Why 2016 promises to be an exciting year for sports lovers
As the sun sets on 2015 and dawn rises on 2016, it's time to take a look at what the sports fan can expect from the coming year.
I am personally very excited at the prospect of all the sporting action lined up for 2016. It is going to be a mega year for sports. Of course, there will be the regular World Championships and Grand Slams. But, this is also the year of the Olympic Games, the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet.
It is the year of the World T20, where hosts India will look to reign supreme, and finally, it is the year when UEFA Euro 2016 will take center stage and the powerhouses of European football will battle it out in France.
First up, in March is the cricket carnival of the shortest format of the sport - the ICC World Twenty20.
When India defeated Pakistan in the final of the T20 World Cup in 2007, it marked the arrival of the T20 revolution. After five editions and five different champions, the tournament now travels to the Indian peninsula.
The biggest draw of this World T20 will be the clash of the neighbours - India and Pakistan on March 19 in Dharamsala. After all the deliberations and negotiations for the proposed bilateral series between the two, the clash gains even more importance.
Another big factor this World Cup could be the return of Yuvraj Singh. He was the star in 2007, and the man who was blamed in 2014. He will hope to set the record straight and his selection for the Australia series, could be an indication for things to follow.
The next destination on this sporting sojourn is France, playing host to the UEFA European Championship or Euro 2016. As summers touchdown in Europe, the temperatures will soar, excitement will rise and a carnival will begin. No wonder, the rivalries at the Euros are considered even bigger than that in the World Cup.
The 2016 edition of the Euros will be contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format used since 1996. The two groups that will catch everyone's attention will be group B, where England and Wales are in the same quarter, and group C where the magnetic Robert Lewandowski of Poland is placed against Germany.
Belgium probably have it a little tougher than the rest having been paired with Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
Irrespective of who emerges as the King of Europe, what awaits is an exceptional month of football in magical France.
And, finally, the event that has got me the most excited, the one that is labeled as the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet - Olympics.
Picture this: the sprints of Usain Bolt, the exploits of Michael Phelps in the pool, the dominance of the United States and the challenge posted by China. Rio 2016 promises to be a treat for sports fans. The Olympics are special and even legends like Roger Federer crave that glittering gold at the games.
Rio is expected to host more than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries. The rivalry of Bolt and the USA's Justin Gatlin will surely keep fans glued to their television sets and the duo will take center stage on Sunday, 14th of August for the 100 metre final, 18th for 200 metre final and 19th for 4x100 metre relay.
But, an even bigger question is, whether the most decorated Olympian of all time, American swimming legend Michael Phelps make the cut for the US team. Or, will Ryan Lochte lead the charge for the Americans and South Africa's Chad Le Clos set the pool on fire.
Over to the Indian contingent, and for Rio 2016, 64 athletes have managed to make the cut so far.
India's history at the Olympics has not been a bright one. For us, medals have been far and few. It was only at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that India managed to win their first individual gold when Abhinav Bindra rewrote the country's sports history by winning the gold in the 10m Air Rifle event.
The 2012 edition in London was India's watershed Olympics - the biggest ever contingent with 83 athletes and the best medal haul, with 2 silver and 4 bronze.
But, at the moment with several Olympic qualifiers still remaining, the first task for India will be to better their participation numbers from London and make Rio as remarkable, if not better, than London 2012.