The Women's World Cup stopped to take a breath on Wednesday following an opening round of games that produced a little bit of everything.
Summary of World Cup qualifiers played across the world on Thursday
Novak Djokovic boosted his chances of finishing the season as world number one when he became the first player to retain his Paris Masters title with a 6-2, 6-3 win over big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in the final on Sunday.
Iran were banned from an Olympic football qualifying match against Jordan later that year after refusing to remove their hijabs before kick-off.
Video assistant referees (VARs) will be used at the World Cup for the first time in this year's finals in Russia, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Friday, and teams will be allowed a fourth substitute in matches that go to extra-time.
Germany scored six goals in the second half to rout Russia 7-1 in the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup.
A delicate stoppage time winner from Wang Lisi lifted China to a 1-0 victory.
Here's a glimpse of all that happened around the world last week.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay today said that the legendary Dhyan Chand should be bestowed with the Bharat Ratna as soon as possible.
HR guru Mayank Rautela provides a three-point plan.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
Mexico striker Javier Hernandez had surgery on a fractured collarbone and will be out for four weeks missing the Gold Cup, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said.
At their medal ceremony, the players team sang the Russian anthem over the sound of the Olympic anthem at the Gangneung Hockey Centre despite being barred from having their flag raised or anthem played.
Rediff.com gives you a quick flashback, in pictures of the month gone by...
Vettel, who won all four of his world championships with Red Bull, has gone 16 races without a victory and made some costly errors, while Hamilton has won 14 of the last 20.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The football fans in Kochi will get a chance to witness a fascinating contest between Brazilian attacking flare and Spanish 'tiki-taka' possession football in what could be a final before the final of this tournament.
The 2026 soccer World Cup could be split between up to four countries, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday, announcing the organisation would encourage applications to co-host the tournament.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav returned to Lucknow on Monday night after a 6-day trip to an unknown destination with speculation rife that the CM was watching the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
As we prepare to cruise into the New Year, Rediff.com gives you a glance back, through photos, into all the sporting moments that made the last 12 months memorable.
Rafael Nadal to play for Spain in new Davis Cup Finals while World No 1 Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, have already said they would support the ATP Cup -- seen as a rival team event to the Davis Cup -- when it begins in Australia just a few weeks after the ITF's flagship event.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
England coach Mark Sampson said defender Laura Bassett would head home as a hero.
The Royal Box was packed with stars from the world of cricket, football, athletics and tennis. Take a look...
England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 in a second round Women's World Cup game.
Brazilian police began investigating allegations of corruption in its soccer industry on Thursday, prompted by the arrests of top officials at world soccer body FIFA in a US bribery probe.
'There are thousand ways to pressure Pakistan to make it behave.' 'Going to the ICJ was the worst possible option,' says Colonel Anil A Athale.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday.
America's chances of hosting the 2026 World Cup are not likely to be hurt by a US led corruption investigation that has ensnared key figures in FIFA, world soccer's governing body, analysts said on Thursday.
Some of the big moments of the sporting world from 2010-2019!
Argentina became the first ever side to come from three goals down to avoid defeat in a women's World Cup match.
Test cricket returned to Pakistan for the first time in ten years with the Sri Lankan team playing two matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi, with the hosts winning the second match to clinch the series 1-0 after the rain-curtailed first game ended in a draw.
Cristiano Ronaldo struck the winning goal to help Real Madrid become European champions, while Marin Cilic made an impressive comeback after a ban to claim the US Open crown in September. Also, Germany defeated Argentina to become football world champions. Rediff.com brings you the last instalment of the Best Sports Photos of the Year!
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday.
It was an extraordinary turnaround for an Olympics that was expected to be held without major issues by a country known for public safety and economic stability. It also revealed a fatal miscalculation by Japanese and IOC officials of public sentiment at a time of heightened fears over the coronavirus.
Novak Djokovic bolstered his hopes of holding on to his World No 1 status until the end of the season with a 6-2, 6-3 defeat of big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic to retain the Paris Masters title on Sunday.
- 'FIFA should have a leader with a lot of experience' -'Prince Ali is a good man, I work with him, I was a main supporter in the past, he is like my brother. He has a good future but I think he was in a little bit of a hurry. I think he needed to take the trust of Asia first before he earned the trust of the international community'
