World Cups in cricket, rugby union and girls’s soccer whereas world titles in swimming and athletics are up for grabs in 2023.
FOR THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS VISIT THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEBSITE
Below, a have a look at the showpiece events:
CRICKET WORLD CUP
Where: India
When: October-November (dates to be determined)
The thirteenth version of the worldwide 50-over showpiece will see England defend the title they gained in thrilling vogue on house floor in 2019. Despite the occasion stretching over seven weeks and that includes 48 video games, solely 10 groups are participating. The high seven international locations from the Super League plus hosts India will make it by means of in addition to two groups from a qualifying match to be held in Zimbabwe in June/July. There is, nonetheless, already controversy with former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ramiz Raja having hinted his nation may boycott the World Cup if India refuse to play the Asia Cup scheduled for Pakistan additionally in 2023.
RUGBY WORLD CUP
Where: France
When: September 8-October 28
All eyes shall be on Antoine Dupont as he leads sturdy favourites France into a house World Cup that includes 20 nations enjoying at 9 venues. The opening sport pitches France towards New Zealand in what guarantees to be an exhilarating begin. Reigning champions South Africa are drawn in the identical pool as Ireland, whereas Wales are in a pool alongside Australia, Georgia and Fiji, the primary two of which they misplaced to within the Autumn Nations Series. England go into the match in a state of flux having axed coach Eddie Jones in favour of Steve Borthwick.
WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Where: Budapest
When: August 19-27
World athletes of the yr Armand Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will bid to recreate their world record-setting victories within the Hungarian capital. Coming a yr after the Covid-delayed world champs in Eugene, Oregon, the biennial occasion will play host to a raft of up-and-coming monitor and area stars. All eyes shall be on Jamaica’s five-time 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce within the ladies’s sprints, on the age of 36. The US group will look to the likes of Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Michael Norman and Erriyon Knighton to mild up the boys’s quick monitor, whereas Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Karsten Warholm will bid to prolong their successful type.
WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Where: Fukuoka, Japan
When: July 14-30
As swimming tries to catch up after the pandemic, Fukuoka hosts the second of three World Championships in 19 months. The meet was initially scheduled for 2021 however was elbowed apart when the Tokyo Olympics had been pushed again. Fukuoka says it has a ‘concept’: “Water Meets the Future”, expressing “the hope that all the participants will meet the future.” Yet, as established stars, with one eye on the 2024 Olympics, skipped main events swimming did meet its future in 2022. Romanian David Popovici, Australian Mollie O’Callaghan, Canadian Summer McIntosh, Italian Benadetta Pilato and American Torri Huske, can all arrive in Japan to defend world titles they gained final June as youngsters.
Where: Australia and New Zealand
When: July 20-August 20
The all-conquering United States ladies’s nationwide group face stiff competitors from a sequence of rising European contenders for the World Cup. The Americans have gained 4 of the eight earlier editions of the match, together with the final two, however have been overwhelmed by Germany, England and Spain this yr. England are trying to again up their victory on house soil at Euro 2022, whereas co-hosts Australia shall be hoping Chelsea star Sam Kerr can lead the Matildas past the quarter-finals for the primary time. Ten venues throughout 9 host cities in Australia and New Zealand will host the primary 32-team ladies’s World Cup, which is about to smash data for attendance and viewing figures in an additional indication of the rising reputation of the game.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
