Boxing
(All categories finals and draws with Indian boxers)
The aggressive adrenaline-pumping combat sport has been a spectacle sport since decades across the globe. Boxing has featured in every Commonwealth Games since 1930. And with Indian boxers pulling off great performances in the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and even in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, eyeballs will chase the boxing events at CWG 2010. It is a men-only sport at the CWG. The competition will have a knockout format with the winner of each bout proceeding to the next round.
* Categories : Light Flyweight (46-49 kg) , Flyweight (52 kg), Bantamweight (56 kg), Lightweight (60 kg), Light Welterweight (64 kg), Welterweight (69 kg), Middleweight (75 kg), Light Heavyweight (81 kg), Heavyweight (91 kg), Super heavyweight (+91 kg)
* Medals to be won : 10 Gold, 10 Silvers, and 10 Bronze
* When and where : Talkatora Indoor Stadium, October 5-11, October 13 (finals).
* Watch out for : Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Jai Bhagwan, Suranjoy Singh, Iain Weaver (England),) Luke Jackson (Australia)
Rugby Sevens
One of the most popular sports across the globe, especially in the British dominions of yesteryears, Rugby is represented in the CWG by a variant called Rugby Sevens, which, as the name suggests, has seven players playing per side. It has been included in the CWG since the 1998 games, and it’s not at all surprising that Rugby heavyweights New Zealand have clinched the golds at all the three Commonwealth Games since 1998. Like boxing, it is a men-only sport at the CWG.
* Medals to be won : One Gold, One Silver, One Bronze
* When and where : Delhi University Stadium, October 11-12
* Teams to watch out for : New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Canada
* International players to watch out for : Lachie Turner (Australia), Hosea Gear (New Zealand).
India vs Pakistan Hockey Match (Men?s)
This classic rivalry in field hockey can set the turf on fire. Since Hockey’s entry into the CWG ambit in 1998, India’s men’s team has not been able to manage a podium finish in the three games since then. Both India and Pakistan have been struggling in the past few months with unimpressive shows at the FIH World Cup in Delhi a few months ago. Obviously, both south-Asian hockey giants would have monkeys on their backs and while overall things still look not-so-great for the two, a contest between India and Pakistan is expected to have the usual drama and excitement. Both teams are expected to be highly motivated for the clash, as one is the host of the CWG and the other is its biggest rival in hockey. While Pakistan might sourly miss the services of the iconic Sohail Abbas, India, too, would have to make do without star player Prabhjot Singh.
* When and Where: Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, October 10, at 7:00 pm
* Players to watch out for (India): Rajpal Singh, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Halappa, Vikram Pillay
* Players to watch out for (Pakistan): Zeeshan Ashraf, Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi
* Other notable matches: India vs Australia (October 7), Pakistan vs Australia (October 9).
100M Sprint Men?s Finals (track)
The 100-metre sprint has been the most coveted and thrilling track event in any competition, be it the Olympics, the Asian Games or the Commonwealth Games. The pull-out by world champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica and his star team-mate Asafa Powell from CWG 2010 delivered a hefty blow to the track events in general and the 100-metre sprint in particular. However, the excitement still refuses to die down, as in athletics, new stars are born and records are devastated with each major event. Will there be any new global stars born on the track as a result of the Commonwealth Games? Well, we will just have to wait and watch.
* When and Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, October 7
* International players to watch out for: Mark Lewis-Francis (England), Lerone Clarke (Jamaica)
* Indians to watch out for: None
Badminton
(Gold medal matches and India’s matches)
One of the most well known and widely played sports in the world, badminton has been a part of every Commonwealth Games since 1966. Experts are touting the current Indian contingent as the best-ever national squad at major events like the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. With Indian shuttlers rearing to go, coupled with their upbeat form over the last few months, badminton could attract a large number of eyeballs at the venue, as well as on the TV screens. And more so if Indian shuttlers reach the finals.
* When and Where: Siri Fort Sports Complex, October 4-10 (Round matches), October 14 (Gold Medal Matches)
* Indians to watch out for : Saina Nehwal, Chetan Anand, Jwala Gutta and V Diju
* Medals to be won: 6 Gold, 6 Silver, 6 Bronze
* International stars to watch out for: Lee Chong Wei , Mew Choo Wang (Malaysia), Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork (England).
Tennis (final matches and India?s matches)
Tennis has for long been one of the top three or four most popular and watched sports on the planet. Therefore, it’s a surprise that tennis as a sport will make its Commonwealth Games debut with the Delhi games. And there couldn’t have been a better venue for the debut than India, owing to the growing Indian presence in international tennis. With Leander Peas and Mahesh Bhupathi’s explosive arrival on the international tennis scene, Indian tennis hasn’t looked back. Commonwealth Games 2010 provide the Indian tennis contingent with an unprecedented opportunity to come out with a bang. One can expect packed houses for India’s matches in the CWG.
* When and Where: RK Khanna Tennis Stadium, October 4-8 (Round matches), October 9-10 (Gold medal Matches)
* Medals to be won: 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 5 Bronze Indians to watch out for: Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Somdev Devvarman, Sania Mirza.
* International stars to watch out for: Mark Knowles ( Bahamas), Jamie Murray ( Scotland).
Wrestling
India has been traditionally a strong force in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in the past. And the sport received a new elixir in the country with Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal in Beijing Olympics and his recent exploits at the World Championship that earned him a gold medal. Wrestling, being a combat sport, attracts a good number of eyeballs and with Sushil and other Indian wrestlers going for glory in the CWG, it would be a hard-to-miss sport at the games. And despite some Indian wrestlers caught in the doping web, Sushil claims that India is going to claim at least 14 gold medals out of the total 21 to be won in wrestling at CWG 2010.
* When and Where: Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, October 5-10
* Medals to be won: 21 Gold, 21 Silver, 21 Bronze
* Indians to watch out for: Sushil Kumar, Anil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt
* International stars to watch out for: Carol Huynh ( Canada)
Weightlifting
After shooting, weightlifting is the sport where India has traditionally performed really well. The competition would be tough, but the Indian contingent looks comfortable and confident to keep up with the expectations, as well as their performances at the Commonwealth Games in the past. For a sport that has been hit hard by doping controversies in the last few years in India, Commonwealth Games could be the litmus test for its future and survival in the country.
* When and where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, October 4-11
* Medals to be won: 6 Gold, 6 Silver, 6 Bronze
* Indians to watch out for: Ravi Kumar, L Monika Devi , VS Rao, Sonia Chanu
* International stars to watch out for: Ben Turner (Australia)
Long Jump (Women)
The pullout of international stars from various events in a way has raised India’s hopes to grab more medals at the CWG. And this is reflected nowhere better than the track and field events. One such event that is expected to be widely watched is women’s long jump, with Mayookha Johny being tipped to grab a medal for India. Long jump came into spotlight in India when Anju Bobby George shot into fame seven years ago. Anju is also Mayokha’s idol and Mayookha has already got the better of Anju by breaking her triple jump national record.
* When and Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, October 9 (qualifiers) ? October 10 (finals)
* Medals to be won: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
* Indians to watch out for: Mayookha Johny
* International stars to watch out for: Fabrice Lapierre
Marathon (Men)
Marathon races have always been followed keenly across all major sporting events across the globe. Marathons have been popular in every part of the world, so much so that major cities now have their own marathon and half-marathon races where athletes as well as general public run. Though it has also been marred by pullouts, the CWG marathon still promises to be a prominent event that would attract a lot of eyeballs, also as it comes on the last day of the mega sporting event.
* When and Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium/Marathon Course, October 14
* Medals to be won: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
* International stars to watch out for: Dieudonne Disi (Rwanda), John Kilai Ekiru (Kenya)
