The International Championships You Haven't Heard Of

October 13, 2016

Jeremy Rellosa

Major sports in the U.S. -- baseball, football, and basketball -- can dominate the headlines, leaving lesser known competitions unknown to American audiences. But there are other international sports holding championships this month, some definitely worth noticing. (Sam Panthaki/AFP/Getty Images)

Each year in the month of October, the teams of the major American sports leagues reach peak activity. The MLB postseason is underway, with some teams eliminated and others still battling to take home a World Series. Skates have hit the ice for the start of a new NHL season. NBA teams are just about ready to take the court. And the NFL, several weeks in, is somewhere in the middle. Every so often, when the scheduling permits, sports fans are even treated to a "sports equinox."

This October, however, is also a major month for championships in the sports world outside of the U.S. Here are a few international tournaments that are currently underway:

2016 UCI Road World Championships

The International Cycling Union holds its annual road racing event in a different country each year. This year, it’s in Doha, Qatar. The championships consist of time trials — both for individuals and teams — as well as road race events. Here’s German Tony Martin in the Men’s Elite Time Trial event:

2016 Kabaddi World Cup

Kabaddi, an ancient Indian sport, has experienced a revival in recent years. The 2016 World Cup is currently being played in India. The U.S. is currently in tournament play and, according to an article in the Guardian, the sport is new to both American audiences and members of the team itself. “The team is comprised of bodybuilders, rappers, and aspiring media entrepreneurs,” writes Jemayel Khawaja.

The team's inexperience showed in a recent match against Iran:

“Iran were far too strong," Khawaja continues, "for a team whose members weren’t even playing the sport more than a few months ago.”

FIBA 3x3 World Championships 2016

Every two years, FIBA holds a 3-on-3 tournament for both men and women. Apart from the obvious difference — three players per side instead of five — 3x3 is played on a half court and baskets are worth one point within the arc and two points beyond it. Here are some highlights from a match between the Philippines and Romania: