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Top 20 Sports Stories in 2024: Countdown from 5-1
In an action-packed year, we express our gratitude to you, our readers, for making these SportsLook reports our top 20 sports stories in 2024.
With a Japan-focused mission, our reporting team covered the wide world of sports in 2024. From start to finish, chronicling Team Japan's 45-medal haul at the Paris Olympics from half a world away was our biggest, most challenging project of the year.
Indeed, it was also an outstanding year for Shohei Ohtani, the first member of MLB's 50-50 club. The World Series-winning superstar received prominent news coverage on SportsLook in 2024.
But there was much more, an abundant variety of sports news, features and commentary highlighting the achievements and noteworthy stories of Japan's athletes (fan favorites like boxer Naoya Inoue and figure skater Kaori Sakamoto), teams, leagues and major competitions. As always, we also kept close tabs on Japanese athletes competing overseas.
Without further ado, we're pleased to report that our top 20 sports stories of the year showcased a big mixture of topics ― from highly popular sumo news to figure skating along with boxing, baseball, tennis, horse racing and basketball.
We express our gratitude to you, our readers, for making these the top 5-1 sports stories in 2024.
5. Superstar Naoya Inoue to Fight Luis Nery at Tokyo Dome on May 6
By Ed Odeven
Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue headlines the first pro boxing event at Tokyo Dome since 1990. Three more title fights are on the card.
4. Predictions 2024: Questions Aplenty as Sumo Embarks on a New Year
Terunofuji, Kirishima and Atamifuji are just three of the sumo grapplers who will be in the spotlight when the 15-day New Year Basho kicks off on January 14.
3. Terunofuji Beats Kotonowaka in a Playoff to Win New Year Basho and Ninth Emperor's Cup
With a spectacular comeback at the New Year Basho, grand champion Terunofuji proved to his doubters that he is still capable of dominating sumo.
2. Heading into the Spring Basho, Terunofuji Has His Eye on the Prize
The lone yokozuna will be bidding for his 10th Emperor's Cup at the Spring Basho, but he will have to contend with new ozeki Kotonowaka.
1. Takerufuji is the First Makuuchi Division Debutant Winner in 110 Years
By Ed Odeven
In the Spring Basho, Takerufuji gutted out a Day 15 win over Gonoyama to capture his first Emperor's Cup and match Ryogoku's 110-year-old feat.
Follow our series on 2024's Top 20 Sports Stories to see if your favorite story made the list.
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Author: SportsLook