Hyderabad: The world is approaching the end of 2019, and it is time to look back at some of the major happenings in the world of sports that defined the year.
Tiger Woods
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods showed why he is still the best in the sport. On April 14, he won his first major title in 11 years. It was his 15th major and fifth Masters.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes powered England to their maiden World Cup victory. In the final against New Zealand, he scored 84 not out to earn England a tie, assisted by a bizarre incident when his willow was hit by a fielder's throw as he dived for a run, deflecting the ball for four overthrows. England won on tiebreak. Stokes was adjudged Man of the Match.
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer pushed themselves hard as they played out a dazzling heavyweight men's final at Wimbledon. The duo played a 4-hour, 57-minute final, the longest in Wimbledon history. Djokovic retained his title, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12.
Siya Kolisi
Siya Kolisi became South Africa's first black captain to lead the Springboks to Rugby World Cup victory in Yokohama. South Africa defeated England in the final.
Lewis Hamilton
F1 driver Lewis Hamilton clinched his sixth title at the US Grand Prix with two races left in the season. He ended the season with 11 victories in the 21 races to collect a third straight title. He is now just one world title behind the all-time mark of Michael Schumacher.
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn bid goodbye to her illustrious career by bagging yet another medal. The American speed queen said her body was too battered to continue her pursuit of Ingemar Stenmark's record of World Cup victories, but at the end of another injury-hit season, she was still quick enough at 34 to claim an eighth World Championship medal in the downhill in Are, Sweden.
Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe captained the United States and finished as joint top scorer at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Off the field, Rapinoe stood up to President Donald Trump which did not diminish the reception she received when the team returned home.
Eliud Kipchoge
On October 12, Eliud Kipchoge became the first person to complete a marathon in under two hours. After narrowly missing in 2017, he beat the symbolic mark by almost 20 seconds.
Liverpool
Liverpool won Champions League for the sixth time. They defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the final. The most memorable moment came at home at Anfield in the semi-final on May 1 when the Reds, trailing 3-0 from the first leg deficit, beat mighty Barcelona 4-0.
