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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
2025 promises an action-packed year for Indian sports fans, with major events in athletics, badminton, cricket, chess, and more.
NEW DELHI: While 2025 won’t feature the high-octane drama of multi-sport spectacles like the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, it promises to be an action-packed year for sports fans in India. With no global games overshadowing the calendar, the year offers a chance for sports enthusiasts to focus on individual disciplines and the athletes vying for glory in their respective fields. From World Championships to cricket tournaments, chess, and a new Kho Kho World Cup, 2025 will be a year brimming with sporting opportunities that showcase India’s potential on the world stage.
For Indian sports fans, this is the perfect time to immerse themselves in the rich competitive landscape of core Olympic sports like athletics, badminton, shooting, and table tennis. Indian athletes have been steadily making their mark in these arenas, and 2025 will be another crucial year to see how far they’ve come. Moreover, the excitement of home-ground events like the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi and the Women’s ODI World Cup adds extra layers of anticipation.
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Here’s a closer look at some of the key events to keep an eye on throughout 2025.
World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi
A standout event for Indian sports fans in 2025 will be the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, taking place from September 26 to October 5. This will be the first time India has hosted this prestigious competition, marking a significant milestone in the country’s sporting history. Indian para-athletes have consistently delivered impressive performances on the world stage, with 17 medals at the 2024 edition alone. With athletes like Sumit Antil and Mariyappan Thangavelu, India will look to add more medals to its tally and showcase its growing prowess in para-sports. Beyond the medals, this event is critical for India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics, testing the country’s capability to host major international para-sport events.
World Championships in Key Sports
In 2025, Indian athletes will have several opportunities to make history at the World Championships in athletics, badminton, shooting, and table tennis.
Neeraj Chopra will lead India’s charge at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. As the reigning world javelin champion, Chopra will aim to defend his title after a challenging Olympic campaign in 2024. His goal is to reclaim his position at the top and inspire a new generation of track and field athletes.
Badminton will also be a crucial battleground for India. PV Sindhu, who has won multiple World Championship medals, will chase her first-ever gold at the BWF World Championships in Paris, starting on August 25. After years of silver and bronze finishes, this could be the year she finally clinches the elusive top spot.
Shooting continues to be India’s most successful Olympic sport. With the World Shooting Championships scheduled in Egypt in November, Indian shooters will look to dominate once again and possibly secure the elusive world champion titles.
Table Tennis will see India’s rising stars like Manika Batra and G Sathiyan compete at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Doha from May 17 to 25. Indian players are steadily improving, and 2025 could be the year they break into the medal ranks at the world level.
Chess: FIDE World Cup
Chess continues to soar in India, and the FIDE Chess World Cup will be one of the year’s most anticipated events. After R Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable run to the final in 2023, expectations for Indian chess are higher than ever. The Women’s Chess World Cup will take place in Batumi, Georgia, from July 5 to 29, and the Men’s Chess World Cup will likely see multiple Indian contenders challenging the world’s best.
Cricket Tournaments
2025 also offers plenty of excitement for cricket lovers with the ICC Champions Trophy and the Women’s ODI World Cup both featuring prominently on the calendar.
The ICC Champions Trophy (February 19 – March 9) will be held in Pakistan but India’s matches will take place in the UAE. This will be a great opportunity for Rohit Sharma and his team to showcase their strength in the 50-over format, particularly following mixed results in Test cricket.
India will host the Women’s ODI World Cup in August. After their breakthrough performance in the 2017 Women’s World Cup, expectations are high for Harmanpreet Kaur and her team to take the next step and bring home the trophy, this time with the support of massive home crowds.
Kho Kho World Cup
The debut of the Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi from January 13 to 19 will bring fresh excitement to Indian fans. Featuring 25 countries, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia, this international competition will give fans the chance to see one of India’s most loved traditional sports on the world stage.
Men’s Hockey Asia Cup
In Rajgir, Bihar, the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup will take place from August 27 to September 7. India, the defending Asian Games champions, will look to continue their dominance in the sport, adding another title to their collection after their historic Olympic successes.
While 2025 may not have the excitement of the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, it is still packed with plenty of sporting action. From the World Para Athletics Championships to World Championships in athletics, badminton, shooting, and table tennis, Indian athletes will be looking to make their mark. With major events in cricket, chess, kho kho, and hockey, there is no shortage of thrilling moments for Indian sports fans to look forward to in 2025.
