Top Sporting Moments of 2011

The year 2011 witnessed quite a few sporting success and surprises... Here are some of the top sporting moments in the year 201, according to me.

1. India's World Cup Cricket Triumph

 

Wallpaper of India's World Cup 2011 Victory

First and foremost being India winning the Cricket World Cup 2011 beating Sri Lanka in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on 2nd April, 2011. This was India's second World Cup after Kapil Dev's team led India to their first World Cup way back in 1983. Sachin Tendulkar achieved his World cup dream after six attempts playing in World Cups.


2. New Zealand's All Black Team winning Rugby World Cup

 

All Blacks winning Rugby World Cup  after 24 years

The New Zealand men's national rugby union team - the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup beating France 8-7 to lift the Rugby World Cup for the second time in Auckland on October 23rd 2011. The first time they won was way back in 1987 which was the inaugural Rugby World Cup.


3. Tennis World Number One Novak Djokovic showing his supremacy in 2011

 

2011 - The Year of Djoker in Tennis

The world no. One Serbian Novak Djokovic dominated this tennis season with a 70-6 win-loss record, which saw the Serbian winning 10 ATP titles, including three of the four Grand Slams - Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. His 43-game unbeaten streak from the start of the season was an ATP tour record, surpassing John McEnroe's 42-game mark in 1982.
He had a phenominal 2011 where both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal lost their ground to this Serbian star.


4. Formula One Champion Sebastian Vettel's amazing 2011 season

 

Sebastian Vettel winning successive Formula One Championship for Red Bull

German Formula One star Sebastian Vettel claiming his second successive Formula One Championship representing the Red Bull Racing team. It was a strong dominant season of 2011 for Sebastian Vettel as claimed a record 15 pole positions, eclipsing Nigel Mansell's 1992 record. Vettel won 11 races out of the 19 F1 Grand Prix races. He also finished on the podium in 18 of the 19 races he completed. The young German (just 24 years old) is the fast on the rise to be an efficient successor of Michael Schumacher.


5. Virender Sehwag scoring double century (219) surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 200 in ODI Cricket

 

Virender Sehwag scoring second double century in One Day International Cricket

Virender Sehwag of India scored a double century against West Indies to become the second batsman in the world, after the Maestro Sachin Tendulkar, to score a double-ton in the 50-over game.
The Nawab of Najafgadh became the highest scorer in an ODI innings with 219 runs.


6. French Open Grand slam champion Li Na of China becoming Asia's first singles Grand Slam winner 

 

China's Li Na wining French Open and becoming Asia's first singles grand slam winner

Asia's first singles grand slam winner Li Na - the French Open Women's Champion in 2011. China's Li Na becomes Asia's first-ever Grand Slam title champion when she beat the Italian Francesca Schiavone to win the women's title at Roland Garros.


7. England Cricket Team lifting Ashes beating Australia 3-1 in Australia

 

English Cricket Team winning Ashes in Australia

The England cricket team winning the Ashes series 3-1 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 7, 2011. England claimed their a first series triumph in Australia in nearly a quarter of a century. The English team dominated the tests in 2011 and ended the year as Number one test team deservingly.


There were many more such sporting moments.. to name a few.. 
1. Lionel Messi taking Barcelona to the 2011 UEFA Champions League title beating Manchester United 3-1
2. New Zealand cricket test team beating Australia in a test match in Australian soil after 26 long years
3. Samantha Stosur winning the US Open Grand Slam 2011 title and thus becoming the first Australian woman to win a Grand Slam since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.
4. The Czech tennis star Petra Kvitova winning her first Grand Slam title in the form of Wimbledon 2011. This year saw three new women's grand slam tennis winners.


Wish You All A Happy New Year 2012. Hope the year 2012 will bring many more such sporting moments...

When Federer met Sachin - In Pictures

Last month's Wimbledon had one special moment... a rare moment to see two sports legends meeting...
Yes, I'm talking about the meeting between the Indian cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar and tennis superstar Roger Federer at Wimbledon on 25th June, 2011.

Here are some of the pictures that I collected from various internet sources of this rare meeting between two legends - Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and tennis legend Roger Federer - two of my favourite sportstars.
I was so happy seeing them together that I've got one of these pictures as my desktop wallpaper :)

 

Sachin Tendulkar meets Tennis star Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2011

The Indian legend who is regular at the Wimbledon Championships every year, shared a few thoughts with the Swiss master Roger Federer during their brief meet on Day 6 of the Championships in London.
Later, Sachin went to watch Federer, who defeated Argentina's David Nalbandian in their third round match.

 

Indian cricket little master Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon with Roger Federer

 

 Sachin Tendulkar in an animated conversation with Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2011

Federer has confessed in the past that he loves playing cricket during his spare time (wow tht must be to please Sachin :D)

"I like playing cricket for enjoyment, but I don't think I could have made a living out of it", Federer quoted.

Tendulkar's love for tennis is also common knowledge to everyone and he makes it a point to be at Wimbledon every year. The little master was a big fan of John McEnroe and used to wear a head band like the American. He had also revealed that he loves to play tennis whenever he gets the time.

"For me as a kid the choice was between tennis and cricket and I feel that I didn't make a bad choice. Though, I still love tennis and watch it whenever I get time", Sachin said.

 

Cricket star Sachin Tendulkar involved in an animated talk with tennis player Roger Federer on Day Six of the Wimbledon Tennis on June 25, 2011 in London, England

 

Roger Federer and Sachin Tendulkar pose for the shutter bugs at Wimbledon 2011

 

Sachin Tendulkar tweets about meeting Roger Federer at Wimbledon Royal Box

Tendulkar was also spotted in the Royal box on Centre Court with his wife Anjali, as he witnessed the match between Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova and world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki. He watched the world No 1 effortlessly outclass the Australian 6-3, 6-2 in their third round encounter.
Sachin also met the women's tennis legend and former multiple Wimbledon women's champion Martina Navratilova.

 

Sachin Tendulkar in a conversation with former women's tennis legend Martina Navratilova during Wimbledon 2011

 

Sachin Tendulkar with wife Anjali at the Wimbledon Royal box watching Wimbledon action with former women's tennis icon Martina Navratilova (in the back)

Hope these legends keep playing and give us many more glorious victories :)

Dhoni celebrates 29th birthday with wife Sakshi

Yesterday, Dhoni celebrated his 29th Birthday just 3 days after his marriage to his childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat.
He was supposed to have his wedding reception or atleast that was the speculation done by the media... But, he surprised everyone by having a quite birthday celebrations with his family and friends in Ranchi.

Dhoni and his newly wed wife Sakshi wave at the fans in Ranchi. Dhoni was celebrating his 29th Birthday

Dhoni and wife Sakshi later left for Kolkata to meet Sakshi's family and some of Dhoni's friends later on Thursday...

Dhoni and wife Sakshi Singh Rawat at the Kolkata airport couple of days after their marriage

Wedding Pictures : Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni weds childhood friend Sakshi

Its all over the internet and television in India right now...  The hottest coverage right now for the media...

Indian cricket captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni married Kolkata girl Sakshi Singh Rawat on July 4 in Dehradun. With this Sakshi becomes a famous WAGs of Indian cricketers...

Here are some of the pictures of Dhoni and his new bride Sakshi Singh Rawat.. 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sakshi Singh Rawat - The Hottest New Couple in India

Dhoni, one of India's most successful captains, got married just three days before his 29th birthday. The marriage ceremony was held according to Kumaoni customs.

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat got married in Dehradun on 4th July 2010

The couple is expected to host a reception soon before the new couple Dhoni and Sakshi leave for New Zealand for their honeymoon.

Indian cricket captain cool Dhoni with Sakshi during their wedding ceremony

Bollywood star and Dhoni's friend John Abraham (who happens to be a biker fan like Dhoni) also attended his wedding (minus Bipasha Basu though who wished Dhoni via twitter)

Dhoni's good friend John Abraham attended Dhoni and Sakshi's marriage

His close friends and fellow cricketers RP Singh, Rohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina were all present at the wedding.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his friends at his wedding...RP Singh and Rohit Sharma too are present at his wedding...

Lets Wish Dhoni and Sakshi a Happy Married Life :)

Gautam Gambhir - India's Cricketer of the Year 2009

Gambhir's exemplary performance in Tests and ODIs for India in the year 2009 has earned him two top awards this year...

First, the ICC's Award...

Gautam Gambhir - Test Cricketer of the Year 2009

And recently, the BCCI's Award....

Gautam Gambhir - Polly Umrigar Award for Cricketer of the Year 2009

Wishing him All the Best for more such awards and a wonderful career for our Indian team...