October Sports Calendar 2025 is arguably one of the busiest sporting months in recent memory, not only for global sport but particularly for India, which finds itself at the epicenter of multiple international competitions.
Across five packed weeks, the calendar features world championships, continental tournaments, professional tour stops, and domestic leagues. For athletes, fans, and administrators, this month represents both a showcase and a stress test.
Here’s a detailed week-by-week journey through October 2025.
Week 1: September 27 – October 5 | A Blockbuster Opening
The month begins with a thunderous start as India is hosting the World Para Athletics Championships (Sep 27–Oct 5) in New Delhi. This is historic the first time India is organising the para-athletics world meet. Over 1,000 athletes from 100+ nations are competing at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, with India fielding its biggest-ever contingent of 73 para-athletes.
Stars like javelin thrower Sumit Antil, sprinter Preeti Pal, and high jumper Praveen Kumar carry the weight of home expectations. For Indian sport, this isn’t just competition it is a statement of inclusivity and ambition.
Meanwhile, Ahmedabad is buzzing with the Asian Aquatics Championships (Sep 28–Oct 10). Spread across swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo, the event brings Asia’s best aquatics talent to India. For Indian swimming, the competition is an opportunity for youngsters like Srihari Nataraj and Bhavya Sachdeva to test themselves against continental elites.
Cricket dominates headlines too, with the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup (Sep 30–Oct 27) in full swing. Jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the World Cup features marquee matches, including the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on October 5.
Elsewhere, the global circuit heats up:
- Shanghai Masters (Oct 1–12) kicks off the ATP’s Asian swing, critical for the “Race to Turin” ATP Finals qualification.
- World Weightlifting Championships (Oct 2–11, Norway) debut new weight categories, with India’s Mirabai Chanu again in the spotlight.
- Archery Premier League (Oct 2–12, New Delhi) offers a franchise-based spectacle parallel to world championships.
- Prime Volleyball League (Oct 2–26, Hyderabad) sustains the domestic sporting buzz with its franchise-driven format.
- FIDE World Youth Chess Championships (Oct 3–16) in Albania spotlight the next generation of chess prodigies.
- Open Squash Classic (Oct 5–9) serves as the first PSA event of the month.
- Football: FC Goa vs FC Istiklol (Oct 1, ACL2) adds international flavor to India’s club football calendar.
Week one thus sets the tone: para-sport excellence, aquatics grandeur, cricketing drama, and professional circuits roaring into action.
Week 2: October 6–12 | Juniors, Champions, and Marathon Spirit
The second week expands the canvas across multiple continents.
In Guwahati, the spotlight shines on the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships (Oct 6–11). India, hosting the event for the first time in 17 years, looks to leverage home advantage. The buzz around India’s badminton future especially in doubles is immense.
Simultaneously, in Finland, the Arctic Open (Oct 7–12, Super 500) gives India’s senior shuttlers a chance to gather crucial ranking points before the bigger European swing.
In golf, the Hero Women’s Indian Open (Oct 9–12) at the DLF Golf & Country Club returns to the Ladies European Tour calendar. A proven platform for Indian golfers like Aditi Ashok, the tournament draws international stars while showcasing India’s rise in women’s golf.
Football commitments add intensity:
- China vs India U17 Men’s Friendlies (Oct 8 & 10) test India’s developmental squads.
- India vs Singapore (Oct 9, Away) in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers marks a pivotal moment for Igor Stimac’s men.
- India U23 vs Indonesia U23 (Oct 10) continues preparation for future age-group competitions.
Athletics keeps the domestic calendar alive with the National Junior Athletics Championships (Oct 10–14, Bhubaneswar), while the streets of Delhi host thousands for the Delhi Half Marathon (Oct 12), a World Athletics Gold Label event.
Shooting action begins with the ISSF World Shotgun Championships (Oct 8–19, Athens), while para-sport fans prepare for Cairo, where the World Para Powerlifting Championships (Oct 11–18) begin.
Add the Asian Team Table Tennis Championships (Oct 11–15, Bhubaneswar) and Sultan of Johor Cup (Oct 11–18, Malaysia) in hockey, and the second week becomes a blend of youth ambition, continental rivalries, and global stage performances.
Week 3: October 13–19 | Europe Calls, Asia Responds
Mid-October sees the calendar reach peak overlap.
In badminton, Guwahati continues to hum with the BWF World Junior Championships (Oct 13–19), while Denmark stages the prestigious Denmark Open Super 750 (Oct 14–19). This European leg is decisive for Indian stars like Satwik-Chirag and HS Prannoy, with qualification for the BWF Tour Finals in play.
India’s footballers face another crucial date: the return leg vs Singapore (Oct 14, Home in Goa) in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. For India’s campaign, the result could make or break their Asian Cup ambitions. Simultaneously, the AFC U17 Women’s Qualifiers (Oct 13 & 17) test India’s grassroots program.
Archery makes global headlines with the Archery World Cup Finals (Oct 17–19), where Deepika Kumari and Jyothi Surekha Vennam aim to consolidate India’s dominance.
Table tennis stays alive with the ITTF Asian Para Championships (Oct 14–19) and WTT Youth Star Contender (Oct 17–19, Podgorica).
Gymnastics eyes its global reset post-Paris Olympics at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships (Oct 19–25, Jakarta).
Meanwhile, endurance and versatility define the week with the World Triathlon Championships (Oct 15–19) and the UCI World Track Cycling (Oct 15–19) and Para Track Cycling (Oct 16–19) World Championships.
Golf continues with the DP World India Championships (Oct 16–19), while rugby fans get the Asia Emirates Women’s Rugby 7s Series (Oct 18–19).
This week, Asia and Europe together pull the strings, with badminton, football, gymnastics, and para-sports anchoring a global sporting festival.
Week 4: October 20–26 | The Climax Builds
The penultimate week intensifies the stakes across multiple fronts.
In tennis, Europe takes charge: the Vienna Open (Oct 20–26) and Basel Open (Oct 20–26) serve as the last ATP 500 stops before Paris, where players fight desperately for ATP Finals slots.
Badminton brings double delight with the French Open Super 750 (Oct 21–26) and the Badminton Asia U15 & U17 Championships (Oct 21–26). For India, it’s both a battle of elite and grassroots.
Wrestling’s future stars step up at the U23 World Wrestling Championships (Oct 20–27).
Table tennis features the WTT Star Contender (Oct 21–26, London).
Football’s commercial spotlight returns to India when FC Goa host Al Nassr (Oct 22, ACL2), a match supercharged by Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence.
Squash offers elite action with the Canadian Women’s Open (Oct 25–30) and the Toronto Athletic Club Open (Oct 25–30), both PSA Silver events.
In combat sports, the World Taekwondo Championships (Oct 24–30, Wuxi, China) showcase the best in martial arts.
Rugby fans witness the Asia Emirates Rugby 7s Trophy (Men’s, Oct 25–26), while baseball makes a rare appearance with the Women’s Baseball Asia Cup (Oct 26–Nov 1).
On October 26, India’s women’s football team also play Nepal in a FIFA Friendly, a valuable test for the Blue Tigresses.
Week 5: October 27–31 | The Grand Finale
The final stretch of October brings a crescendo of global sport.
Tennis headlines the week with the Paris Masters (Oct 27–Nov 2) and the Chennai Open WTA 250 (Oct 27–Nov 2). While Paris determines ATP Finals qualification, Chennai shines a spotlight on women’s tennis in India.
Badminton continues with the Hylo Open (Oct 28–Nov 2, Super 300), providing one final European stop.
Table tennis crowns its elite at the WTT Champions Montpellier (Oct 28–Nov 2).
Chess begins its marathon: the FIDE Men’s World Cup (Oct 30–Nov 27, Goa), a Candidates qualifier, firmly establishes India as a chess superpower.
Elsewhere, the Asian Youth Games (Oct 19–31, Bahrain) conclude, bringing together 4,000 athletes from across the continent.
By the end of October, nearly every Olympic and non-Olympic sport will have had its moment, leaving fans both exhausted and exhilarated.
October 2025 is not just another month; it is a crossroads for Indian sport. From hosting world championships in para-athletics, aquatics, and chess, to staging key cricket World Cup matches and football qualifiers, India is testing its ability to balance logistics, infrastructure, and global attention.
Globally, October represents a convergence—para-sport momentum after the Paralympics, elite competitions in badminton, tennis, and table tennis, and the commercial rise of domestic leagues like the Prime Volleyball League and Archery Premier League.
For Indian fans, the task is equally challenging—keeping track of it all. But for athletes, October 2025 provides one thing above all: opportunity. A chance to inspire, to compete at the highest level, and to push Indian sport further into the global mainstream.
