Nairo Quintana. Photo: RCS Sport
We make sure you won’t miss any of the sport this year with a look at the international events where Colombian athletes may find success, plus chances for you to watch or take part in the action here on home soil.
International
Athletics
IAAF World Championships Athletics, Beijing, August 22 – 30
Colombia’s big star in athletics, Caterine Ibargüen, has been unbeaten in every single competition she has competed in since the Olympic Games in London 2012. The triple jump champion from Cali will be aiming to break the world record of 15.50 metres set in 1995 by Ukrainian Inessa Kravets, as well as trying to grab her second world championship title in a row.
Aquatics -High Diving
FINA World Championship Aquatic Sports, Russia, July 24 – August 9
Orlando Duque will be aiming to claim a second successive title in high diving during the event that also includes the world championships in swimming, water polo and synchronised swimming.
Cycling
Tour de France, Netherlands, Belgium and France, July 4 – 26
Since the end of 2014, the international cycling world has been talking about it. The big four in cycling – Colombia’s Nairo Quintana along with Froome, Contador and Nibali – will all compete in the Tour 2015: a guarantee of fireworks. With Uran, Arredondo, Chavez and Anacona expected as well, Colombia is preparing for a great Tour de France this year. Besides the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia in May and Vuelta a España in August will also be marked in the agendas of every Colombian cycling fan.
Cycling (track)
UCI Track Cycling World Championship, Paris, February 18 – 22
In the recent World Cup in Cali – see page 24 – Fabián Puerta made his candidacy for the world championships very clear. The 22-year-old will go up for his first world championship title in the Keirin and Sprint disciplines.
Football
Copa America 2015, Chile, June 11 – July 4
After a successful World Cup for South America – with five out of six teams qualifying for the last 16 – all eyes will be on the Copa America. Colombia should progress from their group with Venezuela, Peru and Brazil, but with Uruguay, Argentina and Chile also being potential opponents, it will be a very open tournament.
Motorsports
Yonny Hernandez will be competing in his fourth consecutive season at the highest level of Motorcycling, the MotoGP. And though seats have not been divided yet, Juan Pablo Montoya, Carlos Huertas, Carlos Muñoz and Sebastian Saveedra all are expected in the Indycar 2015 following a successful season for the Escarabajos with two victories and six more podium spots.
Taekwondo
World Taekwondo Championships, Russia, September 16 – 23
Oscar Muñoz, bronze medal winner at the Olympic Games in London 2012, will be aiming for the world championship title in Russia, with Katherine Dumar an important competitor in the women’s competition.
In Colombia
Archery
Archery World Cup, Medellin, September 8 – 13
Medellin will host the fourth stage of the Archery World Cup in September. Current world champion Sara Lopez and former world champion Alejandra Usquiano will represent the host nation in search for more silverware.
Athletics – Track and Field
IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships, Cali, July 15 – 19
After the World Championship track cycling in January, Cali will organise a second big event this year with the World Youth Athletics Championships. The Usain Bolts and Caterine Ibargüens of the future will compete for the title in America de Cali’s stadium, Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero.
Running
Energizer Night Race, Bogota, March 22
The Energizer Night Race comes to Bogota this year with the objective of raising the equivalent of 14 million hours of light for rural areas of Colombia. With a 10km run through the streets of Bogota, the organisation will raise donations to buy the electricity. Registration is open at www.energizernightrace.com.co
Media Maratón de Bogotá, Bogota, July 26
National and international athletes will be at the start of the prestigious Bogota half-marathon. For this edition, the 16th, anyone who likes a challenge can register to run. If 21km is too much to start with, look at the range of 10km runs throughout the year in Bogota and other places in the country at www.correcaminoscolombia.com
Cricket
South American Cricket Championships, Chile, October 9 – 12
The Colombian cricketers will look to continue their successful return to international cricket in the South American championships in Chile. Additionally, in an attempt to start a team in Medellin, a delegation from Bogota will be playing in the Antioquian capital on February 21 – 22. More information can be found on the Facebook page of Cricket Colombia.
Motorsports
FIM Supermoto World Championships, Chachagüí, August 2
In August the Supermoto circuit will land in the Nariño department in the south for the Grand Prix of Colombia. Chachagüí will host this international event with the up and coming stars in motorcycling for the first time in history.
Roller skating
FIRS World Roller Speed Skating Championships, Cali, November 14 – 23
Colombia will be looking to retain the world title in their own country, in Cali to be precise, the Valhalla of roller speed skating. With the world number one in both men’s and women’s roller speed skating, nothing less than another title is expected.
Tennis
Claro Open Colsanitas, Bogota, April 13 – 19
International women’s tennis stars will land in Bogota in April for the only WTA tour event of the year here. In the sixth edition of the WTA 250 tournament Colombia’s number one Mariana Duque will be looking to triumph over stars like Jelena Jankovic to repeat her 2009 tournament win. Check for information www.copaclarocolsanitas.com
Claro Open Colombia, Bogota, July 20 – 26
At the end of July it’ll be the turn of male tennis stars to come to Bogota for Colombia’s only ATP tour event. In 2014 the ATP 250 tournament was prey for Australian ‘enfant terrible’ Bernard Tomic. We will likely see him back to defend his title, with Colombia’s number one Santiago Giraldo competing too. For info and tickets see www.claroopencolombia.com
Look out for our sports calendar in every edition for the very latest on what’s going on.
By Freek Huigen
