An exciting Test series is going on in which India have made a winning start by winning the first Test.
New Delhi, The COVID-19 pandemic is not taking its name to end but it seems the world is learning to live with this deadly virus and in the process sports can give a chance to people to rejoice with many big competitions in 2022. Apart from the usual annual Grand Slam tennis tournament and badminton competitions, let’s have a look at the competitions that India and the world are eagerly waiting for.
Cricket:
India’s tour of South Africa (26 December to 23 January):
An exciting Test series is going on in which India have made a winning start by winning the first Test. The three-match Test series will be followed by the same number of ODIs in which KL Rahul will get a chance to lead the Indian team for the first time. Rahul has been named the captain after Rohit Sharma was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
ICC Under-19 Men’s ODI World Cup in West Indies (January 15 to February 5):
Delhi batsman Yash Dhull is leading the India Under-19 team which will look to win a fifth title. 16 teams will compete for the title in this top age-group tournament and a total of 48 matches will be played. ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand (March 4 to April 3): India will be among the title contenders in the prestigious event which has been postponed by a year due to the pandemic. Indian captain Mithali Raj, 39, would like to end her illustrious career with a title in this tournament.
read also
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia (16 October to 13 November):
Just a year after Australia became world champions for the first time in the T20 format, the team will get a chance to defend the title at their home ground. This will be an opportunity for the Indian team to overcome the disappointment of a first round exit last year.
Multi game:
Winter Olympics in Beijing, China (4 to 20 February):
The Games, which have been in political controversy due to China’s tarnished human rights image, have already been diplomatically boycotted by big countries like the US and Britain. The players, however, will have to focus on their performance rather than the political turmoil that takes place outside the games. India has never won a medal in these games. India will be eyeing skiing player Arif Khan, who made it to the slalom and giant slalom as the first Indian to qualify in the two events.
Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (28 July to 8 August):
Commonwealth Games are a successful sport in terms of medals for Indian sportspersons, but this time the country’s medal tally may decline as shooting is not a part of these games. It remains to be seen how India deals with the absence of the sport which has won a total of 135 medals including 63 gold medals for the country since its debut in 1966.
Asian Games in Hangzhou, China (September 10 to 25):
India put up its best ever performance in the 2018 Games and after a stellar performance in the Olympics, India’s performance in these Games is expected to improve.
read also
Football:
AFC Asian Women’s Cup in India (January 20 to February 6):
This will be a big step for Indian women’s football as the country will get a chance to host this apex regional event for the first time since 1979. India has been runner-up in this competition in 1979 and 1983 and will try to take inspiration from this performance.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India (11-30 October):
Another important tournament for women’s football in the country. It was to be held in 2021 but had to be postponed due to COVID-19. Spain are the defending champions and India will be eyeing an impressive performance in the tournament to benefit the sport in the country.
FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar: (21 November to 18 December):
The first World Cup to be held in Arab countries will be held in winter due to the unbearable heat of Qatar. Due to the heat, it is not possible to organize the competition during the regular time of June-July. The tournament has faced allegations of corruption in the bidding process and the work environment of workers involved in infrastructure development.
Athletics:
IAAF World Championships in Eugen, USA (15 to 24 July):
Another top competition that has been postponed for this year due to the pandemic. Anju Bobby George is the only Indian athlete to win a medal in this event with a bronze in the long jump in 2003 and India hopes to win another historic medal this year with Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
Hockey:
FIH Men’s World Cup in Spain and Netherlands:
The Indian women’s hockey team impressed everyone with a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. Rani Rampal and her teammates would like to take this positive performance forward. The team’s best performance in the World Cup was in 1974 when the team finished fourth. The team had finished eighth in the last tournament held in England.
Swimming:
FINA World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (May 1 to 29):
It is the top competition of swimming, diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming and water polo held every two years. India’s claim in terms of medals is not very strong but the players of the country will come with the intention of improving their performance. (agency)