Major sporting events in February 2012

As we welcome the second month of the year 2012, we also welcome some of the major sporting events which will take place during this month.

Here is a brief look at these events.

1.CRICKET (Commonwealth Bank Tri Series)

After having been whitewashed 4-0 by the Aussies, the Indians will now face the home team in the ODI format along with a third team, Sri Lanka. This series between current world champions India, World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka and four-time world champions Australia will start from 5th February and can be seen live on ESPN and Star Cricket. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has finally made a comeback in the One-day side and can hope to complete the much awaited 100th hundred. The first match will be played between India and Australia at MCG and will start at 8.50 a.m. IST.

2.HOCKEY (FIH Olympic Qualifiers)

After failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Indians will be hoping to qualify for the London Olympics this year through the last Olympic qualification tournament which will start Feb 18th in New Delhi. Also, the women’s hockey team will also be fighting to get an Olympic berth. In the first match in the men’s category, India will be up against Singapore. Live action will be available on Ten Sports.

3. FOOTBALL (Carling Cup final)

Sunday 26 February 2012 will see Wembley host the Carling Cup final for the fifth time since the new stadium opened in 2007. As usual, 92 clubs including 20 Premier League clubs and 72 clubs of The Football League battled it out to make it to the Europa League but it was Liverpool FC and Cardiff City who made the finals. Cardiff City defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 in the first leg of the semifinal and again in the second leg while Liverpool defeated Manchester city in the first leg of the semifinal and drew in the second.

4.TENNIS (Dubai Duty Free tennis championship)

Defending champions Caroline Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic are set to return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships next month, heading the best-ever field of players assembled for the premier tennis event of the Middle East. The Dubai tournament has established itself as a favourite among players on the circuit, ensuring a stellar line-up each year. This year is no exception with the best of the best coming back to battle it out in Dubai. The WTA tournament will start on 20th Feb and for the men it will start on 27th of Feb. After a mind boggling final at the Australian Open, Rafa and Djokovic can again fight for the Dubai Open title but players like Federer and Murray will give their best to stop them.

5.BADMINTON (Thomas and Uber Cup)

In the world of badminton, qualifying rounds to the Thomas and Uber Cup (team) events. The preliminary rounds start from 13th of Feb in Macau, China. This is the qualifying event for the Thomas and Uber Cup which is scheduled to be held in May 2012.

6.WWE (Royal Rumble 2012)

WWE Royal Rumble can be seen live on Ten Sports on 5th February from 11.30 a.m. This Royal Rumble is the 25th Royal Rumble in the history of WWE. The first Royal Rumble took place on January 24, 1988 and was broadcast live on USA Network. The following year, the event was re-branded as pay-per-view. It is part of WWE’s “classic four” pay-per-views, along with WrestleMania, Survivor Series, and SummerSlam.