It was meant to be the start of a triumphant march to the Tokyo 2020 Games: the torch relay would begin on Thursday in Fukushima, battered by the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster, as a poignant symbol of the "Recovery Olympics." But instead, it was like any other day for this prefecture in northeast Japan after the relay was scrapped following the Games' postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Switzerland's Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal continued his imperious run of form as he swept aside American Donald Young 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in the Wimbledon second round on Wednesday.
Here's how the England players celebrated their triumph:
Images from Day 2 of the French Open matches played at Roland Garros on Monday
Images from Day 11 of the 2020 French Open at Roland Garros, in Paris, on Wednesday.
Says he has given 'lesson of humanity'.
Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen lifted himself into a league of his own as he beat title rival Lewis Hamilton to pole position with a blinding lap in qualifying for the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard.
New Zealand vice-captain Tom Latham says losing the first day to rain will not change their approach to team selection.
Sri Lanka's visit prompted an optimistic Pakistan Cricket Board to invite Bangladesh for three T20Is and two Tests.
Indian badminton team's chief coach Pullela Gopichand, multiple world title holder cueist Pankaj Advani, former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay were some of the prominent names who made financial contribution in country's fight against coronavirus pandemic.
Rafael Nadal smoothly negotiated the potential stumbling block presented by Frenchman Benoit Paire on Monday, launching his bid for a 10th French Open trophy with a largely routine 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 win.
Steamrolls Dutch Rus to proceed to Round 2
It wasn't just the tennis that amazed audiences at Roland Garros.
Maria Sharapova's fellow players described her as inspirational and praised her fighting spirit following the Russian's announcement of her retirement from tennis at the age of 32 on Wednesday. The injury-plagued Sharapova, renowned for her never-say-die approach to the sport despite regularly being hampered by shoulder problems, won five Grand Slam titles.
Let battle commence, says Djokovic ahead of Nadal showdown
Rafael Nadal gave Russian teenager Andrey Rublev a tennis lesson on Wednesday, racing into the semi-finals of the US Open with a ruthless 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win that cleared the path for a possible showdown with rival Roger Federer.
SLC has already postponed all domestic cricket tournaments until further notice.
Doubles star Sania Mirza returned to the Indian Fed Cup team after four years as she was named in the five-member squad, which features country's top singles player Ankita Raina. Sania last played Fed Cup in 2016 and has been out of action since October 2017 as she took a two-year break to start a family.
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored a late opportunist double to secure a 3-0 home win for Chelsea over West Ham United in the English Premier League on Monday.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the Wimbledon Championships from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Tuesday.
Cricket Australia has told the ICC that it was unable to identify spectators who racially abused Indian players during the Sydney Test and the six who were ejected from the stands are not the real culprits, a media report stated on Tuesday.
Indian tennis icon Leander Paes on Monday said he is eyeing a French Open comeback this year in his quest to make a record eighth appearance at the Tokyo Olympics later this year.
Federer's hard-fought 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 10-7 victory over American John Isner put the Europeans just three points from their victory target and Zverev got them there with a 6-7 (3), 7-5, 10-7 win over Kevin Anderson.
Liam Plunkett whose wife is American, has not played for England since claiming three wickets in last year's World Cup final.
India's current and former cricketers took to social media to wish one of India's greatest captains and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who celebrated his 48th birthday on Wednesday.
Driven by having started out in life with "literally nothing", Novak Djokovic is determined to end up as the man with the most Grand Slam singles titles when he finally hangs up his racket. Djokovic said his hunger for success came from growing up in a time of conflict and privation.
Rajneesh Gupta brings you all the numbers of Rohit Sharma, the first player to score five tons in any series or tournament.
Bangladesh was scheduled to tour Sri Lanka next month for a three-Test series.
Standing in Czech Karolina Pliskova's way of achieving a first Grand Slam title is top seed Barty who is aiming to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time herself.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was named the 'Leading Cricketer in the World' in the 2020 edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, the publication said on Wednesday. The 28-year-old played a leading role in England's 50-over World Cup victory at home last year while his brilliant unbeaten knock of 135 helped the side to a thrilling one-wicket win over Australia in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.
Mohammed Hafeez was recalled to the Twenty20 squad for the home series against Bangladesh in January and has also been picked for Pakistan's tour of England in August-September.
India have all the resources but need to plan better going into the big-ticket ICC events, said former all-rounder Irfan Pathan who blamed an unsettled middle order for country's exit from last year's World Cup. India last won an ICC tournament in 2013, when they lifted the Champions Trophy under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
India's prolific opener Rohit Sharma believes Mahendra Singh Dhoni is "one of a kind", playing down recent comparisons of his leadership style and composure with the two-time World Cup-winning captain.
Canadian Lance Stroll celebrated an astonishing first Formula One pole position for Racing Point in a crazy weather-hit Turkish Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
Images from Day 6 at the French Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris, on Friday.
The 22-year-old from Haryana ended runners up in the Banja Luka ATP Challenger event on Sunday following a first round appearance at the US Open last month.
Liverpool are on course to shatter the English Premier League's record points haul and the way Juergen Klopp's side are churning out wins it would now be a surprise if they failed to do so. With 19 wins and a draw they are averaging 2.90 points per game, putting them on course for 110 from 38 games which would also be a record for Europe's top five leagues.
As hosts Russia and Saudia Arabia kick off the extravaganza, Harish Kotian and Ashish Narsale assemble a fascinating FIFA World Cup quiz.
Rafael Nadal left German qualifier Yannick Maden no hope as he booked his ticket for the third round of the French Open in ruthless fashion with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory.
