Indian Sports Calendar in 2023: Events to watch in final week of October

The Asian Para Games 2023 will be the biggest event involving Indian athletes this week.

A lot of sporting events are lined up in the upcoming week of the Indian sports calendar. Three sporting events are set to offer Paris Olympis qualifying quotas. The ICC men’s cricket world cup is entering the mid-way stage with India holding the top spot in the points table. Meanwhile, the ISL action resumed a few days back after the international break.

Here we take a look at the events to follow in the upcoming week (October 23-29) in the Indian sports calendar.

Asian Para Games

• October 23-28: Asian Para Games 2023

India has sent its largest-ever contingent for the upcoming edition of Para Asian Games 2023. A total of 303 Indian athletes are set to take part in the competition. After securing 72 medals in the previous edition, the contingent will be hopeful of touching the three-figure mark.

Badminton

• October 24-29: French Open

The third leg of the European tour is scheduled in France in the upcoming week. Satwik-Chirag had a memorable outing last year winning the men’s doubles title. PV Sindhu is slowly getting back to her usual best - with successive semifinal finishes.

Canoe Slalom

• October 27-29: Asian Canoe Slalom Championships

The 12th edition of the Asian Canoe Slalom Championships is scheduled to be held in Japan. This is a Paris Olympic qualifying tournament with several spots up for grabs. 

Cricket

• October 5-19 November: ICC Men’s World Cup (Ongoing)

The quadrennial extravaganza has almost reached the halfway mark and host India remains unbeaten in the tournament posting hat-trick wins. Netherlands and Afghanistan registered major upsets by defeating South Africa and England making the tournament more thrilling.

Football

• September 21-March 2024: Indian Super League (Ongoing)
• October 26-01 November: Paris Olympic qualifying round 2

The 10th edition of the Indian Super League has started off on a bright note with each team playing at least three matches each. Reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants hold the top spot with nine points followed by FC Goa and Mumbai City FC.  

Meanwhile, the Indian women’s football team are placed in Group C alongside Japan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

Hockey

• October 27-05 November: Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

The sixth edition of the Asian Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This tournament will be helpful to Asian teams as Ranchi is set to host the Paris Olympic qualifying tournament in January next year.

Shooting

• October 22-02 November: Asian Shooting Championships

A total of 24 Olympic quota spots are on offer at the ongoing Asian Shooting Championships. Across Asia, close to 1300 shooters are set to contest for the Continental event. World Championship medalists Rudrankksh Patil and Mehuli are set to spearhead the Indian contingent.

 Tennis 

• October 24-29: ATP Challenger Brest

Yuki Bhambri, Arjun Khade-Rithvik Bollipalli, and Anirudh Chandrasekhar-Vijay Sundar Prasanth are the five Indians taking part in the men’s doubles section at ATP Challenger Brest. After securing the ATP 125 Challenger Olbia title last week, the All-Indian pairing of Khade and Rithvik will look to carry forward momentum this week.