Indian Sports Calendar 2024: Major events to look forward to in March

The 17th season of Indian Premier League headlines March.

As the February Indian Sports Calendar ended, Indian sports witnessed two of its athletes achieving Olympic qualification in equestrian and sailing, thanks to Anush Agarwalla and Vishnu Saravanan respectively. With the Paris Olympics 2024 drawing near, March, will be a crucial month for Indian contenders in badminton, gymnastics and canoe slalom, with athletes eager to prove their abilities and talents.

Cricket is bustling with activity, as India host England in the last test match, the Women’s Premier League concludes its season, while the Indian Premier League returns to delight its followers.

Here’s a rundown of the sports events to be held in March in the Indian sports calendar 2024:

Major events to look forward to in Indian Sports Calendar in March

Artistic Gymnastics

The Indian gymnasts are preparing for a crucial event in March that will serve as a stepping stone for their qualification to the Paris Olympics. Pranati Nayak, who represented India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is aiming to book her spot at this year’s Games as well.

On the other hand, Dipa Karmakar, who made history as the first Indian female gymnast to participate at the Olympics in 2016, is looking to bounce back from a 21-month doping ban in 2023 and secure an Olympic spot.

• March 7-10: FIG World Cup Series III

Athletics

After a successful Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, Indian athletes return for the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

• March 1-3: World Indoor Athletics Championships

Badminton

As the badminton season commences this month, the shuttlers eagerly await the restart of the BWF World Tour 2024. The German Open will wrap up in the first week of March, followed by the prestigious All England Championships in the middle of the month.

The Indian contingent has high expectations, especially from the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who are ranked second in the world.

In the singles category, PV Sindhu is the sole Indian representative in the top 25 of the BWF World Rankings, while Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth occupy the 19th and 24th positions respectively.

• February 27- March 3: German Open (BWF 300) (Ongoing)
• March 5-10: BWF French Open
• March 12-17: Orleans Masters (BWF 300)
• March 12-17: All England Open Badminton Championships (BWF 1000)
• March 19-24: Swiss Open (BWF 300)
• March 26-31: Madrid Spain Masters (BWF 300)

Basketball

After FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers 2025, Window 1, the Indian basketball team will feature in a different tournament later this month. The Indian basketball team faced defeat in both of their matches at the FIBA Asia Qualifiers.

• March 27-31: FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup

Boxing

Four Indian boxers, namely Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), have qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 by securing their slots at the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in the previous year.

• March 3-March 12: World Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament

Canoe Slalom

The 13th Asian Canoe Slalom Championships will take place at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Centre in Pataya-Rayong, Thailand. The event will include competitions for junior, U23 and senior athletes.

• March 5-9 Asian Canoe Slalom Championships

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Cricket

Cricket action brings more delight as Dharmashala hosts the fifth and final test between the 7th and 11th of March, WPL reaches its climax and the Indian Premier League returns for its 17th season on 22 March.

• February 22- March 17: Women’s Indian Premier League (Ongoing)
• January 25-March 11: India vs England Test Series 2024 (Ongoing)
• March 22: Indian Premier League

Cycling

India proudly won 18 medals at the 43rd Asian Track Cycling Championships 2024 which concluded in the last week of February. Competing against 500 riders from 18 nations around the world, Indian cyclists put up an impressive fight.

• March 15-17: UCI Track Nations Cup

Fencing

Bhavani Devi returns to action as fencing returns with some vital events earmarked in the first week of March. The third and fourth weeks also bring delightful action.

• March 1-2: Sabre Greece World Cup
• March 8-10: Epee Hungary Grand Prix
• March 15-16: Sabre Belgium World Cup
• March 22-23: Epee China World Cup

Football

After suffering a disappointing exit from the AFC Asia Cup, India will aim to bounce back as they take on Afghanistan in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying encounter. Meanwhile, the action will also heat up in the domestic circuit with several leagues reaching their climax.

• September 21-May: Indian Super League (Ongoing)
• October 28-27 March: I League (Ongoing)
• January 20-April: 2nd Division I-League (Ongoing)
• December 8-24 March: India’s Women’s League (Ongoing)
• March 22: Afghanistan vs India (WC Qualifiers)
• March 26: India vs Afghanistan (WC Qualifiers)

Golf

Aditi Ashok’s talents have been making waves in the golf sphere of India, following her silver at the Asian Games 2023. Here are the championships to look out for in March:

• February 29-3 March: Women’s World Golf Championships (ongoing)
• March 28-31: European DP World Tour-Indian Open

Table Tennis

The Indian table tennis teams achieved a remarkable feat in February by securing their spots at the Olympics. Players such as Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula will hope to maintain their impressive form in the upcoming events.

• March 7-17: WTT Singapore Smash
• March 27-31: WTT Champions Incheon

Taekwondo

India is striving to secure a place and earn a medal at the upcoming Olympics in the event.

• March 15-16: 2024 Asian Qualification Tournament for Paris Olympics

Tennis

In the wake of their commanding performance at the Australian Open, seasoned doubles pair Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden have their sights firmly fixed on the prestigious Indian Wells Open. Sumit Nagal will also be in action in qualifying at the BNP Paribas Open.

• March 3-17: Indian Wells Open
• March 18-31: Miami Open

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