Current Affairs - Sports In News

On 17^th September, 2023, India secured its 8th Asia Cup championship by easily chasing down a target of 51 against Sri Lanka.

Key Points

• One-Sided Contest: Mohammed Siraj played a pivotal role in India's victory, decimating Sri Lanka's batting lineup with remarkable figures of 6 for 21 off 7 overs.
• The result was all but assured after Sri Lanka's batters struggled, with five of them getting dismissed without contributing to the score.
• Swift Victory: India achieved the target in just 6.1 overs, winning the final match with a remarkable 263 balls to spare and all 10 wickets intact.
• This victory marked India's largest winning margin in terms of balls remaining in Asia Cup history, surpassing their previous record set against Kenya in 2001.

On 10^th September, 2023, Novak Djokovic claimed his 24th Grand Slam title, the highest number ever achieved by a player in the Open Era, with a 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Daniil Medvedev.

Key Points

• Djokovic's Victory and Record: This victory also tied him with Australian Margaret Court for the Grandest Slam singles titles in history.
• Experience Pays Off: Djokovic's experience played a crucial role in his win, especially compared to his 2021 loss to Medvedev.
• Historic Milestone: Djokovic now boasts a 12-3 record in Grand Slam finals in his 30s, a notable improvement over his 12-9 record in his 20s.

Recently, Spain has won their first Women’s World Cup title less than a year after a player rebellion, holding off England 1-0 on 20^th August after Olga Carmona’s first-half goal.

Key Points

• Loss for UK: The Lionesses were trying to bring a World Cup back to England for the first time since 1966, but fell just short in front of 75,784 spectators at the final at Stadium Australia.
• Historic Victory: Spain’s first major international trophy made it the first European team to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany in 2007.
• Carmona's Remarkable Achievement: Olga Carmona, a 23-year-old Real Madrid player, was named the final's most valuable player and became the first player since American Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in both a World Cup semifinal and final.

Recently, in a remarkable achievement, Aditi Swami has etched her name in history by becoming the youngest-ever senior world champion at the World Archery Championship.

Key Points:

• Unprecedented Triumph: The 17-year-old Indian archer's extraordinary feat has not only secured a gold medal for the country but has also marked her as the first individual world champion in archery from India, across any discipline and gender.
• Historic Record: Not only is Aditi Swami the youngest-ever senior world champion, but she is also the first Indian athlete to achieve this distinction in the world of archery. Her victory highlights her exceptional talent, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
• Double World Champion: Prior to her historic win, she had already claimed the Under-18 title in the Youth Championships in Limerick, Ireland, showcasing her prowess as a double world champion in less than two months.
• India's Remarkable Finish: India's impressive showing at the championship resulted in a record-breaking four medals—three gold and one bronze.

Indian women wrestlers exhibited exceptional skill and determination at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, leaving a lasting impression with an impressive medal haul of one gold, three silver, and one bronze.

Key Points

• India's Impressive Standings: The Indian Women's team secured a commendable third place in the U17 World Championships, amassing 118 points.
• This achievement underscores the young athletes' promising talents and their determination to excel on the global stage.
• Japan Dominates: Japan emerged as the dominant champion with a remarkable 200 points, showcasing their prowess across various sporting disciplines.
• Strong US Presence: The United States secured second place with 122 points, highlighting the depth and strength of their young athletes in multiple sports.

Recently, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) initiated 'Halla Bol' short movie series, part of the 'Cheer4India' campaign, spotlighting the journey of Asian Games-bound athletes and fostering enthusiasm for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.

Key Points:

• Inspiring Athletes and Youth: The series intends to uplift both Asian Games athletes and the younger generation, encouraging them to engage in sports.
• 19th Edition of Asian Games: As the Indian contingent prepares for the 19th edition of the Asian Games, the 'Halla Bol' series offers insights into the dedicated efforts and aspirations of talented athletes representing the country.
• Continuation of a Tradition: The 'Halla Bol' series follows the precedent set by 'Olympics ki Aasha,' a similar movie series launched prior to the Tokyo Olympics, further bolstering the spirit of athletes and promoting sports across India.

On 30^th July, 2023, defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen secured a resounding victory in the Belgian Grand Prix and achieved his 8th consecutive win and 10th overall in a highly dominant season.

Key Points:

• Verstappen's Emphatic Victory: Max Verstappen convincingly won the Belgian Grand Prix, marking his 8th consecutive victory and 10th overall in this dominant season.
• Despite starting from sixth place on the grid, Verstappen finished a staggering 22.3 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, securing an easy 1-2 for Red Bull.
• Verstappen's Record-Breaking Season: Verstappen's current form brings him ominously closer to securing a third consecutive world title.
• He is also eyeing to match Sebastian Vettel's Formula One record of nine straight wins, aiming for victory at the Dutch GP when the season resumes on August 27.

Iga Swiatek secured a dominant victory in the Warsaw Open, her home tournament, defeating Laura Siegemund 6-0, 6-1 in just 68 minutes.

Key Points:

• Decisive Victory in the Final: In the final against Siegemund, Swiatek dominated from the start, winning the first nine games and never facing a break point, eventually claiming a convincing victory.

On 23^rd July, 2023, third seed Karman Kaur Thandi emerged victorious in the final of the $60,000 ITF women's tennis tournament held in Evansville, USA, defeating fourth-ranked Yuliia Starodubteva of Ukraine in a thrilling three-set match.

Key Points:

• Title Tally: This marks Karman's second title at this level, with her previous win at Saguenay, Canada, in October. Overall, it is the fourth singles crown of her career, including two wins last season, with one victory in Gurugram, India.
• Ranking Leap: Following her title win, Karman climbed 51 places in the ranking list, now standing at 210, making her the second-highest-ranked Indian player after Ankita Raina (ranked 200).

The Indian men's football team has entered the sub-100 FIFA ranking for the first time since 2018, securing the 99th spot in the latest FIFA chart.

Key Points:

• SAFF Championship Triumph: India's achieved the milestone in FIFA ranking following their remarkable victory in the SAFF Championship.
• Rising Ranks: As India soared in the FIFA ranking, Lebanon also made progress, moving up two places to secure the 100th spot, while Kuwait climbed four places, reaching the 137th position.
• FIFA Ranking Update: India's latest FIFA ranking reflects their impressive performance, accumulating a total of 1208.69 points.
• Previous Milestones: The current achievement adds to India's football history, with the team previously achieving its best FIFA ranking of 94th in 1996 and reaching the 99th spot in 1993 and 96th in 2017 and 2018.
• Global Standings: At the global level, Argentina maintains its top position in the FIFA ranking, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Belgium.
• Asian Dominance: Within the Asian region, Japan leads the chart, securing the 20th spot in the FIFA ranking. They are followed by Iran, Australia, Korea, and Saudi Arabia, making up the top five countries in Asia.