Indian Sports in 2022: Mark these 13 important dates

Indian Sports in 2022: 2021 was a special year for Indian sports. A new star — Neeraj Chopra was born after winning a historic athletics gold while the nation’s love for hockey was rekindled following India’s bronze winning display at the Tokyo Olympics. 2022 has two big-ticket events in the Commonwealth and Asian Games along with a host of exciting action which will feature India’s biggest and brightest prospects. Follow sports updates on InsideSport.IN

Also read: India Open 2022: World Championships final on the cards again as Kidambi Srikanth, Loh Kean Yew drawn in same half, check details

InsideSport looks at the biggest events and what Indians can expect from the tournaments…

Indian Sports in 2022: Follow top Indian sportspersons this NEW-YEAR, mark these 13 important dates for their biggest battles

20 January–6 February: 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup (India)

After India successfully hosted the U-17 World Cup, it is now time for the women’s game to finally get the limelight it deserves. The tournament will feature 12 top continental teams and will serve as the final stage of the Asian qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Five teams will qualify directly for the World Cup via the knockout stage (including play-offs for fifth place or possibly sixth place), and two more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Indian Sports in 2022: Follow top Indian sportspersons this NEW-YEAR, mark these 13 important dates for their biggest battles

The original scheduled dates for the tournament were late October and early November but had to rescheduled due to COVID-19.

4–20 February 2022 Winter Olympics (Beijing)

India will have one athlete qualifying for two different events for the first time. Jammu and Kashmir-based alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan created history by qualifying for giant slalom as well as alpine skiing slalom category. Indians qualifying in itself is a big deal in an event where India have hardly featured.

8 February-30 June: 2021–22 Men’s FIH Pro League

The FIH Pro League will restart with a match between Spain and England,on February 4, 2022. India’s opening match will take place on February 8 against Canada. After a brilliant 2021, all eyes will be on the hockey players and a good display here will go a long way considering both the CWG & Asiad coming up later in the year.

16–20 April 2022 All England Open & 8–15 May Thomas & Uber Cup (Bangkok)

The last edition of the All England was quite disappointing from an Indian point of view and shuttlers will be hoping to go the distance in 2022. There will be a lot riding on the likes of PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and new sensation Lakshya Sen.

Indian Sports in 2022: Follow top Indian sportspersons this NEW-YEAR, mark these 13 important dates for their biggest battles

In both the Thomas & Uber Cup, India were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Retirements, team selection calls were not the best and India will be eyeing an improved showing this year.

IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships May 6-21 (Istanbul)

In 2019, India had won one silver courtesy Manju Rani and three bronze — MC Mary Kom, Lovlina Borgohain and Jamuna Boro. This time around, fans will be hoping for a gold, something that India had last claimed back in 2018 through the legendary Mary Kom.

15–24 July World Athletics Championships (Oregon)

This is the event Neeraj Chopra has time and again reiterated his desire to win. A star-studded field will assemble in US for the event. In the last event back in 2019, a 27-member Indian contingent had participated and produced three finalists in the mixed 4x400m relay, men’s 3,000m steeplechase and women’s javelin throw. This time, all eyes will be on golden boy Neeraj Chopra as he eyes the top prize in World Athletics.

28–8 August Commonwealth Games (Birmingham)

With 26 Gold medals and a total of 66 medals, India finished 3rd in the last edition with historic medals coming in table tennis, weightlifting as well as athletics. It proved to be India’s best position since the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which they hosted.This time around, with the exclusion of shooting and archery, events in which India have been traditionally strong, the task will be cut out for India.

Indian Sports in 2022: Follow top Indian sportspersons this NEW-YEAR, mark these 13 important dates for their biggest battles

21-28 August 2022 BWF World Championships (Tokyo)

2021 saw four Indian quarter finalists for the first time including three men. With Lakshya Sen clinching bronze and Kidambi Srikanth going to make the first ever final for India in the men’s section, badminton fans will be eyeing an encore at the very least. Among women, all eyes will once again be on PV Sindhu as she tried to win a medal after missing out last year.

10–25 September Asian Games (Hangzhou)

India bettered its previous best medal haul achieved 8 years earlier at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China by claiming a total of 69 medals including 15 gold. Historic firsts in table tennis, wrestling, boxing and badminton were created and India will be confident of improving on the previous displays.

10-18 September 2022 World Wrestling Championships (Belgrade)

The last World Championships was not the best from an Indian perspective as none of the male grapplers managed to win any medals. However, Sarita Mor clinched a bronze and Anshu Malik a silver to ensure India did not come home empty-handed. This year, more medals will be the target.

12-25 October ISSF World Championship Rifle / Pistol (Cairo)

After a disappointing Tokyo Olympics where so much was expected, all Indian shooters failed to deliver. With all coaches not been given contracts, India’s shooters will be starting from scratch. In the last edition, India had claimed a total of 7 medals including two gold — 50m pistol and Double trap.

11–30 October 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (India)

Historic attendance numbers greeted FIFA after they granted hosting rights for the men’s version back in 2017. The pandemic might be a major factor but the women’s game will definitely get a fillip from such exposure. Whether the Indian footballing powers will follow up on the promise remains to be seen.

14-18 December 2022 BWF World Tour Finals (Guangzhou)

India’s shuttlers will be hoping to qualify for the season finale. Last time around, India had participants in men, women and doubles categories but no medal could be secured. Lakshya Sen had created history by making it out of the group stages. There will be hope that India can win a medal this time around.

Indian Sports in 2022: Follow top Indian sportspersons this NEW-YEAR, mark these 13 important dates for their biggest battles

Athletics