The year 2014 witnessed The FIFA World Cup, The Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and other major sporting events. There were cheers, tears and drama that unfolded on the football pitches, the cricket fields, the race tracks, and other sporting venues.
As another eventful year draws to a close, Rediff.com gives you a pictorial look back at the best and worst moments that shaped the sports stories this year.
Kenya's Denis Okoth (left) lands a punch on England's Samuel Maxwell during their men's Light Welterweight boxing fight at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 27. Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters
Athletes wait at the baton hand over in the Women's 4x400 metres relay final during day six of the 22nd European Athletics Championships at Stadium Letzigrund in Zurich on August 17. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The shoes of 2013 Boston Marathon bombing survivor J.P. Norden read 'Boston Strong' as he stands at the finish line on the one-year anniversary of the bombings in Boston, Massachusetts on April 15. J.P. and his brother Paul, also a bombing survivor, took part in the final portion of the 'Legs for Life Relay', joining family members and friends who walked the entire Marathon route to raise money for children needing prosthetic limbs. Photographs: Brian Snyder/Reuters
India's boxer L Sarita Devi gestures on the podium after refusing to accept the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon on October 1. Sarit apologised for her behaviour. But International Boxing Association (AIBA) did nor consider it and she was provisionally suspended later that month. Sarita Devi eventually accepted her medal on December 10. Photograph: PTI
Germany's Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi compete during the ice dance short dance program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, north of Tokyo on March 28. Photographs: Toru Hanai/Reuters
Caterham Formula One driver Giedo van der Garde of Netherlands crashes during the Japanese F1 Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit on October 13. Photographs: Issei Kato/Reuters
Robin van Persie of the Netherlands scores the team's first goal with a diving header against Spain in their 2014 FIFA World Cup opener in Salvador on June 13. Photograph: Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Four of five Olympic Rings are seen lit up during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics on February 7. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder to the referee, claiming he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez during their 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage match on June 24. Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters
Formula One team Williams’s Brazilian driver, Felipe Massa crashes in the first corner after the start of the German F1 Grand Prix at the Hockenheim racing circuit, July 20. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters