There are 4 home events scheduled in India in the third week of January
The Indian sports calendar is brimming with a plethora of events in the forthcoming week. The badminton season has arrived on Indian shores, and the local players are poised to leverage the home-ground advantage.
Concurrently, the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers are set to kick off in Ranchi, Jharkhand, with the top three teams securing their spots. In addition, the Shotgun shooters will be vying for the quota in the Asian Championships, while the football team will commence their journey in the Asia Cup
Here we take a look at the events to follow in the upcoming week (January 15-21) in the Indian sports calendar:
Major events to watch in the third week of January in the Indian Sports Calendar
Badminton
Post the Malaysian segment, the badminton season is set to transition to India for the India Open 2024 Super 750 tournament. With the lure of Olympic points, all the shuttlers are expected to put forth their best efforts and aim for a deep run in the tournament. Indian spectators will be keenly following the performances of HS Prannoy, the duo of Satwik/Chirag, Lakshya Sen, Srikanth, and the pair of Ashwini/Tanisha.
- January 15-21: BWF India Open
Cricket
In a historic move, Afghanistan is set to embark on its second tour of India in the history of international cricket. This week-long tour will feature a three-match T20I series. The third T20 is slated for the 17th of January. India has already clinched a series with victory in the first two T20 Internationals, courtesy of a stellar performance by Shivam Dubey.
- January 11-17: Afghanistan tour of India (men’s)
Squash
Squash enthusiasts are in for a treat as the action shifts to home ground. The upcoming event marks the 3rd challenger tour of the year, encompassing both senior and junior categories. The tournament is set to unfold in Mumbai, India, with all eyes on the promising talents of Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh
- January 13-17: JSW Willingdon Little Masters & Senior Tournament 2024
Football
The AFC Men’s Asia Cup, Asia’s foremost football tournament, is making a comeback following the 2019 edition. India finds itself in Group B, sharing the stage with Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria. Concurrently, the domestic season, marked by the Super Cup, continues to unfold in tandem with the Asia Cup
Hockey
The 2024 journey for the Indian women’s hockey team will kick off with a significant tournament that holds the key to Olympic Qualification. FIH Hockey Women’s Olympic Qualifier, is scheduled to be held in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This tournament serves as the final opportunity for hockey teams to secure their spot in the Paris Olympics.
- January 13-19: FIH Hockey Olympics Qualifiers
Handball
The Asian Continental Championships marks the beginning of the major tournament journey for handball players. In this tournament, India finds itself in Group C, sharing the group with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Japan. The championships will culminate with the top 5 teams earning a spot in the 2025 World Handball Championships.
- January 11-25: Asian Handball Championships
Shooting
The Asian Olympic Qualifier for Shotgun is set to commence this week. Following their impressive performance in the Asian Games, Indian Shotgun shooters will be vying for the coveted Paris quota. Meanwhile, the rifle and pistol shooters have already secured their Olympic quota in the second week of January.
- January 5-18: Asian Olympic Qualifiers Rifle/Pistol
- January 12-22: Asian Olympic Qualifiers Shotgun
Tennis
The Australian Open, the season’s first major grand slam, is scheduled to start on the 14th of January. In the men’s doubles category, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden have secured the second seed, while Yuki Bhambri has confirmed his participation in the main draw by teaming up with Robin Haase. Sumit Nagal has made history by qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open, becoming the first singles player to do so since the 2021 Australian Open.
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