<p>Formula One<br />Lewis Hamilton (pictured below, right) dominated the 2014 Formula One season, even though the double points system meant he had to wait till the last stop to celebrate.<br /><br /></p>.<p>His duel with team-mate Nico Rosberg was the highlight of the season and the two will continue their rivalry with the new season kicking off at Melbourne on March 15.<br /><br />Changes in teams will make sure there will be tremendous interest in the new season. Four-time World champion Sebastian Vettal has moved to Ferrari from Red Bull after a lacklustre season and the German will be looking to end the Italian giants wait for another title.<br /><br />Fernando Alonso, who left Ferrari for McLaren at the end of the last season, will also eye another title after his stint with the Italians failed to fetch him any rewards and leaving him frustrated.<br /><br />Australian GP Melbourne: March 15<br />Malaysian GP, KL: March 29<br />Chinese GP, Shanghai: April 12<br />Bahrain GP, Sakhir: April 19<br />Korean GP: May 3<br />Spanish GP, Barcelona: May 10<br />Monaco GP, Monte Carlo: May 24<br />Canadian GP, Montreal: June 7<br />GP of Austria, Spielberg: June 21<br />British GP, Silverstone: July 5<br />German GP: July 19<br />Hungary GP, Budapest: July 26<br />Belgian GP: August 23<br />Italian GP, Monza: Sept 6<br />Singapore GP Sept 20<br />Japanese GP, Suzuka: Sept 27<br />Russian GP, Sochi: Oct 11<br />United States GP, Austin: Oct 25<br />Mexico GP, Mexico City: Nov 1<br />Brazilian GP, Sao Paulo: Nov 15<br />Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina: Nov 29 Athletics Usain Bolt (pictured left) looks certain to be back where it all began for him at the World Championships at Beijing's Birds Nest, the venue for his stunning 100 and 200m victories in world record times at the 2008 Olympics.<br /><br />Seven years on and the Jamaican sprinter, who will turn 29 the day before the championships begin on August 22, remains his sport's trump card as one of the few sportsmen or women to enjoy a truly global profile.<br /><br />From the Indian point of view, the Asian Championships in Wuhan, China, is the main focus as they aim to strike gold.<br /><br />Diamond League programme<br />May 15: Doha<br />May 17: Shanghai<br />May 29-30: Eugene, Oregon.<br />June 4: Rome<br />June 7: Birmingham.<br />June 11: Oslo<br />June 13: New York<br />July 4: Paris<br />July 9: Lausanne<br />July 17: Monaco <br />July 24-25: London<br />July 30: Stockholm <br />Sept 3: Zurich <br />Sept 11: Brussels<br />Major championships<br />Asian Championships, Wuhan, China June 3 to 7<br />World Championships, Beijing <br />August 22 to 30 <br />Wrestling World Championships, Las Vegas<br />September 7 to 12 Cricket Tens of millions of cricket obsessives will ensure plenty of eyeballs on the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February-March.<br /><br />Australia have won four of the 10 cricket World Cups and will be confident of a fifth title on home soil from Feb 14 to March 29, with reigning champions India and South Africa the most likely to stop them.<br /><br />India, whose 2011 triumph helped bolster the 50-over game against the threat of obsolescence in the face of the growth of the Twenty20 game, will be looking to continue their good batting performances on the bouncy Australian tracks, even though they have struggled during the second innings in Test matches. South Africa and New Zealand should be strong opposition.<br /><br />On the domestic front, IPL (April 8-May 24) will be the cynosure.<br /><br />Major events <br />West Indies v England<br />April-May (Three Tests)<br />England v New Zealand, May-June<br />(two Tests, five ODIs and one-off T20I)<br />West Indies v Australia, June (two Tests) <br />The Ashes (England v Australia)<br />June-Sept (five Tests, one-off T20I, five ODIs) <br />South Africa v England <br />Dec 2015-Feb 2016 (four Tests, five ODIs, two T20Is)<br />International tournaments<br />Australia Tri Series, Jan 16-Feb 1<br />(Australia, England, India)<br />ICC Cricket World Cup, Aus/NZ <br />February 14-March 29 Tennis Men’s tennis’ super three -- Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal renew their rivalry. Federer has won just one major title, his 17th, in the last four seasons while Nadal is battling back from injuries and illness. Djokovic will be the man to beat this year. In the women’s section, Serena Williams (pictured left) will be looking to dominate again.<br /><br />Major events <br />Australian Open, Jan 19 to Feb 1<br />French Open, May 25 to June 7<br />Wimbledon, June 29 to July 12<br /> US Open, Aug 31 to Sept 13<br />Davis Cup <br />First round: March 6-8.<br />Quarterfinals July 17-19<br />Semifinals Sept 18-20.<br />Final Nov 27-29. Football The burgeoning popularity of European club soccer shows no sign of abating but men's international football honours in 2015 will be confined to regional championships in Asia, Africa as well as South, Central and North America. The Copa America will have some of the biggest stars in action, including Lionel Messi and Neymar. <br /><br />The finest female footballers from all seven continents will gather in Canada in June and July to contest the seventh women's World Cup with Germany and the United States the early favourites. Swimming The World swimming championships in the Russian city of Kazan will be without the biggest name in the sport after 18-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps was kicked off the US team in the wake of a drink driving arrest. But there are many others waiting to grab the spotlight, including American Katie Ledecky (pictured above).<br /><br />World championships<br />Kazan, July 24 to August 9 Badminton <br />From the Indian perspective, the progress of Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu and K Srikanth will be keenly watched in the season, with the World Championships scheduled in Jakarta. The event will be sandwiched by a clutch of Super Series Premier events.<br /><br />World Championships: Jakarta<br />August 10 to 16<br />Superseries Premier events<br />All England, Birmingham, March 3-8<br />Malaysia Open, KL, March 31-Apr 5<br />Indonesia Open, Jakarta, June 2-7<br />Denmark Open, Odense, Oct 13-18<br />China Open, Fujian, Nov 10-15<br /><br />Golf <br />Rory McIlroy (pictured above) is the man in form but as ever, there will be much attention on Tiger Woods as he tries to bounce back from an injury hit 2014. Woods won the last of his 14 major titles in 2008 and McIlroy could go some way to replacing him as the face of golf if he can become the sixth player to win a career grand slam at the US Masters in April.<br /><br />Major events <br />US Masters, Augusta, April 9-12.<br />US Open, Chambers Bay, Washington, June 18-21<br />The Open Championship, St Andrew's <br />July 16 to 19<br />PGA Championships, Whistling Straits, Wisconsin Aug 13-16<br /><br />Other events<br />European Games, Baku, Azerbaijan<br />June 12 to 28.<br />CYCLING: Tour de France <br />July 4 to 26</p>
<p>Formula One<br />Lewis Hamilton (pictured below, right) dominated the 2014 Formula One season, even though the double points system meant he had to wait till the last stop to celebrate.<br /><br /></p>.<p>His duel with team-mate Nico Rosberg was the highlight of the season and the two will continue their rivalry with the new season kicking off at Melbourne on March 15.<br /><br />Changes in teams will make sure there will be tremendous interest in the new season. Four-time World champion Sebastian Vettal has moved to Ferrari from Red Bull after a lacklustre season and the German will be looking to end the Italian giants wait for another title.<br /><br />Fernando Alonso, who left Ferrari for McLaren at the end of the last season, will also eye another title after his stint with the Italians failed to fetch him any rewards and leaving him frustrated.<br /><br />Australian GP Melbourne: March 15<br />Malaysian GP, KL: March 29<br />Chinese GP, Shanghai: April 12<br />Bahrain GP, Sakhir: April 19<br />Korean GP: May 3<br />Spanish GP, Barcelona: May 10<br />Monaco GP, Monte Carlo: May 24<br />Canadian GP, Montreal: June 7<br />GP of Austria, Spielberg: June 21<br />British GP, Silverstone: July 5<br />German GP: July 19<br />Hungary GP, Budapest: July 26<br />Belgian GP: August 23<br />Italian GP, Monza: Sept 6<br />Singapore GP Sept 20<br />Japanese GP, Suzuka: Sept 27<br />Russian GP, Sochi: Oct 11<br />United States GP, Austin: Oct 25<br />Mexico GP, Mexico City: Nov 1<br />Brazilian GP, Sao Paulo: Nov 15<br />Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina: Nov 29 Athletics Usain Bolt (pictured left) looks certain to be back where it all began for him at the World Championships at Beijing's Birds Nest, the venue for his stunning 100 and 200m victories in world record times at the 2008 Olympics.<br /><br />Seven years on and the Jamaican sprinter, who will turn 29 the day before the championships begin on August 22, remains his sport's trump card as one of the few sportsmen or women to enjoy a truly global profile.<br /><br />From the Indian point of view, the Asian Championships in Wuhan, China, is the main focus as they aim to strike gold.<br /><br />Diamond League programme<br />May 15: Doha<br />May 17: Shanghai<br />May 29-30: Eugene, Oregon.<br />June 4: Rome<br />June 7: Birmingham.<br />June 11: Oslo<br />June 13: New York<br />July 4: Paris<br />July 9: Lausanne<br />July 17: Monaco <br />July 24-25: London<br />July 30: Stockholm <br />Sept 3: Zurich <br />Sept 11: Brussels<br />Major championships<br />Asian Championships, Wuhan, China June 3 to 7<br />World Championships, Beijing <br />August 22 to 30 <br />Wrestling World Championships, Las Vegas<br />September 7 to 12 Cricket Tens of millions of cricket obsessives will ensure plenty of eyeballs on the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February-March.<br /><br />Australia have won four of the 10 cricket World Cups and will be confident of a fifth title on home soil from Feb 14 to March 29, with reigning champions India and South Africa the most likely to stop them.<br /><br />India, whose 2011 triumph helped bolster the 50-over game against the threat of obsolescence in the face of the growth of the Twenty20 game, will be looking to continue their good batting performances on the bouncy Australian tracks, even though they have struggled during the second innings in Test matches. South Africa and New Zealand should be strong opposition.<br /><br />On the domestic front, IPL (April 8-May 24) will be the cynosure.<br /><br />Major events <br />West Indies v England<br />April-May (Three Tests)<br />England v New Zealand, May-June<br />(two Tests, five ODIs and one-off T20I)<br />West Indies v Australia, June (two Tests) <br />The Ashes (England v Australia)<br />June-Sept (five Tests, one-off T20I, five ODIs) <br />South Africa v England <br />Dec 2015-Feb 2016 (four Tests, five ODIs, two T20Is)<br />International tournaments<br />Australia Tri Series, Jan 16-Feb 1<br />(Australia, England, India)<br />ICC Cricket World Cup, Aus/NZ <br />February 14-March 29 Tennis Men’s tennis’ super three -- Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal renew their rivalry. Federer has won just one major title, his 17th, in the last four seasons while Nadal is battling back from injuries and illness. Djokovic will be the man to beat this year. In the women’s section, Serena Williams (pictured left) will be looking to dominate again.<br /><br />Major events <br />Australian Open, Jan 19 to Feb 1<br />French Open, May 25 to June 7<br />Wimbledon, June 29 to July 12<br /> US Open, Aug 31 to Sept 13<br />Davis Cup <br />First round: March 6-8.<br />Quarterfinals July 17-19<br />Semifinals Sept 18-20.<br />Final Nov 27-29. Football The burgeoning popularity of European club soccer shows no sign of abating but men's international football honours in 2015 will be confined to regional championships in Asia, Africa as well as South, Central and North America. The Copa America will have some of the biggest stars in action, including Lionel Messi and Neymar. <br /><br />The finest female footballers from all seven continents will gather in Canada in June and July to contest the seventh women's World Cup with Germany and the United States the early favourites. Swimming The World swimming championships in the Russian city of Kazan will be without the biggest name in the sport after 18-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps was kicked off the US team in the wake of a drink driving arrest. But there are many others waiting to grab the spotlight, including American Katie Ledecky (pictured above).<br /><br />World championships<br />Kazan, July 24 to August 9 Badminton <br />From the Indian perspective, the progress of Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu and K Srikanth will be keenly watched in the season, with the World Championships scheduled in Jakarta. The event will be sandwiched by a clutch of Super Series Premier events.<br /><br />World Championships: Jakarta<br />August 10 to 16<br />Superseries Premier events<br />All England, Birmingham, March 3-8<br />Malaysia Open, KL, March 31-Apr 5<br />Indonesia Open, Jakarta, June 2-7<br />Denmark Open, Odense, Oct 13-18<br />China Open, Fujian, Nov 10-15<br /><br />Golf <br />Rory McIlroy (pictured above) is the man in form but as ever, there will be much attention on Tiger Woods as he tries to bounce back from an injury hit 2014. Woods won the last of his 14 major titles in 2008 and McIlroy could go some way to replacing him as the face of golf if he can become the sixth player to win a career grand slam at the US Masters in April.<br /><br />Major events <br />US Masters, Augusta, April 9-12.<br />US Open, Chambers Bay, Washington, June 18-21<br />The Open Championship, St Andrew's <br />July 16 to 19<br />PGA Championships, Whistling Straits, Wisconsin Aug 13-16<br /><br />Other events<br />European Games, Baku, Azerbaijan<br />June 12 to 28.<br />CYCLING: Tour de France <br />July 4 to 26</p>
