11 Sports World Heroes So Brave They Make Rambo Look Like A Sissy!

Sport brings out the true character in an individual. Sport tests an individual's spirit, determination and passion. When a player gets injured, his/her career is in jeopardy. However, the beauty of sports lies in the moment when they are able to brave it out despite the injury. The moment not only inspires people, it gives them a story that can be passed on from one generation to the other. Here are 10 instances in sport where players have braved it out on the field despite suffering a serious injury.

1 Wahab Riaz bats with one hand in the second Test against Sri Lanka, June 2015

In the second Test in Colombo, Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz's left hand was broken when he tried to fend a bouncer. When he came out to bat, he batted with one hand and he gritted it out. He bowled six overs and made five despite the injury but he was never comfortable out in the middle. However, Wahab must be commended for fighting it out.

2 Cricket: Ellyse Perry vs West Indies, Mumbai 2012

If there is a symbol of toughness in modern cricket, it is Ellyse Perry, Australia's star bowler. In the ICC Women's World Cup of 2013, she played a role that redefined toughness and her exploits led many fans to call her superwoman.

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Perry had missed most of the tournament due to an ankle injury but she was selected to play in the final against West Indies in Mumbai. Perry smashed 25 off 18 balls. In her very first over, Perry struggled with her rhythm and was having problems in completing her run-up.  After three aborted run-ups, she delivered her first ball but it did not look good. It seemed that she would hobble out of the match but Perry summoned up strength and struck in the final ball of her first over. Buoyed by the wicket, she took two more wickets in her next two overs and bowled out her spell. She finished with figures of 10-3-19-3. Not only did she complete her bowling, she dived in the outfield and attempted to take difficult catches. Because of this spell, Australia had won the Women's World Cup for the sixth time.

3 Cricket: Graeme Smith vs Australia,  Sydney 2009

South Africa were enjoying the best time of their lives. They had won a Test series in Australia for the first time in their history and heading into the third Test in Sydney, only the No 1 ranking was at stake. South Africa skipper Graeme Smith was determined to finish the series on top of the mountain but his plans suffered a jolt when his left hand was broken by Mitchell Johnson in the first innings. He could not bat and at 257 for 9 in the final innings, it seemed that the match was over.
Just when Australia were celebrating, Smith gingerly strapped on his left glove, tucked the bat under his shoulder and walked out to bat. South Africa had six overs to survive in order to be No 1 in Tests and Smith held on admirably. Braving the pain, he survived 25 balls and with only 11 balls remaining in the match, it seemed South Africa would cross the line. However, Johnson came back and bowled Smith for 3 as Australia clinched an epic match. Although South Africa lost the match, the legend and toughness of Smith was established on that January day.

4 Tiger Woods, US Open 2008

His legs buckled under the pain. His face was in anguish or in pain most of the time. He was barely able to stand. Yet, through his bloody mindedness and determination to win, Tiger Woods displayed great heart to achieve one of the greatest triumphs in the history of Golf.
Coming to play the US Open after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery two months ago, it was an uphill struggle for Woods in the tournament. However, he hung in and played perfect golf to set-up a play-off with 45-year-old Rocco Mediate.

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It was a Topsy-turvey affair, with Mediate and Woods going toe-to-toe. However, on the final hole, Mediate attained a fatal bogey while Woods sunk in a birdie to seal one of the greatest triumphs in golf. It was Woods' third US Open Title and his 14th major but it was also one of the most epic triumphs. Following this victory, Mediate described Woods as "Unreal".

5 Andre Agassi, 2006 US Open

Unorthodox, charismatic, gutsy and one of the legends of the game. Andre Agassi had accomplished everything in Tennis. He had won all the four grand slams and he supplemented it with an Olympic Gold. However, in the year 2006, Agassi was weighed down by injuries and he was on the wane.
However, he showed a glimpse of his magic in the second round of the 2006 US Open against Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis. Agassi, who was plagued by a chronic back injury, received anti-inflammatory injections after the end of every match. Combined with a neck injury, it was an uphill task for Agassi. However, the veteran defied the odds  in a brutal five-set match. The younger Baghdatis succumbed to muscle cramping on his leg but Agassi held on to emerge victorious in one of the best matches played out on Arthur Ashe stadium.

Although Agassi crashed out in the third round to Benjamin Becker, he had proven his mettle and even after retirement, his exploits on the Tennis court are still fondly remembered.

6 Cricket: Anil Kumble vs West Indies, Antigua 2002

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This Antigua Test is remembered as the dullest Test of all times. Only two innings were played across five days with bat dominating the ball. However, one of the most memorable moments came from India's champion bowler, Anil Kumble.
Kumble had suffered a fractured jaw when a Mervyn Dillon bouncer hit him flush on the side. He spitted out blood but continued to bat for another four overs before he fell for 6. The Indian bowlers toiled really hard on the lifeless pitch. However, when Sachin Tendulkar generated some turn, Kumble, whose jaw was bandaged, came out to bowl and bowled 14 consecutive overs on the final day. He had Brian Lara caught for 4 and he could have gotten the wicket of West Indies skipper Carl Hooper but he had overstepped.  His figures at the end read 14-5-29-1. It was a gladiatorial effort from one of India's best.

7 Cricket: Malcolm Marshall vs England, Leeds 1984

The West Indies cricket team of the early 80's were superhuman in their skills and determination. Malcolm Marshall epitomized the superhuman qualities brilliantly.
Marshall suffered a broken left thumb while fielding and was advised not to take to the field. However, he came out to bat at No 11 and helped Larry Gomes reach a century as he batted with one hand. He was not done there. Marshall proceeded to dismantle England by taking 7 for 53 to help West Indies win the match by eight wickets.

8 Cricket: Rick McCosker vs England, Melbourne 1977

Before Perry, Australia's symbol of toughness was Rick McCosker. During the centenary Test against England in 1977, McCosker's jaw was broken by a bouncer as he missed a hook shot. He walked off with a broken jaw and he spent the next one and a half days in hospital getting his jaw wired. It was felt that he will miss out in the second innings but he defied the odds and braved it out in what would be a special moment.

McCosker came out to bat at No 10 and hooked the first ball he faced for a boundary. He shared a 50-plus stand with Dennis Lillee for the ninth wicket. The odd thing was that, a tailender (Lillee) was shielding an opening batsman (McCosker) from the new ball. Although he just made 25, Australia went past 400 and they won the match by 45 runs, the same margin of victory exactly 100 years ago in the first Test played between these two teams.

9 Gymnastics: Shun Fujimoto, 1976 Montreal Olympics

If there is an instance of putting country over self, Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto is a prime example.

During the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Fujimoto broke his knee during floor practice but he did not inform the team. As the main event neared, Fujimoto scored 9.5 on the pummel horse event and 9.7 on the rings. He landed perfectly on his feet and raised his arm after completing the stunt. Immediately, he collapsed on the ground in agony and was helped off. Following the landing, he had torn his right leg ligaments and his kneecap was shattered. Doctors warned him that if he participated further, he would be permanently disabled. Due to Fujimoto's efforts, Japan defeated the Soviet Union to win the gold in gymnastics.

10 Football: Franz Beckenbauer, World Cup semi-final vs Italy 1970

It was the game of the century and it was made memorable by the actions of German football great Franz Beckenbauer.
Beckenbauer had fractured his collarbone but he stayed on the field and continued playing with his dislocated arm in a sling. Since West Germany had used their permitted limit of two substitutions, Beckenbauer decided to carry on. Five goals were scored in extra time, the first and only instance in the history of football as Italy reached the final by defeating West Germany 4-3. The guts shown by Beckenbauer were indeed exemplary and German football had found their symbol of grit.

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11 Football: Bert Trautmann, 1956 FA Cup Final

Bert Trautmann had an extraordinary life. Born in Germany in 1923, Trautmann was caught up in the turmoil of World War 2 and joined the Luftwaffe as a paratrooper. He was captured in the war and was a prisoner of war in Lancashire. However, he was released and he decided to settle down in England.
All these years must have made Trautmann a tough man. However, his toughness quotient was sent to another level in the FA Cup of 1956. Playing for Manchester City against Birmingham City in the final, Trautmann, who was the goalkeeper, charged ahead to save a potential goal but as he dived, Peter Murphy's right knee smashed him hard on the neck and he collapsed. Since no substitutes were allowed on the field, Trautmann, dazed and disoriented from the blow, carried on. He saved two more chances and Manchester City won the FA Cup final 3-1. Later on, it was revealed that his neck had been broken but that did not stop him from winning the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1956. Talk about toughness!