In a year packed with historic World Cup events and incredible achievements, sport also excelled throughout 2023 in giving us some more unlikely moments of entertainment. Settle in as we guide you through our review of the amazing world of sport.
The badminton epic
Thinaah Muralitharan and Pearly Tan survived a 211-shot marathon rally against Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto at the BWF Malaysia Masters in May. After a jaw-dropping showcase of athleticism and perseverance for more than three minutes, Tan eventually produced a well-disguised drop shot winner, bringing an incredulous crowd to their feet.
The Italian lob
In February, SC Mazarese’s captain Gioacchino Giardina scored for his team in a record-breaking 3.81 seconds. The fifth-tier footballer’s effort became the fastest goal in Italian football history, having been scored straight from kick-off.
Returning with interest
George Slaney scored from beyond the halfway line for Greenwich Challenge Vets as he returned the opposing goalkeeper’s kick during a Sunday league game in March against Greenwich Battle Cruisers. A club spokesperson for the Cruisers said they record all their games on a mobile phone “as we can’t afford a camera”, adding that it is “nice for the lads to get to see their goals and highlights back”. Even if sometimes the highlights include an amazing goal for the opposition. The game ended 2-2.
Back-heeled brilliance
Chells Rovers’ Charlie Unwin finished in stunning fashion during their Sunday League game against The Cock FC, putting away a cross into the box with a novel, near-roundhouse back-heel. The No 17 sparked delirious celebrations after hitting the back of the net, with his goal helping Chells beat The Cock 5-4.
Hitting the spot
A San Jose Earthquakes fan upstaged his team and left the crowd stunned with a half-time feat at their June game against Portland Timbers. Four supporters were given the challenge of kicking a ball from the penalty area to as close to the centre of the pitch as they could. The first was long, the second was well right of the mark, and the third agonisingly short and to the left. The fourth kick however, was a masterclass in precision, with the ball stopping dead on the mark.
Another year, another pitch-invading dog
A September match in Mexico’s second division between Alebrijes Oaxaca and Dorados had to be stopped after a dog ran on the pitch and stole the ball. Alebrijes were winning 4-0 when the dog entered the field in the final minutes. The match was eventually finished, with Alebrijes posting on social media to confirm the safety of the dog, calling them “our new best friend”.
Five-a-side follies
Players in a five-a-side football match in Turkey were inexplicably unable to put the ball away, despite their opponents falling over and leaving them clear access to the goal. After the first, utterly calamitous string of misses, players continued to find the net elusive, even from almost on the goalline.
Feat of fielding … with feet
A quick-thinking fielder superbly captured a wicket during a local cricket game in Belagavi, India. Kiran Tarlekar initially caught the ball but, realising he was about to fall out of the boundary lines and gift his opponents six runs, threw it up and acrobatically kicked it back over the line for a fellow fielder to complete the catch.
Curling class
In April, Sweden’s Niklas Edin, the six-time world men’s curling champion skip, made what was called “the greatest shot in curling history” at the World Men’s Curling Championship. Sweden, trailing by two points to Norway in the 10th end, needed two points with their last shot to force an extra end. His attempt, made with huge amounts of spin on the stone, was an unusual sight at the top level and successfully levelled the scores by the finest of margins.
Speedy swings
Last month Luke Willett broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest nine holes of golf, completing it in just 20 minutes and 12.47 seconds. The British speed golf champion finished the nine holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai using just three clubs: a 3 wood, 6 iron and pitching wedge. After his achievement, Willet said: “This is my life. I run really, really fast around golf courses and hopefully create great history along the way.”
Implausible pool
Back in January, Chris Melling, the “Magician”, beat Gary Clarke in eye-popping fashion to qualify for the last 16 of the 2023 Ultimate Pool Champions League. Having snookered himself after missing a cannon into the 8 ball, Melling banked his final red off three cushions to win the match.
A head for heights
In April, the British BMX rider Kriss Kyle performed tricks on a floating skatepark more than 2,000 feet (610 metres) above the ground. Kyle rode around a custom-made bowl suspended by a hot air balloon in a world-first stunt called Don’t Look Down. The balloon set off from Charlton Park Estate in Wiltshire and flew about 30 miles over the Cotswolds before touching down.
Ice-cool juggling
Joe Cronquist, otherwise known as the “Teton Juggler”, achieved the feat of continuing to juggle while somersaulting on a ski slope. Cronquist skis in the Teton valley with plans to be a ski showman at the resorts; entertaining not only at lift lines and events, but also on the slopes by showing off his juggling skills.
Rubik’s Cube record
In June, “speedcubing” fans were reduced to tears after a prestigious and longstanding record was broken by the US champion cuber Max Park, who took just 3.13 seconds to solve a 3x3x3 puzzle. Park smashed the previous benchmark of 3.47 seconds set by China’s Yusheng Du in 2018 to enter the Guinness Book of World Records at the Pride in Long Beach 2023 event in California. As the magnitude of his feat became clear, cheers erupted.
Hitting the squall
In May, Cambodia’s Bou Samnang completed the women’s 5,000m at the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh despite being engulfed by a heavy rainstorm. Samnang was still out on the track almost six minutes after the winner had crossed the finish line when rain began pounding down on her. The athlete was overcome by emotion and thanked the smattering of supporters who had stayed to cheer her on. She finished in last place with a time of 22mins, 54.22 secs.
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