Sports in review 2018: Pictures of the year
Updated 07:58, 02-Jan-2019
Li Jing
["china"]
China's Wu Dajing wins the men's 500 meters short track speed skating final at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, setting a world record time of 39.584 seconds and claiming the first gold medal of the Games for Team China in PyeongChang, South Korea, February 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

China's Wu Dajing wins the men's 500 meters short track speed skating final at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, setting a world record time of 39.584 seconds and claiming the first gold medal of the Games for Team China in PyeongChang, South Korea, February 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

DPRK cheerleaders attend the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, South Korea, February 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

DPRK cheerleaders attend the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, South Korea, February 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

A ballerina watches the broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between Russia and Croatia at the Mikhailovsky Theater in Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

A ballerina watches the broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between Russia and Croatia at the Mikhailovsky Theater in Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

France's forward Kylian Mbappe kisses the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy after winning the World Cup title in Moscow, Russia, July 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

France's forward Kylian Mbappe kisses the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy after winning the World Cup title in Moscow, Russia, July 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

China's Su Bingtian competes in the semifinal of the men's 100 meters athletics event during the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

China's Su Bingtian competes in the semifinal of the men's 100 meters athletics event during the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

McLaren's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso crashes during the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium, August 26, 2018. Former world champion Alonso was launched into air but miraculously escaped unhurt. /VCG Photo

McLaren's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso crashes during the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium, August 26, 2018. Former world champion Alonso was launched into air but miraculously escaped unhurt. /VCG Photo

China's men's and women's basketball teams pose for a photograph with former Chinese and NBA player Yao Ming (center-bottom) after the victory ceremonies at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 1, 2018. China became the first country to bag all four basketball gold medals at the games. /VCG Photo

China's men's and women's basketball teams pose for a photograph with former Chinese and NBA player Yao Ming (center-bottom) after the victory ceremonies at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 1, 2018. China became the first country to bag all four basketball gold medals at the games. /VCG Photo

Serena Williams of the U.S. argues with umpire Carlos Ramos after her defeat in the Women's Singles finals match to Naomi Osaka of Japan during 2018 U.S. Open in New York, September 8, 2018. Naomi Osaka becomes the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title. /VCG Photo

Serena Williams of the U.S. argues with umpire Carlos Ramos after her defeat in the Women's Singles finals match to Naomi Osaka of Japan during 2018 U.S. Open in New York, September 8, 2018. Naomi Osaka becomes the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title. /VCG Photo

Marcello Lippi, head coach of Chinese men's national soccer team, stands in rain during a preparation game in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, October 15, 2018. Lippi is widely expected to leave China after the upcoming AFC Asian Games by the end of January 2019. /VCG Photo

Marcello Lippi, head coach of Chinese men's national soccer team, stands in rain during a preparation game in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, October 15, 2018. Lippi is widely expected to leave China after the upcoming AFC Asian Games by the end of January 2019. /VCG Photo

Team Invictus Gaming of China plays against team G2 Esports of Europe during the semifinal of 2018 The League of Legends (LOL) World Championship in Gwangju, South Korea, October 27, 2018. IG club later claimed Chinese mainland's first world title in the e-sport game. /VCG Photo

Team Invictus Gaming of China plays against team G2 Esports of Europe during the semifinal of 2018 The League of Legends (LOL) World Championship in Gwangju, South Korea, October 27, 2018. IG club later claimed Chinese mainland's first world title in the e-sport game. /VCG Photo

Britain's Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his Mercedes team after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, November 25, 2018. Hamilton has equaled late 1950s Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio with five F1 world championship title, with only seven-time champion Michael Schumacher ahead of them. /VCG Photo

Britain's Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his Mercedes team after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, November 25, 2018. Hamilton has equaled late 1950s Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio with five F1 world championship title, with only seven-time champion Michael Schumacher ahead of them. /VCG Photo

China's midfielder Wang Shuang receives the AFC Women's Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards 2018 in Muscat, Oman, November 28. /VCG Photo

China's midfielder Wang Shuang receives the AFC Women's Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards 2018 in Muscat, Oman, November 28. /VCG Photo

Chinese spiker Zhu Ting with VakifBank Istanbul wins the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship title for the second straight year, in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, December 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Chinese spiker Zhu Ting with VakifBank Istanbul wins the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship title for the second straight year, in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, December 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

China break Asian record to win women's 4x200 meter freestyle relay during the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25M) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, December 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

China break Asian record to win women's 4x200 meter freestyle relay during the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25M) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, December 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Japan's 15-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto hits a return in the men's singles table tennis final match against China's Lin Gaoyuan at the 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon, South Korea, December 16, 2018. The world No. 5 has become the youngest World Tour Grand Finals champion in table tennis history. /VCG Photo

Japan's 15-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto hits a return in the men's singles table tennis final match against China's Lin Gaoyuan at the 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon, South Korea, December 16, 2018. The world No. 5 has become the youngest World Tour Grand Finals champion in table tennis history. /VCG Photo