an impossible
milestone on February 24, 2010. Tendulkar became the first batsman to
score double hundred in an ODI cricket. He achieved this feet against
strong side of South Africa at Gwalior. He scored unbeaten 200 runs
(147ball 25x4 3x6)) in the match. Tendulkar's this innings was also got
place in Time magazine's top 10 Special Sports moments. Tendulkar also
crossed the 14, 000 runs in Test cricket. He became the first batsmen in
the history of Cricket to cross the Mount Everest of runs. Tendulkar
also became the first batsman for scoring most 1,000 Test runs in a
calendar year. He has done it Six times - 2010 (1543*), 2008 (1063),
2002 (1392 runs), 1999 (1088 runs), 2001 (1003 runs) and 1997 (1000
runs).
Tendulkar received ICC cricketer of the year 2010- Highest award in
the ICC listings. Tendulkar was also in news for a book which has
signature of former's blood. However, the legendary cricketer refuted
the news. The book 'Tendulkar Opus' is one of the most costly
biographies. It weighs 40 kgs.
|
