Sporting calendars across the world for the year 2020 were plunged into disarray after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Several events were postponed to 2021, while those that did take place went through pangs of uncertainty. With daily case load gradually decreasing and vaccines on the horizon, these postponed events are likely to be held smoothly under bio-security bubbles this year. Let us look at some of the major sports events scheduled to be held in 2021.
Australian Open
The Australian Open, the first tennis grand slam of the season, will take place in Melbourne in February after being pushed back three weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Defending men's singles champion Novak Djokovic heads down under looking to win a ninth title at Melbourne Park.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship 2021
The championship, likely to be pushed back by a couple of weeks due to the pandemic, was initially meant to kick off with the WTA tournament on February 14 and wrap up with the ATP final on February 27. Now, reports suggest it will take place in March instead, after the new Australian Open dates (February 8-21).
ATP Cup
The second ever edition of the event will take place with only 12 teams instead of 24, due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the hard court men's tournament will take place in Melbourne from February 1-5. Serbia won in 2020, beating Spain with 2-1 in the final.
FIFA Club World Cup 2020 in Qatar
The Club World Cup features the winners of six continental confederations, as well as the league champions of the host nation. The 17th edition of the event takes place from February 1 to 11 in Doha. Liverpool were the defending champions, but they won't compete, after being eliminated from the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
Copa America 2021
Another sporting event pushed back due to the pandemic, the Copa America 2021 will take place in Columbia and Argentina, marking the first time since 1983 that it takes place in more than one country. Brazil are the defending champions after their ninth title win in 2019.
Euro 2020
On March 17, the UEFA announced the postponement of EURO 2020 to the summer of 2021. The 24-team European Championship was originally scheduled to be held between June 12 and July 12
Football fans will be in for a treat during June and July as 24 international teams take part in the prestigious European Championships. Many supporters will be able to watch the Euros online, with the tournament set to be staged across 12 different countries for the first time ever. France are amongst the favourites to lift the trophy having claimed a deserved success at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. England, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Netherlands should also be in the mix for what is expected to be one of the most competitive Euros ever played.
UEFA Europa and Champions League Finals
The Europa League final will take place on May 26, 2021 in Gdansk, Poland. The men's Champions League final is set to played days later on May 29, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey, while the women's Champions League title - the only international competition for European women's football clubs - will be decided on May 16, 2021 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tokyo Olympics
After being delayed for the first time in the tournament's 124-year history, Tokyo Olympics will now be held between July 23 and August 8,2021. The delay was a major blow to Japan, which had invested as much as USD 12 billion in the run-up to the tournament. India will look to go past its best-ever tally of 6 achieved in the London Olympics.
More than 200 nations are expected to be represented, with around 11,000 athletes set to compete across the different disciplines.
The Japanese capital last hosted the Summer Games back in 1964 and many of the same venues will be used for the latest edition.
The country has also twice staged the Winter Olympics in 1972 & 1998 and is expected to continue its legacy of organising successful sporting events.
French Open
The second of the Grand Slams tournament will begin on May 23 at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France with the quarter-finals and final games set for June 1 and June 5, 6 respectively.
2020 Asia Cup
The 15th edition of the tournament, with matches being played as Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), has been postponed from September 2020 to June 21, 2021, with Sri Lanka Cricket hosting the competition.
Wimbledon 2021
The Wimbledon championship will return in 2021 after begin cancelled last year due to the pandemic. The tournament will begin on June 28, while the final will be played on July 11. Wimbledon was one of the the biggest sporting events to be altogether cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
ICC Men's T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup is the highlight of the sporting calendar towards the end of the year, with 16 teams battling for one of the top prizes in cricket during October and November.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the next T20 World Cup will be held in India as per original plans. The 16-team tournament is scheduled for October-November next year.
Apart from Test playing nations Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies, the tournament will also feature its newest qualified member Papua New Guinea besides Namibia, Netherlands, Oman and Scotland.
India had hosted the previous T20 World Cup, back in 2016 which was won by West Indies. Reigning champions West Indies will be keen to defend their title, but hosts Australia may be tough to beat on their own patch.
England will should also be in the mix having missed out in heart-breaking fashion against the Windies back in the 2016 final.
Ashes cricket: Australia vs. England
The Ashes is another marquee event which will take place this year on November 22 to January 14. England and Australia will lock horns in Australia and by all means, will be an intensely-contested affair.
Australia and England rekindle international cricket's biggest rivalry when the two nations go head to head in the Ashes. The five-Test series is scheduled to start at the Gabba in Brisbane.
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