As 2024 comes to a close, the global sporting fraternity pauses to reflect on a year that delivered extraordinary achievements, thrilling moments, and landmark events across disciplines. From cricketing glory and Olympic excellence to the electrifying circuits of Formula One and a new world champion in chess, 2024 has been a year that celebrated resilience, passion, and sheer talent. Here’s a comprehensive look at the year’s most memorable sporting highlights and what lies ahead in 2025.
Cricket: India’s glorious resurgence
India’s cricketing narrative in 2024 was one of redemption and triumph. Under the astute leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team clinched their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a heart-stopping final. This victory, breaking an 11-year ICC trophy drought and a 13-year wait for a World Cup title, marked a historic resurgence for Indian cricket on the global stage.
Meanwhile, spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket, marking the end of an era for India’s bowling attack. Indian women’s cricket also saw commendable performances, with the team continuing their ascent in bilateral series but failing to clinch the T20 World Cup title. Globally, cricket made strides in expanding its reach, with Major League Cricket in the USA captivating new audiences in non-traditional cricketing territories.
Football: Triumphs and joy
The UEFA Euro 2024, held in Germany, was a celebration of footballing excellence. Spain claimed its fourth UEFA European Championship title in history with a 2-1 victory over England in the final. In club football, Manchester City dominated the Premier League, while Real Madrid secured their 15th UEFA Champions League title, overcoming Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating final.
Women’s football continued its rapid rise, with Barcelona securing the Women’s Champions League crown. Meanwhile, Argentina claimed their second consecutive Copa América title, defeating Colombia 1-0 with a 112th-minute goal from Lautaro Martínez, despite Lionel Messi sustaining a second-half leg injury.
Lionel Messi lifts up the trophy as he celebrates winning the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. | Photo: AFP
Tennis: A youthful revolution
In 2024, the torchbearers of tennis’s next generation seized the spotlight. Carlos Alcaraz added the French Open and Wimbledon titles to his growing legacy, while Jannik Sinner claimed victories at the US Open and Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis during the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain, bringing an end to his extraordinary career. At the age of 38, he retired with 22 Grand Slam singles titles and a host of other achievements. In women’s tennis, Aryna Sabalenka reigned supreme with US Open and Australian Open titles, while Iga Świątek triumphed at the French Open. At the Australian Open, Rohan Bopanna, aged 43, won his first men’s doubles Grand Slam title, becoming the oldest player to achieve this feat.
Paris 2024 Olympics: A global showcase
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics captivated the world with its blend of tradition and innovation. Featuring 329 events across 32 sports, the Games introduced breakdancing and Formula Kite while celebrating the return of crowd favorites like surfing and skateboarding. India’s Paris 2024 Olympics campaign featured historic achievements and near-misses. Manu Bhaker made history with India’s first Olympic shooting medal, a bronze, followed by another in the mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. Swapnil Kusale added a third shooting medal, marking India’s best-ever performance in the sport. The men’s hockey team secured bronze, and Neeraj Chopra claimed silver in javelin. Aman Sehrawat became India’s youngest Olympic medallist with a wrestling bronze. However, India faced disappointment with six fourth-place finishes and Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification before her final.
India also won the Women’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2024, defeating China 1-0 in the final. This historic victory secured their third title, making them joint most successful with South Korea.
Paralympics 2024: India’s unprecedented success
India delivered its best-ever performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games, winning 29 medals, including 17 in athletics, 5 in badminton, 4 in shooting, 2 in archery, and 1 in judo. Notable achievements included Avani Lekhara’s double gold, Sumit Antil’s javelin title defense, Mariyappan Thangavelu’s historic streak, and Harvinder Singh’s groundbreaking archery gold.
Formula One: Verstappen’s continued reign
The 2024 Formula 1 season proved to be one of the most exciting in recent years. Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship but faced strong competition from Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, McLaren triumphed in the Constructors' Championship, securing their first title since 1998.
The Dutchman now equals legends Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel with four titles, behind only Juan Manuel Fangio (5), Lewis Hamilton (7), and Michael Schumacher (7).
Chess: A new king rises
Indian chess witnessed a watershed moment in 2024 as Dommaraju Gukesh became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at just 18, dethroning Ding Liren of China. Gukesh’s achievement, breaking Garry Kasparov’s decades-old record, heralded the advent of a golden era for Indian chess, with prodigies like R. Praggnanandhaa adding to the nation’s growing dominance.
Badminton: On the path to revival
At the Syed Modi India International Super 300 tournament in Lucknow, India’s PV Sindhu ended the title drought by defeating China’s Luo Yu Wu 21-14, 21-16, securing her third win at the event. Lakshya Sen clinched his maiden title with a dominant 21-6, 21-7 victory over Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh. The highlight was Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who made history as the first Indian women’s doubles pair to win the title, beating Li Jing Bao and Li Qian 21-18, 21-11. This success marked a turning point for Indian badminton in 2024.
Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also put up decent performances, winning the French Open and Thailand Open titles.
A year to remember and a bright future ahead
As we look back on the exhilarating year of 2024, it is clear that the sporting world was filled with unforgettable moments of triumph, resilience, and history-making performances. From India’s T20 glory to Gukesh's chess crowning, athletes across the globe displayed remarkable skill, determination, and passion. These milestones not only created new legacies but also set the stage for even greater achievements in the years to come.
In cricket, India’s resurgence under Rohit Sharma and their long-awaited T20 World Cup victory was a testament to the country’s resilience. In football, the Spanish national team’s triumph at Euro 2024, along with Real Madrid's record-breaking Champions League victory, added to the drama and excitement of the season. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner symbolized a youthful revolution in tennis, while Max Verstappen’s dominance in Formula 1 and Gukesh’s rise in chess signaled the ongoing evolution of sporting dynasties.
Meanwhile, India’s performance in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics was a testament to the country’s growing prominence in the global sporting arena, showcasing both breakthroughs and near-misses that fueled hope for the future. In badminton, India’s rising stars like PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen took center stage, further cementing the nation’s position as a powerhouse in the sport.
As we turn the page to 2025, the sporting world is full of excitement and anticipation. India’s continued rise in cricket, badminton, and shooting offers great promise, especially with the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the 2025 World Athletics Championships on the horizon. The nation is also expected to build on its Paralympic success, with a strong focus on nurturing young talents for future global competitions.
Tennis fans will continue to witness the next generation of stars battling it out on the courts, while in Formula 1, the competition to dethrone Max Verstappen promises thrilling rivalries. Football, too, will see the ongoing dominance of clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a host of emerging teams and talents looking to make their mark.
As always, the world will eagerly await the Olympics, where athletes from around the globe will push their limits to secure their places in history. With emerging nations rising in prominence, 2025 is set to be a year where sportsmanship, passion, and excellence will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
In sum, 2025 promises to build on the foundation of 2024’s successes, with a host of new stars, records, and unforgettable moments waiting to be written. Whether it’s in cricket, football, tennis, Formula 1, or chess, the world of sports will remain as exciting as ever. Fans and athletes alike have much to look forward to as they set their sights on new horizons and strive for even greater feats in the year ahead.
An exciting 2025
The year 2025 promises to be a thrilling one for sports fans, with an exciting lineup of events spanning across various disciplines. The year kicks off with the Australian Open (12th-26th January) in Melbourne, followed by the Six Nations (31st January – 15th March) in rugby, where the Northern Hemisphere’s best teams will clash. February brings the Invictus Games (8th-16th February) in Canada and the Super Bowl LIX (9th February) in New Orleans. The ICC Champions Trophy (19th February – 9th March) in Pakistan and the Tokyo Marathon (2nd March) offer major international competitions in cricket and athletics. Spring sees iconic events like the Grand National (5th April), The Masters (10th-13th April) in Augusta, and the Boston (21st April) and London (27th April) marathons. May and June feature high-profile events such as the Giro d’Italia (9th May – 1st June), the FA Cup Final (17th May), the UEFA Champions League Final (31st May) in Munich, and the French Open (25th May – 8th June). The summer brings the 24 Hours of Le Mans (14th-15th June), the Rugby World Cup (27th August – 27th September) in England, and the Tour de France (5th-27th July). As the year progresses, the UEFA Women’s Euro (2nd-27th July) and Wimbledon (30th June – 13th July) capture the attention, while the World Athletics Championships (13th-21st September) in Tokyo and the Ryder Cup (25th-28th September) in New York offer a sporting spectacle. October and November round off with the Chicago Marathon (12th October), the ATP Finals (9th-16th November) in Italy, and the WTA Finals (1st-8th November) in Saudi Arabia, alongside the Ashes Series (21st November – 8th January 2026). And to close the year, the Africa Cup of Nations (21st December – 18th January 2026) in Morocco and the PDC World Darts Championship (TBA) at Alexandra Palace offer more world-class action. It’s a year set to thrill sports fans worldwide.
Published: 20 Dec 2024, 04:10 pm IST
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.