With Rio Olympics in August, 2016 is the most important year in the life of any athlete in the world. I will play a number of tournaments before May when the Olympic year actually starts for shuttlers. My aim is to perform better in each of these tournaments. These will also prepare me for the Olympics. The past is in the past and I have to do even better to remain at such a level next season.
Women empowerment is strength for those women who do not know their rights. For educated ones, we know our rights and are equal or even better then men in each and every field. Rape and domestic abuse of women should be weeded out of society. Everything begins at home... parents have to give equal rights to girls, they should be fed well, educated well and given a chance they can outshine men. So here, a certain mindset is required. Why do we ask for empowerment at government level when we can’t do so in our homes? Very few of us actively encourage girls to take up sports... make it 50-50 in each sector and see the results. Empowerment comes from good education. With education country too can progress.
I feel proud when people call me an icon or an inspiration. I ask myself ‘why aren’t more Sainas sprouting up in India? Why other families are not supporting women sportspersons? Is there something wrong?’ I must say that support at home is a must. I would have been a mediocre player if my parents hadn’t supported me. They were always there and I got encouragement from them in every step.
When it comes to the sport, I have to admit we are progressing well as a badminton nation. Ten of the world’s top 20 players in both men’s and women’s categories come from our country. It’s a tremendous achievement. We are there at the top. To be fair more than the girls, who were on top in the last few years, it’s the boys who are suddenly making rapid strides especially this year. I believe they will deliver better results soon. All we need are some good academies and more good coaches. I am sure results are likely to be immediate. Corporate houses should join hands with the government to open new academies in India. Also they can help to train some more sportspersons as excellent coaches.
We have several racquet sports, football, hockey and athletics where sky is the limit to show progress. We should give as much emphasis to these sports as we do the more popular ones. Then see how much progress is being made. As far as badminton goes this year was good for India and me. I became World No 1, won silver in World Cup and All England as well as in China Open for the first time in history of badminton in India. But 2016 will bring different challenges.
Desi Dates
For Indians there is plenty of action to look forward to in the coming year. Here Express takes a look at some of the events that India will play host to in 2016...
Jan 4 to Jan 10
Chennai Open
South Asia’s premier tennis tournament, which features French Open champion Stan Wawrinka.
Jan 24 to Feb 3
Asian Shooting Qualifiers
A key event for Indian and Asian shooters aiming to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
Jan 30
First professional
boxing bout in India
Indian Boxing Council (IBC) will host its first professional bout where top boxers will face off.
Feb 5 to 16
South Asian Games
Eight-nation sporting event where Indian athletes are expect to turn in a dominant performance.
March 8 to April 3
World Twenty20
Cricket’s biggest carnival will come to India with the T20 event.
March 17 to 20
Indian Open Golf
Only European tour event in the country which is expected to see participation from some of the top golfers from the world.
Sept 15 – October 2
U16 Asian Football Championships
A dress rehearsal to the 2017 U17 World Cup, which India will host, the U16 C’ships will be held in Goa.
ICC WT20
March 8: Hong Kong vs Zimbabwe; Afghanistan vs Scotland.
March 9: Bangladesh vs Netherlands; Ireland vs Oman.
March 10 : Scotland vs Zimbabwe; Hong Kong vs Afghanistan.
March 11: Netherlands vs Oman; Bangladesh vs Ireland.
March 12: Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan; Scotland vs Hong Kong.
March 13: Netherlands vs Ireland; Bangladesh vs Oman.
March 15: New Zealand vs India.
March 16: West Indies vs England; Pakistan vs TBD (A1).
March 17: Sri Lanka vs TBD (B1).
March 18: Australia vs New Zealand; South Africa vs England.
March 19: India vs Pakistan.
March 20: South Africa vs TBD (B1); Sri Lanka vs West Indies.
March 21: Australia vs TBD (A1).
March 22: New Zealand vs Pakistan.
March 23: England vs TBD (B1); India vs TBD (A1).
March 25: Pakistan vs Australia; South Africa vs West Indies.
March 26: TBD (A1) vs New Zealand; Sri Lanka vs England.
March 27: TBD (B1) vs West Indies; India vs Australia.
March 28: South Africa vs Sri Lanka.
March 30: Semifinal 1
March 31: Semifinal 2.
April 3: Final
Olympics
August 4- 21
The 31st Summer Games
begins with the Opening Ceremony on August 5. The Closing Ceremony, like
the Opening Ceremony, will be held at the Maracana on August 21. Indians will be taking to Brazil a big contingent, especially in shooting, boxing, badminton and field hockey.
Golf
April 7-10:
The Masters | August National
June 16-19
US Open | Oakmont Golf Course
July 14-17
The Open | Royal Troon
July 28-31
PGA Championship | Baltrusol Golf Club-Lower Course
Tennis
January 18-31: Australian Open
March 4-6: Davis Cup First Round
March 7-20: Indian Wells Masters
March 21-April 3: Miami Masters
April 10-17: Monte Carlo Masters
May 1-8: Madrid Masters
May 8-15: Rome Masters
May 22-June 5: French Open
June 27-July 10: Wimbledon
July 15-17: Davis Cup quarters
July 25-31: Toronto Masters
August 15-21: Cincinnati Masters
August 29-Sept 11: US Open
Sept 16-18: Davis Cup semifinals
October 10-16: Shanghai Masters
October 31-Nov 6: Paris Masters
Nov 14-20: World Tour Finals
November 25-27: Davis Cup Final
Formula 1 Race
March 20: Australian Grand Prix.
April 3: Bahrain Grand Prix.
April 17: Chinese Grand Prix.
May 1: Russian Grand Prix.
May 15: Spanish Grand Prix.
May 29: Monaco Grand Prix.
June 12: Canadian Grand Prix.
June 19: Grand Prix of Europe.
July 3: Austrian Grand Prix.
July 10: British Grand Prix.
July 24: Hungarian Grand Prix.
July 31: German Grand Prix.
August 28: Belgian Grand Prix.
September 4: Italian Grand Prix.
September 18: Singapore GP.
October 2: Malaysian Grand Prix.
October 9: Japanese Grand Prix.
October 23: United States GP.
October 30: Mexican Grand Prix.
November 13: Brazilian GP
November 27: Abu Dhabi GP
Badminton
19-24 Malaysia Masters 2016 Grand Prix Gold) Penang
26-31 Syed Modi Championships 2016 (GP Gold) Lucknow
February
15-21 Asia Team C’ships Hyderabad
March
1-6 German Open (GP Gold) Mulheim an der Ruhr
8-13 All England Open Superseries Premier Birmingham
15-20 Swiss Open (GP Gold) Basel
22-27 New Zealand Open (GP Gold) Auckland
29-3 Apr India Open (Superseries) New Delhi
April
5-10 Malaysia Open (Superseries Premier) Shah Alam
12-17 Singapore Open (Superseries) Singapore City
19-24 China Masters (GP Gold) Jiangsu
26-1 Asia Championships Wuhan
May 2016
15-22 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals BWF event Kunshan
30-5 Jun Indonesia Open (Superseries Premier) Jakarta
June
7-12 The Australian Open (Superseries) Sydney
28-3 Jul Chinese Taipei Open (GP Gold) Taipei
July
5-10 US Open (GP Gold) California
August
11-20 RIO Olympic Games 2016
September
6-11 Indonesian Masters (GP Gold)
20-25 Japan Open (Superseries)
27 Sep-2 Oct Korea Open (Superseries) Seoul
October
4-9 Thailand Open (GP Gold)
18-23 Denmark Open (Superseries Premier) Odense
25-30 French Open (Superseries) Paris
November
1-6 Bitburger Badminton (GP Gold) Saarbrucken
8-13 Korea Masters Championships (GP Gold)
22-27 Hong Kong Open (Superseries) Kowloon
22-27 India International Series Hyderabad
29-4 Dec Macau Open (GP Gold)
December
1-4 TATA India International Challenge Mumbai
14-18 Dubai World Superseries Finals
Hockey
January 18 - February 21
Hockey India League
11 June - 19 June
Men’s Champions Trophy
1 November - 15 November
Asian Champions Trophy
December 1 - December 11
Junior World Cup
Cricket
India tour of Australia
5 ODIS: Jan 12-23
3 T20s: Jan 26-31
Asia Cup T20, Bangladesh
February 24 to March 6
Indian Premier League April 9 to May 29.
Basil D’Oliveira Trophy
3 Tests: January 3-26, 3 Tests
5 ODIs: Feb 3-14,
2 T20s: Feb 19-21
Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
3 ODIs: Feb 3-8
2 Tests: Feb 12-24
Sri Lanka tour of England
3 Tests: May 19-June 13
5 ODIS: Jun 21-July 2
1 T20: July 5
West Indies Tri-Nation Series
WI vs Australia vs South Africa
June 6-26
Pakistan tour of England
4 Tests: July 14-Aug 15
5 ODIS: Aug 24-Sept 4
1 T20: Sept 7
New Zealand Tour of South Africa
2 Tests: Aug 19-31
Australia tour of South Africa
5 ODIS: Sept 30-Oct 12
India’s itinerary for their series the year is yet to be finalised.
Champions League
Round of 16
Gent vs Wolfsburg
Feb 17, Mar 8
Roma vs Real Madrid
Feb 17, Mar 8
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Feb 16, Mar 9
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Feb 23, Mar 16
Juventus vs Bayern Munich
Feb 23, Mar 16
PSV Eindhoven vs Atlético Madrid
Feb 24, Mar 15
Benfica vs Zenit Saint Petersburg
Feb 16, Mar 9
Dynamo Kyiv vs Manchester City Feb 24, Mar 15
Quarterfinals: The first legs will be played on 5 and 6 April, and the second legs will be played on 12 and 13 April 2016.
Semis: The first legs will be played on 26 and 27 April, and the second legs will be played on 3 and 4 May
Final: The final will be played on 28 May 2016 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy.
UEFA Euro
June 10 – July 10
June 10: France vs Romania
June 11: Albania vs Switzerland; Wales vs Slovakia; England vs Russia.
June 12: Turkey vs Croatia; Poland vs N Ireland; Germany vs Ukraine.
June 13: Spain vs Czech Republic; Republic of Ireland vs Sweden; Belgium vs Italy.
June 14: Austria vs Hungary; Portugal vs Iceland.
June 15: Russia vs Slovakia; Romania vs Switzerland; France vs Albania.
June 16: England vs Wales; Ukraine vs N Ireland; Germany vs Poland.
June 17: Italy vs Sweden; Czech Republic vs Croatia; Spain vs Turkey.
June 18: Belgium vs Republic of Ireland; Iceland vs Hungary; Portugal vs Austria.
June 19: Romania vs Albania; Switzerland vs France.
June 20: Russia vs Wales; Slovakia vs England.
June 21: Ukraine vs Poland; Northern Ireland vs Germany; Czech Republic vs Turkey; Croatia vs Spain.
June 22: Iceland vs Austria; Hungary vs Portugal; Italy vs Republic of Ireland; Sweden vs Belgium.
Round of 16: June 25 to 27 June.
Quarterfinals: June 30 to July 3.
Semifinals: July 6 and 7.
Final: July 10.