Sports  
   

BCCI Awards 2025: Jasprit Bumrah & Smriti Mandhana Honored as Best International Cricketers of 2023-24.

On February 1, 2025, Jasprit Bumrah won the Best International Cricketer of the Year (also called the Polly Umrigar Award) 2023-24 in the Men's category, and Smriti Mandhana won the Best International Cricketer of the Year 2023-24 in the Women's category at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Awards 2025 (Naman Awards).

      - Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, fondly known as the "God of Cricket" or "Master Blaster," was honored with the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award of the Year 2024.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Sachin Tendulkar is the 31st recipient of the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCCI.

      (ii) The Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted in 1994 in honor of India’s first cricket captain, Colonel Cottari Kanakaiya (CK) Nayudu.

(iii) The BCCI also presented a special award to Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from all forms of international cricket in December 2024.

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Australia Clinches ICC Women's Championship Trophy for the Third Time.

Australia secured the ICC Women's Championship title for the third consecutive time. This was the third edition of the tournament, where each team played three One Day International (ODI) matches against all other teams. The team finishing at the top of the points table at the end of the cycle was declared the winner.

      - Australian captain Alyssa Healy received the championship trophy in Melbourne, Australia. The trophy was presented on behalf of the ICC by Cricket Australia Chair and ICC Director Mike Baird.

      - Australia finished the championship with the highest total of 39 points, securing 17 wins, three no-results, and three losses in 24 matches. India finished in second place with 37 points.

      - The top six teams from the points table have secured direct qualification for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup, which will be hosted by India. Australia topped the standings with 39 points, followed closely by India with 37 points. England secured third place with 32 points, while South Africa finished fourth with 25 points. Sri Lanka and New Zealand also earned direct entry with 22 and 21 points, respectively. These teams will compete in the upcoming World Cup, aiming for the prestigious title on Indian soil.

Main Point :-   (i) Australia holds the record for winning the most ICC Women's Cricket World Cups in the 50-over format, with titles in 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, and 2022.

      (ii) The Australian women's team has also dominated the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, winning the tournament six times in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

(iii) With this latest ICC Women's Championship win, Australia continues to establish itself as the most dominant force in women's cricket, setting high standards for excellence in the sport.

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Odisha Warriors clinch their first-ever title in the inaugural Women's Hockey India League 2025.

In January 2025, Odisha Warriors won the first-ever Women's Hockey India League title by defeating JSW (Jindal South West) Soorma Hockey Club of Punjab and Haryana.

      - Odisha Warriors won 2-1 in the final held at Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda AstroTurf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

      - Rutuja Dadaso Pisal was the star player for Odisha Warriors, scoring both goals in the 20th and 56th minutes.

      - She gave Odisha Warriors the lead in the 2nd quarter, but Penny Squibb (28') equalized for JSW Soorma Hockey Club.

Main Point :-   (i) The Other Awards at the tournament included Savita Punia (JSW Soorma Hockey Club) winning the Best Goalkeeper award, while Jyoti Rumavat (JSW Soorma Hockey Club) was named the Player of the Tournament.

      (ii) The Top Scorers of the Tournament were Yibbi Jansen (Odisha Warriors) and Charlotte Englebert (JSW Soorma Hockey Club).

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CUB wins 7 awards at the IBA Technology Awards 2024, marking their second consecutive year of recognition.

In January 2025, the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) presented technology awards in seven categories to recognize top technology providers in the banking industry at the 20th Annual Banking Technology Conference, Expo, & Citations 2024, held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

      - The conference was organized by the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), and the awards were presented by RBI Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) The awards were given in seven categories, with banks being recognized in three status levels: Winner, Runner-Up, and Special Mention.

      (ii) City Union Bank Limited (CUB) and Bank of Maharashtra (BOM) won awards in all seven categories, while Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL) won in six categories.

About Indian Banks' Association (IBA)

Chairman: Matam Venkata Rao

Headquarter : Mumbai

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Indian athlete Jyothi Yarraji sets a new national record in the 60m hurdles.

In January 2025, Jyothi Yarraji, an Indian track and field athlete from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), won the Gold medal in the women's 60-meter hurdles at the Elite Indoor Meeting in Nantes, France.

      - Jyothi Yarraji broke her own National Record twice in one day. She clocked 8.07 seconds in the heats and 8.04 seconds in the final, setting a new National Record for India.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Her previous record was 8.12 seconds, set at the 2024 Asian Indoor Championships in Tehran (Iran), where she also won the Gold medal in the 60m hurdles.

      (ii) On January 17, 2025, she was honored with the 'Arjuna Award 2024' for her performance in the 100m hurdles in athletics at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

(iii) In the men's 60m hurdles, Tejas Shirse won the Bronze medal with a time of 7.68 seconds and set a national record in Luxembourg with a time of 7.65 seconds.

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India's Bumrah, Smriti, and Arshdeep Singh Win ICC Men's Cricketer, Women's ODI, and Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year Awards at ICC Awards 2024.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the winners of the ICC Awards 2024, recognizing the exceptional performances of Indian cricketers across multiple categories. The event was held from January 24 to 28, 2025, showcasing the top cricketing achievements of the year.

      - Jasprit Bumrah (India) won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year 2024 and the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2024.

      - Smriti Mandhana (India) was named the ICC Women's One Day International (ODI) Cricketer of the Year 2024.

      - Arshdeep Singh Aulakh (India) received the ICC Men's Twenty20 International (T20I) Cricketer of the Year 2024 award.

Main Point :-   (i) Amelia Kerr Charlotte (New Zealand) claimed the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year 2024, in recognition of her exceptional performances throughout 2024.

      (ii) Richard Keith Illingworth (England) was awarded the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year 2024.

About ICC Awards

Chairman: Jay Shah

Headquarters: Dubai

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Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys Clinch Men's and Women's Singles Titles at Australian Open 2025.

Jannik Sinner of Italy clinched the Men's Singles title, while Madison Keys of the United States of America (USA) won the Women's Singles title at the 2025 Australian Open held at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.

      - This marked the 113th edition of the Australian Open, the 57th in the Open Era, and the first major tournament of 2025, held from January 12th to 26th.

      - The total prize money for the tournament was USD 96.5 million.

      - In the 2025 Australian Open, Prithvi Sekhar (India) won the men's singles title at the Deaf Championships, securing his second consecutive title. Jannik Sinner (Italy) claimed his second straight Australian Open title, defeating Alexander Zverev (Germany), while Madison Keys (USA) won her first Grand Slam by beating Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus).

Main Point :-   (i) In the doubles categories, Harri Heliovaara (Finland) and Henry Patten (Britain) won their second major title by defeating the Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) and Taylor Townsend (USA) emerged victorious in the women’s doubles, winning their second Grand Slam title as a team after beating Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) and Hsieh Su-wei (Taiwan).

      (ii) The Australian Open also witnessed an exciting mixed doubles final, where the Australian pair Olivia Gadecki and John Peers triumphed over John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly Birrell, with this being Gadecki’s first mixed doubles title and Peers' second.

(iii) The Australian Open is an annual tennis tournament organized by Tennis Australia, held at Melbourne Park. It is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events each year, preceding the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. First held in 1905, the tournament is played on hard courts.

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Indian GM Iniyan Panneerselvam Clinches 9th Johor International Chess Title.

In January 2025, 22-year-old Grandmaster (GM) Iniyan Panneerselvam from Erode, Tamil Nadu (TN), claimed the 9th Johor International Open Chess Tournament title. The event, organized by the Johor Chess Association, took place at Fairview International School in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

      - Iniyan triumphed in the final round by defeating Vietnamese GM Nguyen Van Huy.

      - Indian International Master (IM) V.S. Raahul secured second place, while Chinese IM Li Bo claimed third.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Iniyan scored an impressive 8.5 points out of nine rounds in the tournament.

      (ii) He finished 1.5 points ahead of his nearest rival, having defeated four IMs and one GM during the tournament.

(iii) Earlier in January 2025, Iniyan also won the 15th Chennai Open International GM Chess Tournament 2024.

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Berhane Tesfay and Joyce Chepkemoi Tele Win Men’s and Women’s Elite Races at TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025.

In January 2025, the TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025, held in Mumbai, Maharashtra, witnessed Eritrea's Berhane Tesfay and Kenya's Joyce Chepkemoi Tele emerging as the champions in the men's and women's elite races, respectively.

      - The 2025 edition of the Mumbai Marathon, marking its 20th anniversary, is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race event, organized by Procam International Private Limited. Additionally, it served as a qualifying event for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September 2025.

      - The top three finishers in both the men's and women's elite categories were awarded prize money of USD 50,000, USD 25,000, and USD 15,000 respectively.

      - In the overall Elite Men’s Category, Berhane Tesfay from Eritrea claimed first place, followed by Merhawi Kesete (Eritrea) in second and Tesfaye Demeke (Ethiopia) in third.

Main Point :-   (i) In the overall Elite Women’s Category, Joyce Chepkemoi Tele from Kenya secured first place, with Shitaye Eshete (Bahrain) in second and Medina Deme Armino (Ethiopia) in third.

      (ii) In the Indian Elite Category, Anish Thapa emerged victorious in the Indian Men’s race, while Nirmaben Thakor claimed the top spot in the Indian Women’s race.

(iii) Sir Mo Farah, the celebrated multiple Olympic and World Champion from Great Britain, was the International Event Ambassador for the 20th edition of the Mumbai Marathon.

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Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Karnataka Clinches Record 5th Title with Victory Over Vidarbha.

In January 2025, the Karnataka Cricket Team claimed their 5th Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) title by defeating Vidarbha Cricket Team by 36 runs in the final of the 2024-25 edition. The match took place at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Gujarat. Karnataka was led by captain Mayank Anurag Agarwal, while Vidarbha was captained by Karun Kaladharan Nair.

      - The 23rd edition of the VHT was held from December 21, 2024, to January 18, 2025, with 38 teams competing in 135 matches. Karnataka’s previous VHT titles were won in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, and 2019-20.

      - In the final, Karnataka's Smaran Ravichandran scored his second List A century, helping Karnataka post a total of 348 for 6. He was named the Player of the Match for his brilliant knock of 101 runs off 92 balls.

      - Karnataka performed consistently throughout the tournament, losing only one match in the group stage. They advanced by defeating Baroda and Haryana in the knockout rounds before facing Vidarbha in their first final in over five years.

Main Point :-   (i) Vidarbha captain Karun Nair was named Player of the Tournament for scoring 779 runs. India and Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh topped the bowling charts with 20 wickets in the tournament.

      (ii) Karnataka received a prize of ₹1 crore for their victory, while the runner-up Vidarbha team was awarded ₹50 lakh.

(iii) The VHT, officially known as the IDFC First Bank VHT, is an annual domestic 50-over tournament organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Established in 2002-03 as the Ranji One Day Trophy, it was renamed the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2007-08 to honor legendary Indian batsman Vijay Samuel Hazare. The 2023-24 edition was won by the Haryana men's cricket team.

About Karnataka

Chief minister: Siddaramaiah

Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot

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"Viktor Axelsen and An Se-Young Win Men's and Women's Singles Titles at India Open 2025."

In the India Open 2025, held from 14th to 19th January at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and An Se-Young of South Korea claimed the Men's and Women's Singles titles, respectively.

      - Axelsen defeated Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong, while An Se-Young triumphed over Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.

      - The tournament, part of the Super 750 series, had a total prize pool of USD 950,000. In Men’s Doubles, Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin emerged victorious, beating South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto won the Women’s Doubles title by defeating South Korea’s Kim Hye Jang and Kong Hee Young, while China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin claimed the Mixed Doubles crown after defeating France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.

      (ii) The India Open, officially the Yonex Sunrise India Open, has been held annually since 2008, following its debut in 1973.

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"India Claims Victory in Both Men's and Women's Titles at Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025".

The Indian men's and women's teams emerged victorious in the inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, held from January 13 to 19, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi. Both teams secured the championship titles in their respective finals, showcasing exceptional performance and teamwork.

      - The Indian men's Kho Kho team defeated Nepal with a score of 54-36 in the final, while the women's team triumphed over Nepal with a commanding 78-40 victory.

      - Pratik Waikar captained the Indian men's Kho Kho team, while Priyanka Ingle led the women's team to victory.

      - Both Indian men’s and women’s Kho Kho teams remained unbeaten throughout the Kho Kho World Cup 2025. The men’s team topped Group A, defeating Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals and South Africa in the semi-finals, while the women’s team triumphed over Bangladesh and South Africa in their knockout matches.

Main Point :-   (i) The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 featured 20 men’s teams and 19 women’s teams. Teams competed in a round-robin format, with the best advancing to knockout rounds and finals.

      (ii) The tournament was organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF), with support from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

(iii) The second edition of the Kho Kho World Cup is scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England, during 2026-27.

About Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI)

President : Sudhansu Mittal

Headquarters : New Delhi

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FC Barcelona Defeats Real Madrid 5-2 to Win 41st Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

In January 2025, FC Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 to win the 41st edition of the Spanish Super Cup (also known as Supercopa de España). The final was held at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

      - The tournament took place from January 8 to January 12, 2025.

      - With this victory, Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup for the 15th time, two more than Real Madrid, who have won it 13 times.

     

Main Point :-   (i) The Supercopa de España 2025 has a prize pool of USD 20.7 million, with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid each receiving USD 6.2 million, Athletic Bilbao getting around USD 2.1 million, and RCD Mallorca receiving USD 880,150.

      (ii) In addition to the prize money, the tournament champions will receive USD 2.1 million, and the runners-up will get USD 1 million.

(iii) FC Barcelona won their first Super Cup in 1983-84, followed by wins in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996-97, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2022-23, and now 2024-25.

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Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal Khan announces his retirement from international cricket.

On January 10, 2025, Tamim Iqbal Khan, a 35-year-old left-handed batsman from Bangladesh, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket.

      - This is his second retirement; he had first announced his retirement in July 2023, but after Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, intervened, he reversed the decision within 24 hours.

      - Tamim made his debut in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2007 and played his first Test match in 2008.

      - He became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score 50 half-centuries in ODIs.

Main Point :-   (i) Tamim Iqbal is the only Bangladeshi cricketer to score centuries in all three formats of the game (ODIs, Tests, and T20Is).

      (ii) In 2011, he was named one of the four "Cricketers of the Year" by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.

(iii) He has scored more than 15,000 runs in his international career, the highest by any Bangladeshi batsman so far.

About Bangladesh

Capital: Dhaka

Currency: Bangladeshi Taka

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New Zealand Cricketer Martin Guptill Announces Retirement from International Cricket.

On January 9, 2025, 38-year-old New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill announced his retirement from international cricket. Over his 14-year international career, he played 367 matches for New Zealand, scoring a total of 13,463 runs.

      - Martin Guptill played 198 One Day Internationals (ODIs), 122 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and 47 Tests, scoring 23 centuries across these formats, setting numerous white-ball batting records.

      - He became the first New Zealand cricketer to score an ODI double-century, achieving an unbeaten 237 runs during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 quarter-final against the West Indies at Wellington Stadium, New Zealand.

     

Main Point :-   Martin Guptill is the current captain of the Auckland Aces and will continue to play in T20 franchise and domestic cricket matches.

     

About New Zealand

PM : Christopher Luxon

Capital: Wellington

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Australia Defeats India 3-1 to Clinch Border-Gavaskar Trophy After a Decade.

Australia defeated India 3-1 in a 5-match Test series to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years, with the final Test held on January 5, 2025, at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia.

      - The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 was scheduled from November 22, 2024, to January 7, 2025, in Australia.

      - This marks the first time Australia has won the series against India in the last 10 years, since their victory at home in 2014-15.

      - India had won four consecutive series (2016-17, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2022-23), including two in Australia.

Main Point :-   (i) India won the 1st match of the series at Perth by 295 runs, but Australia won the 2nd one in Adelaide by 10 wickets.

      (ii) The 3rd match ended in a draw in Brisbane, but Australia triumphed in the 4th Test in Melbourne by 184 runs and clinched the final Test in Sydney.

(iii) India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket, having secured a total of 765 wickets for India across all formats.

About Australia

Capital: Canberra

PM : Anthony Albanese

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KKFI Reveals Trophies and Mascots for Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025.

On January 3, 2024, the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) revealed the trophies and mascots for the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, scheduled to take place from January 13-19, 2025. Supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the event will be hosted at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.

      - The tournament will feature 21 men's teams and 20 women's teams from 24 countries across 6 continents, highlighting the global reach of the sport.

      - The mascots, 'Tejas' and 'Tara,' are energetic gazelles representing the dynamic and spirited essence of Kho Kho.

      - Tejas represents brilliance and energy, while Tara signifies guidance and aspiration. Both mascots are designed in vibrant blue and orange sporting attire with traditional Indian motifs.

Main Point :-   (i) The tournament features two trophies, a blue trophy for the men's championship and a green trophy for the women's championship.

      (ii) The blue trophy embodies trust, determination, and universal appeal, while the green trophy signifies growth and vitality.

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West Bengal won the 78th Santosh Trophy title in Hyderabad.

On December 31, 2024, West Bengal (WB) won the 78th Santosh Trophy by defeating Kerala in the final at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana.

      - This victory marked WB’s record 33rd Santosh Trophy title in the history of the tournament.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) The Santosh Trophy is a National Football Championship organized by the All India Football Federation. A total of 31 teams participated in the 2024 edition, competing in the Group stage.

      (ii) The 2023 Santosh Trophy was won by Meghalaya, who defeated Karnataka in the final to claim the title.

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India's Koneru Humpy Wins Women's Rapid Title at 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.

The 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships were held from December 26 to December 31, 2024, in Wall Street, New York, USA.

      - Women's World Rapid Championship: India's Koneru Humpy won the title with 8.5 points, defeating Indonesia's Irene Sukandar in the finals.

      - World Rapid Championship (Open Section): 18-year-old Russian player Volodar Murzin won the World Rapid Championship.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Blitz Championship: Norway's Magnus Carlsen and Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Blitz title after both players competed in 3 tiebreak matches.

      (ii) In the Blitz Women's category, China's Ju Wenjun clinched the title by defeating compatriot Lei Tingjie in the finals, while India's Vaishali Rameshbabu secured the bronze medal with 2.5 points.

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Denmark's Anders Antonsen clinched the title at the inaugural King Cup International Badminton Open 2024.

Denmark's Anders Antonsen (World No. 2) won the title at the inaugural King Cup International Badminton Open 2024, defeating China's Hu Zhe'an in a thrilling 2-1 victory (21-18, 11-21, 18-21) in the final match held in Shenzhen, China.

      - Anders Antonsen took home a prize of 1.1 million Renminbi (RMB), while Hu Zhe'an, the runner-up, received 500,000 RMB.

      - India's top badminton player, Lakshya Sen (World No. 12), secured 3rd place in the tournament after defeating Alex Lanier from France. He received a prize of around 36 lakhs.

      - Anders Antonsen is a 3-time World Championships medalist, winning silver in 2019 and 2021, and bronze in 2023.

Main Point :-   (i) The King Cup International Badminton Open 2024, initiated by two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan (China), is a special non-ranking event registered with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), featuring only men's singles matches with participation from 8 players.

      (ii) Lakshya Sen, a former World Junior No. 1 badminton player, won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham, UK, and also claimed a gold at the 2018 Asia Junior Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

(iii) He reached the men's singles semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming the first Indian ever to reach the semi-finals at the Summer Olympic Games.

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Haryana Steelers clinched their first-ever 'PKL Title' with a 32-23 victory over Patna Pirates.

On December 29, 2024, Haryana Steelers (a professional kabaddi team based in Haryana) defeated Patna Pirates (a professional kabaddi team based in Bihar) with a 32-23 win in the final of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11, held at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, Maharashtra.

      - This victory marked the first-ever PKL title for the Haryana Steelers.

      - The Haryana Steelers were awarded a prize of Rs 3 crore for their win, while the Patna Pirates received Rs 1.8 crore as runners-up.

     

Main Point :-   (i) The team is led by Jaideep Dahiya and Rahul Sethpal, and coached by Manpreet Singh. It is owned by JSW (Jindal South West) Sports, part of the JSW Group.

      (ii) Iranian player Mohammadreza Shadloui of Haryana Steelers was honored with the "Most Valuable Player of Season 11" and "Best Defender of Season 11." Coach Manpreet Singh was named the "Super Coach of Season 11."

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Bihar to Host the 2025 Women's Kabaddi World Cup.

The Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will be held in March 2025 at the Rajgir Sports Academy in Bihar, India. This will be the second time Bihar hosts the event, after successfully organizing the inaugural edition in 2012 at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna (Bihar).

      - The Women's Kabaddi World Cup is an international tournament for women's kabaddi teams, organized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) The 2025 edition will feature 14 countries, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Poland, Argentina, South Africa, and South America.

      (ii) The tournament aims to promote kabaddi as a global sport and provide an international stage for women's teams to showcase their skills.

About Bihar

Chief minister: Nitish Kumar

Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan

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India to host the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup 2025.

India will host the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup 2025. The event will be organized by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), which is responsible for regulating sports shooting in India.

      - The ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 will include competitions in rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories. The event will feature both Olympic and non-Olympic events.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) This will be the 11th edition of the Junior Shooting World Cup, and India will host it for the first time.

      (ii) This will be the third major ISSF event in India in three years. In 2024, New Delhi hosted the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final, and Bhopal hosted the senior ISSF World Cup in 2023.

(iii) India has previously hosted six ISSF competitions, including two World Cup Finals, four senior ISSF World Cups, and two continental championships.

About National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)

President: Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo

Headquarters : New Delhi

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Team Russia Wins the 13th Edition of Admiral's Cup 24 Sailing Regatta.

The 13th edition of the Admiral's Cup Sailing Regatta 2024 was organized by the Indian Navy (IN) at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala, from 8th to 13th December 2024. The event featured 53 skilled sailors, including 14 women, from 25 nations. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, Commandant of INA, who presented individual medals and the Championship Trophy to the winners.

      - The Admiral's Cup 24 was won by Team Russia, represented by Lieutenant (Lt) Gorkunov Petr Ilyich and Cadet (Cdt) Loshichinina Polina Vladislavovna.

      - Team Italy, led by Midshipman Carlo Leonardo and Ensign Camilla Bernabei, secured second place.

      - Team India/INA 'A', led by Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Japman Avtar and Cdt PK Reddy, finished in third place.

Main Point :-   (i) Lt. Gorkunov Petr Ilyich of Russia claimed first place, while Second Lieutenant (2Lt) Darius Lee Kheng Wee of Singapore and Ensign Pappas Vissarion HN of Greece won second and third places, respectively.

      (ii) Ensign Camilla Bernabei from Italy won first place, followed by Cdt Loshichinina Polina Vladislavovna from Russia in second and SLt Isha Shah from India in third place.

(iii) The Admiral's Cup, established in 2010, is an annual event designed to foster friendship with foreign nations and enhance navy-to-navy cooperation.

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India to Host First-Ever World Athletics Continental Tour Event in August 2025.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has confirmed that India will host its first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour, a bronze level global meet, on August 10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This will be the first time India hosts such a prestigious global event since organizing the 2004 World Half Marathon Championships in New Delhi.

      - A bronze-level meet in the World Athletics Continental Tour is a mid-tier event where athletes compete for world ranking points (category C).

      - The World Athletics Championships 2025 will be held from September 13 to 21, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan.

     

Main Point :-   (i) The World Athletics Continental Tour, established in 2020, consists of events at different levels: bronze, silver, and gold. These levels represent the standard of competition and the prize money offered at each event.

      (ii) World Athletics (formerly known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF) is the organizer of the event.

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Riya Shirish Thatte Clinches Gold in Women's 25m Pistol at 67th National Shooting Championship.

In December 2024, Riya Shirish Thatte from Aurangabad won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.

      - This was her first senior national title. She triumphed over Simranpreet Kaur Brar of Punjab, winning 7-2 in a shoot-off after the two were tied 2-2 with 31 hits in the eighth series of five-shot deciding.

      - Former Asian Games champion and Olympian Rahi Sarnobat secured the third position with 25 hits.

     

Main Point :-   In the junior women's category, Simranpreet Kaur Brar won the title, defeating Payal of Haryana 5-2 in a shoot-off after both had 34 hits. Riya Shirish Thatte earned the bronze with a total of 30 hits.

     

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India Wins 2024 Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup, Defeating China in Penalty Shootout.

India claimed the 2024 Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup (8th edition) title by defeating China in a penalty shootout during the final, securing their second consecutive victory. The tournament, held from December 7 to 15, 2024, took place at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Muscat, Oman. This prestigious event, organized by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), is held every four years.

      - The Indian team, led by captain Jyoti Singh and vice-captain Sakshi Rana, emerged victorious in the final.

      - The win also served as a qualifier for the 2025 FIH Women's Hockey Junior World Cup in Chile, with the top five teams securing their spots.

      - India finished in first place, followed by China in second, South Korea in third, Japan in fourth, and Malaysia in fifth. Deepika Sehrawat from India was the tournament's top scorer with 12 goals.

Main Point :-   (i) India clinched their maiden Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup title in 2023 by defeating the Republic of Korea in the final.

      (ii) The India women's national under-21 field hockey team competes in various women's under-21 field hockey tournaments, including the Junior World Cup and Junior Asia Cup, representing India at the international level.

About China

Capital: Beijing

President: Xi Jinping

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India defeated Bangladesh in the final of the U-19 Women's Asia Cup 2024.

India emerged victorious in the final of the 1st edition of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under (U)-19 Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024, defeating Bangladesh by 41 runs on 22nd December 2024 at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

      - The tournament took place from 15th December to 22nd December 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

      - India was led by captain Niki Prasad, while Bangladesh's team was captained by Sumaiya Akter.

      - India claimed the championship title, with Bangladesh finishing as runners-up and Nepal securing the 3rd position.

Main Point :-   (i) Gongadi Trisha of India was named Player of the Match in the finals and also received the Player of the Series award. She emerged as the tournament's top scorer, amassing 159 runs across 5 innings.

      (ii) The U-19 Women's T20 Asia Cup was organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), featuring a total of 6 teams. These included four Asian full members—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—along with the hosts, Malaysia, and Nepal, who qualified as the winners of the Women's U-19 Asia Qualifier 2025.

About Bangladesh

President: Mohammed Shahabuddin

Capital: Dhaka

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Pranav Venkatesh clinches the FIDE World U-18 Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess titles.

Indian Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh won two gold medals on December 17, 2024, at the FIDE (International Chess Federation) World Youth Under-18 (U-18) Open Rapid and Blitz events. The tournament took place at the Terme Catez Hotel in Brezice, Slovenia, from December 13 to 17, 2024.

      - In the Rapid category, Pranav scored 9.5 points, securing the gold medal. Russia's Alexander Khripachenko earned the silver with 9 points, and Ukraine's Roman Pyrih took the bronze with 7.5 points.

      - In the Blitz category, Pranav finished at the top with 19.5 points, winning another gold. Russia's Dmitry Mochalov won the silver with 15.5 points, while Khripachenko (Russia) claimed the bronze with 14.5 points.

      - Pranav became a Grandmaster in 2022 after achieving his third GM norm at the Limpedea Cup 2022. He is the 75th Grandmaster in the history of India.

Main Point :-   (i) Pranav was the only Grandmaster (GM) participating in the entire event, which had six categories across both Rapid and Blitz formats.

      (ii) International Master (IM) Eline Roebers from the Netherlands was the only female player in the open events. She was also one of only two players to defeat Pranav in the Blitz format.

(iii) The FIDE World U-18 Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess tournament, organized by FIDE (International Chess Federation) and the Slovenian Chess Federation, featured 340 players from 35 countries competing in U14, U16, and U18 categories across both open and girls' sections.

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DD (Doordarshan) partners with HIL for live broadcast and announces the launch of the Women's Hockey India League.

In December 2024, Doordarshan (DD), India's national television broadcaster, has teamed up with the Hockey India League (HIL) to provide live coverage of the 2024-25 hockey season across the country.

      - This season is historic as it marks the launch of the Women's Hockey India League (Women's HIL), alongside the men's tournament.

      - The introduction of the women's league shows Hockey India's commitment to gender inclusivity and promoting women's hockey at the national level.

      - The tournament, which starts on December 28, 2024, will feature eight men's teams and four women's teams. Matches will take place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela (Odisha).

Main Point :-   (i) The Women's Hockey India League will conclude on January 26, 2025, in Ranchi, while the men's final is scheduled for February 1, 2025, in Rourkela.

      (ii) In addition, DD's partnership with HIL will cover all Hockey India National Championships and other events organized by Hockey India, ensuring the sport is accessible nationwide.

(iii) Doordarshan (DD) is run by Prasar Bharati, a board formed by the Government of India (GoI).

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Mumbai Triumphs Over Madhya Pradesh to Win Second SMAT Title.

In the thrilling final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh by 5 wickets to claim their second title. Rajat Patidar's unbeaten 81 helped Madhya Pradesh set a target of 175 runs. Mumbai's chase was led by Suryakumar Yadav's 48 off 35 balls and Suryansh Shedge's quickfire 36 off 15 balls, which saw them reach the target in just 17.5 overs.

      - Madhya Pradesh's Innings: Rajat Patidar played a stellar knock of 81 off 40 balls, guiding his team to a competitive total of 175/8.

      - Mumbai's Chase: Suryakumar Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane provided a solid start, but it was Suryansh Shedge's explosive 36 off 15 balls that sealed the victory.

      - Key Performances: Suryakumar Yadav scored 48 off 35 balls, Ajinkya Rahane contributed 37 off 30 balls, and Suryansh Shedge played a crucial role with his quickfire innings.

Main Point :-   (i) Mumbai chased down the target of 175 runs with 5 wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare.

     

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D Gukesh Becomes Youngest-Ever World Chess Champion, Defeats Ding Liren

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at the age of 18, defeating China's Ding Liren in the decisive 14th and final game. This victory also marked Gukesh as the first teenager to achieve this milestone. The year 2024 has been remarkable for Gukesh, who also won the Candidates tournament and led India to a gold medal at the Chess Olympiad. Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, India, Gukesh began playing chess at the age of seven and quickly rose through the ranks, winning multiple youth championships and earning the title of International Master at 12. In August 2023, he became the youngest player ever to reach a rating of 2750 and surpassed Viswanathan Anand as the top-ranked Indian chess player. Gukesh's rapid ascent continued as he won the Candidates tournament, earning a place in the World Championship. His victory against Ding Liren cements his place in chess history and follows in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand, who won the World Chess Championship four times.

      - Surpassed Viswanathan Anand as top-ranked Indian chess player in 2023.

      - Gukesh is the first teenager to win the World Chess Championship.

     

Main Point :-   (i) D Gukesh becomes youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18.

     

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FIFA Confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup Hosts

FIFA has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men's football World Cup, while Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 tournament. This decision was made during the Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting, where all member nations participated. The announcement follows FIFA's approval and clapping by members via video link, with assurances of safety and inclusivity for fans.

      - Spain, Portugal, and Morocco to jointly host the 2030 tournament.

      - Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to host three matches in 2030 to mark 100 years.

     

Main Point :-   (i) FIFA members voted via video link during the Extraordinary Congress meeting.

     

About FIFA :

- Number of FIFA Member Nations: 211

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India awarded hosting rights for the 2026 Asian Rifle and Pistol Cup.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced that the Executive Committee of the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) has awarded India the rights to host the 2026 Asian Rifle/Pistol Cup.

      - The competition will be held in New Delhi, Delhi in 2026.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) India has previously hosted the 8th Asian Air Gun Competition in 2015 and the Asian Olympic Qualifier in 2016.

      (ii) India has also hosted 6 major competitions organized by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), including two World Cup Finals.

(iii) In 2024, India hosted the ISSF World Cup Final for Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun events in New Delhi.

About the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC)

President: Sheikh Salman Al Sabah

Headquarters: Hawally, Kuwait

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Australian swimmer and 14-time Olympic medalist Emma McKeon announces her retirement.

On November 25, 2024, Emma Jennifer McKeon, a 30-year-old Australian swimmer and Olympic medalist, announced her retirement from competitive swimming. She won a gold medal in the 4 x 100-meter (m) freestyle relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was her final Olympic Games.

      - Emma McKeon holds the Australian record for winning 14 Olympic medals, which includes six gold medals, three silver, and five bronze. She earned these medals across the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

      - She is second only to American swimmer Katie Ledecky (who has 14 Olympic medals, including 9 gold) for the most Olympic swimming gold medals won by a female swimmer.

      - Emma McKeon, who specializes in freestyle and butterfly races of 200 meters or less, competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she won 4 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze), and along with her brother David McKeon, made history as the first brother and sister to swim for Australia at the same Olympic Games in 56 years.

Main Point :-   (i) At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Emma McKeon won 7 medals (4 gold and 3 bronze), becoming the first female swimmer and the second woman in history to win 7 medals in a single Olympics.

      (ii) McKeon’s total of 11 Olympic medals surpassed the previous Australian record of 9 medals, held by Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones, and in 2022, she was honored with the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award, while in 2023, she was named the Gold Coast Young Australian of the Year.

(iii) In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Emma McKeon won 3 more medals (1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze), bringing her total to 20 Commonwealth Games medals (including 14 golds) and 20 World Aquatics Championships medals, while also breaking the record for the most Commonwealth Games medals in 2022 with 6 golds.

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Australian Swimmer Emma McKeon, a 14-Time Olympic Medalist, Announces Her Retirement.

On November 25, 2024, Emma Jennifer McKeon (30), an Australian swimmer and Olympic medalist, announced her retirement from competitive swimming. She won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay at the 2024 Paris Games. It was her final Olympics.

      - Emma McKeon holds the Australian record of 14 Olympic medals across the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Games, with six Olympic gold medals, three silver medals, and five bronze medals.

      - She is second only to American female Olympian Katie Ledecky (14 Olympic medals - 9 Gold) in terms of Olympic swimming gold medals won.

      - In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Emma McKeon won 4 medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze) and, along with her brother David McKeon, became the first sibling duo to represent Australia in swimming at the same Olympic Games in 56 years.

Main Points:-   (i) Emma McKeon specializes in freestyle and butterfly races of 200 meters or less.

      (ii) At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Emma McKeon won 7 medals (4 Gold and 3 Bronze), becoming the first female swimmer and the second woman in history to win 7 medals in a single Olympic Games.

(iii) She won 3 medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze) in the 2024 Paris Games.

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Prajnesh Gunneswaran Announces His Retirement from Professional Tennis.

In November 2024, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, an Indian former tennis player who earned a bronze medal in singles tennis at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 35.

      - He was the sixth Indian male athlete to win a medal in tennis at the Asian Games.

      - Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who turned professional in 2010, reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 75 in 2019 and a career-high doubles ranking of No. 248 in 2018.

      - He won two Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger singles titles, 8 International Tennis Federation (ITF) titles in singles, and 1 ITF title in doubles.

Main Points:-   (i) He also won national titles in every age group from under-12 to under-18.

      (ii) Throughout his career, he participated in all four Grand Slam tournaments, though he was unable to advance past the first round.

(iii) His best performance came at the Australian Open, where he competed in 2019 and 2020.

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George Russell Triumphs at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Mercedes' racer George Russell (the United Kingdom (UK)) won the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix (GP) (officially known as the Formula 1 (F1) Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024) held on 23rd November 2024 at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, the United States of America (USA).

      - Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton (Britain) finished 2nd and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain) finished 3rd.

      - This marks George Russell's 2nd title of the 2024 season. He previously won the Austrian Grand Prix 2024 held in June 2024.

     

Main Points:-   (i) George Russell made his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix 2019 and achieved his first win at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix.

      (ii) As of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Russell has achieved 3 race wins, 4 pole positions, 8 fastest laps, and 15 podiums in F1 and will remain at Mercedes until at least the end of the 2025 season.

(iii) Verstappen has previously won the F1 World Drivers' Championship titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023 with Red Bull. He has also won 62 Grands Prix in 10 seasons.

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Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis Following Davis Cup Exit.

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal (38 years old) retires from professional tennis after Spain lost to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. He has ended his 23-year long career with 22 Grand Slam titles.

      - He is second in terms of the greatest number of Grand Slam titles, only behind Novak Djokovic (Serbia), who currently has the most major titles with 24. Roger Federer (Switzerland) has 20 Grand Slam titles to his name.

      - He defeated Djokovic in the 2010 US Open final and became the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam at 24, and the first man to win majors on three different surfaces in the same year.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Rafael Nadal started his professional career in 2001 at just 15 years of age.

      (ii) In 2004, he claimed his first ATP Tour title and led Spain to win the Davis Cup over the USA.

(iii) Nadal surpassed his joint-record with Djokovic and Federer for the greatest number of Grand Slam men's singles titles at the 2022 Australian Open and became one of four men in history to complete the double Career Grand Slam in singles.

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India triumphs over China in the final to win Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

The Indian women's hockey team won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) 2024 by defeating the People's Republic of China (PRC) 1-0 in the final held at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. This marks India's 3rd Women's ACT title.

      - The 8th edition of Women's Asian Champions Trophy (2024) was held from 11th to 20th November 2024 in Bihar.

      - China secured the 2nd spot while Japan beat Malaysia 4-1 to finish 3rd in the Women's ACT 2024.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Deepika Kumari scored the winning goal for the Indian women's hockey team on home soil and finished as the tournament's top goal scorer with a tally of 11.

      (ii) This marks India's third ACT title, after victories in 2016 and 2023, making them the most successful team in the tournament's history.

(iii) With this title win, India has now equaled South Korea for the most Women's Asian Champions Trophy titles, with 3 titles each.

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Magnus Carlsen Clinches Both Rapid and Blitz Titles at Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024.

Five-time world champion Grandmaster (GM) Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won both the rapid and blitz titles at the 6th edition of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2024 tournament, held from 13th to 17th November 2024, at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal.

      - Carlsen won the blitz title by defeating Vidit Gujrathi (India) in the final round to record three straight wins and end with 13 points.

      - He won the Rapid title by defeating Daniil Dubov (Russia) in the Open Category with 7.5 points.

      - Pragnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Wesley So (USA) scored 5.5 points each, securing 2nd and 3rd place according to tie-breaks.

Main Points:-   (i) In the women's category, GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) secured 2nd place with 5.5 points while the Indian grandmaster Vantika Agrawal remained in 3rd with a total of 5 points.

      (ii) In the women's section, Valentina Gunina (Russia) finished second with 11 points. Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) and India's Vantika Agrawal secured 3rd place with 9.5 points each.

(iii) Magnus Carlsen has won the world title in 2013 and has successfully defended it four times (2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021). He also claimed the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters title in February 2024. As of November 2024, he is on the top of the FIDE (International Chess Federation) ratings.

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Indian Boxer Mandeep Jangra Wins WBF Super Featherweight World Title.

Mandeep Jangra, a 31-year-old professional boxer from Haryana, clinched the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Super Featherweight World Title by defeating Britain's Conor McIntosh in the Cayman Islands.

      - He began his professional boxing career in 2021 and has achieved remarkable success since.

     

     

Main Points:-   (i) Mandeep Jangra has an impressive record, winning 11 out of 12 fights, including 7 victories by knockout.

      (ii) He previously secured a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland.

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India Wins 4-Match T20 Series 3-1 Against South Africa in 2024 Tour.

The Indian men's cricket team, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, won the Twenty 20 Internationals (T20Is) series 3-1 by defeating the South African men's cricket team, captained by Aiden Markram.

      - The Indian team toured from 8th to 15th November 2024 and played 4 T20I matches.

      - Sanju Samson made the 3rd century of his career (109 not out off 56 balls) in the fourth T20I between India and South Africa.

      - Arshdeep Singh became India's second-highest wicket-taker in men's T20Is after India's win against South Africa.

Main Points:-   (i) India defeated South Africa by a record 135 runs in the 4th and final T20 International at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. With the win, India secured the four-match series 3-1.

      (ii) India scored a total of 283 runs for 1, due to centuries scored by Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) and Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), and then stopped South Africa at 148 in 18.2 overs.

(iii) Sanju Samson becomes the first cricketer to score three T20I centuries in a year.

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India Submits "Letter of Intent" to IOC to Host 2036 Olympics.

India took a significant step toward potentially hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. On October 1st, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officially submitted a Letter of Intent to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Future Host Commission, sources told news agency IANS.

      - This action follows repeated expressions of interest from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sees the Games as a potential boon for the nation.

      - "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in India in 2036 has taken a significant step forward," a source stated.

      - They added, "This monumental opportunity could bring substantial benefits, fostering economic growth, social progress, and youth empowerment across the country."

Main Points:-   (i) India's top sports administrators, including IOA President PT Usha, were at the Paris Olympics earlier in the year to lobby for the country's selection. There have been reports that India would push for the inclusion of indigenous disciplines like yoga, kho kho, and kabaddi if the bid is successful.

      (ii) The Sports Authority of India's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has even presented a report on the measures needed for a successful bid to new sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

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Wriddhiman Saha Announces His Retirement from All Forms of Cricket.

Indian wicket-keeper and batter, Wriddhiman Saha (40), has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, marking the end of a successful career that lasted nearly 20 years. The ongoing Ranji Trophy season would be his last.

      - Wriddhiman Saha represented India in 40 Tests (1,353 runs) and 9 ODIs (One Day International). He holds the record for the second-most Test centuries among Indian keepers.

      - He was India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in red-ball cricket for some time after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement and also appeared in 170 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. He made his last Test appearance in 2021 against New Zealand.

     

Main Points:-   (i) He has been a key player for Bengal in domestic cricket, especially in the Ranji Trophy. He played for 5 Indian IPL franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Gujarat Titans (GT).

      (ii) Wriddhiman Saha won West Bengal's highest civilian award, the 'Banga Bibhushan' award.

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India Secures Bronze at Sultan of Johor Cup Junior Hockey U21 Tournament.

The Indian men's junior team, under the captaincy of Amir Ali, defeated New Zealand 3-2 to win the bronze medal at the 12th edition of the "Sultan of Johor Cup Junior Under 21 Men's Hockey Tournament 2024" at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

      - This was India's second consecutive bronze medal at the tournament.

      - Participating Countries: India, New Zealand, Malaysia, Germany, Great Britain, and Japan.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Indian goalkeeper Bikramjit Singh made three crucial saves, and strikers Gurjot Singh, Manmeet Singh, and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha scored in the shootout to secure the win.

      (ii) Great Britain's U21 Men's squad defeated Australia to win the Gold medal at the 12th Sultan of Johor Cup. This was GB's fourth title at the Sultan of Johor Cup.

(iii) India won the Gold Medal at the Sultan of Johor Cup Junior Under 21 Men's Hockey Tournament in 2013, 2014, and 2022. Germany won the previous edition in 2023.

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Australian cricketer Matthew Wade announces retirement from international cricket.

Australian cricketer Matthew Wade (36-year-old) announced his retirement from international cricket and will become a wicketkeeping and fielding coach with the Australia national team for the Twenty20 (T20) series against Pakistan in November 2024.

      - Matthew Wade has played 36 Tests and scored 1,613 runs with four centuries, including a top score of 117 in the 2019 Ashes.

      - He has played 225 international matches for Australia across the three formats.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Matthew Wade played 97 ODIs, amassing 1,867 runs, and 92 T20Is with 1,202 runs.

      (ii) He played for Australia for 13 years and served as the T20 captain between December 2020 and February 2024.

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Aravindh Chithambaram Wins Masters Title at Chennai Grandmasters 2024, and Pranav Clinches Challengers Championship.

Grandmaster (GM) Aravindh Chithambaram (4.5 points) clinched the Masters title after tying for first place with GMs Levon Aronian (Armenia) and Arjun Erigaisi (India) and defeating Aronian in the final of the tiebreak with a 2-0 score at the 2nd edition of the Chennai Grandmasters 2024 held from 5th November to 11th November 2024 at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).

      - Meanwhile, in the Challengers category, CM Pranav Venkatesh (5.5 points) emerged victorious after drawing with Leon Mendonca (India) thus ending the competition with four wins and three draws.

      - With this win, Pranav got an opportunity to play in the Masters section of next year's event.

     

Main Points:-   (i) The Chennai Grand Masters is an 8-player single round-robin with a time control of 90 minutes for the game plus 30-second increments per move.

      (ii) The tournament is organised by MGD1 and sponsored by the Sports Development Authority of TN and features two categories - Masters & Challengers.

(iii) The rating average of this tournament is 2729 according to the October rating list.

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Hockey India begins celebration of 100 years of Indian Hockey.

On 7th November 2024, Hockey India (HI) announced a year-long celebration to mark the 100th year of Indian hockey. 2025, the centenary year of Hockey India, is a tribute to a century of unparalleled excellence and vision for the future of Hockey in India.

      - Hockey India was formed as India's first national body for Hockey on 7th November 1925 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (MP).

     

     

Main Points:-   (i) As a part of the celebration, Hockey India relaunched the Men's Hockey India League (HIL) after a 7-year pause and also announced the launch of the Women's HIL.

      (ii) Over these 100 years, the Indian Men's hockey team has won 8 gold medals, one silver and 4 bronze medals in the Olympics. They have also won the 1975 Hockey World Cup trophy.

About Hockey India

President: Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey

Secretary General: Bhola Nath Singh,

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MS Dhoni Named Brand Ambassador for Jharkhand Assembly Elections.

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been appointed as Jharkhand's brand ambassador for the upcoming elections.

      - Dhoni has given the Election Commission consent to use his photo for the assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said.

      - "Mahendra Singh Dhoni has given his consent to the Election Commission to use his photo. We are in touch with him for other details. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will work for the mobilization of voters..." said Kumar addressing a press conference held in Jharkhand's Ranchi on Friday.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Dhoni will work to increase awareness among voters under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) program. The poll body is hoping to capitalize on Dhoni's appeal and popularity to increase enthusiasm, especially among voters to vote in greater numbers.

      (ii) A total of forty-three constituencies will go to polls in the first phase on November 13.

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India Clinches 24 Medals at Japan Para Badminton International 2024.

Indian Para badminton players won a total of 24 medals (6 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze) at the Badminton World Federation(BWF) Japan Para Badminton International 2024 held from 22nd to 27th October 2024 in Tokyo, Japan.

      - Sivarajan secured 2 golds – 1 in men's singles SH6 class and 1 in men's doubles with Sudarsan Saravanakumar Muthusamy.

      - Sukant won a gold in men's singles (SL4) and silver in men's doubles (SL3-SL4) with partner Dinesh Rajaiah, while Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav secured bronze medals.

     

Main Points:-   (i) In men's doubles (MD SL3-SU5), Umesh Vikram Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav won gold, while Sukant Kadam and Dinesh Rajaiah won silver.

      (ii) Reigning Paralympic champ Nitesh Kumar secured silver after losing to Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in the SL3 finals.

(iii) Manisha Ramdass won gold in women’s SU5, while Neeraj secured two silvers in women’s SL3 and mixed doubles (SL3-SU5) with Surya Kant Yadav.

About Badminton World Federation (BWF)

President : Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen

Headquarters : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Max Verstappen of Red Bull wins Brazilian Grand Prix after starting from 17th position.

Dutch-Belgian Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the F1 Brazilian GP 2024 despite starting 17th at the Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo on 3rd Nov 2024.

      - This win marks Max Verstappen's 4th straight F1 title.

      - It marked his 8th win of the 2024 season, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly of Alpine Renault securing 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Max Emilian Verstappen is a Dutch and Belgian racing driver, competing for Red Bull Racing under the Dutch flag in F1.

      (ii) Verstappen has won 3 F1 World Drivers' Championships, from 2021 to 2023 with Red Bull, and has secured 62 GP wins in 10 seasons.

(iii) As of the 2024 São Paulo GP, Verstappen has 62 race wins, 40 pole positions, 33 fastest laps, and 111 podiums in F1.

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Armaan Bhatia and Harsh Mehta Clinch Maiden India Masters Pickleball Championship Men's Doubles Title.

India's top doubles pickleball players, Armaan Bhatia and Harsh Mehta defeated the USA's Roman Estareja and Mitchell Hargreaves (Australia) to win the maiden Men's Doubles Title at the PWR DUPR India Masters Pickleball C'ship at DLTA Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.

      - This marks Armaan Bhatia's 3rd title of the event. He has also won the Men's Singles and Mixed Doubles titles.

      - Armaan Bhatia won the Men's singles title and received a cash prize of ₹40,000.

      - Sofia Sewing won the Women's singles title and received a cash prize of ₹40,000.

Main Points:-   (i) The PWR DUPR India Masters, a PWR700 pickleball event, took place from 24-27 Oct 2024, in Delhi, featuring 750 players.

      (ii) This marks the 1st fully owned and operated event by PWR following the successful launch of the PWR World Tour in July 2024 in Dubai, UAE.

(iii) Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing racquet sports worldwide.

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New Zealand Dominates India with 3-0 Clean Sweep in 2024 Test Series.

The New Zealand NZ tour of IND 2024 was a 3-Test series held from 16th Oct - 5th Nov 2024 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma (IND) and Tom Latham (NZ).

      - The 1st Test was held from 16th Oct to 20th Oct at Mangalam Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

      - The 2nd Test match was held from 24th Oct to 30th Oct at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

      - The 3rd Test was held from 1st Nov to 5th Nov at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Main Points:-   (i) IND scored a new low mark after being bowled out for 46, their lowest Test score ever at home.

      (ii) Virat Kohli joined an elite group of cricketers by scoring his 9,000th run in Tests during day three of the Test against NZ.

(iii) Rishabh Pant scored the fastest half-century against NZ (50-run mark in just 36 balls) during the 3rd and final Test of the 3-match series at Wankhede Stadium.

About International Cricket Council (ICC)

CEO : Geoff Allardice

Headquarters : Dubai

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Chirag Chikkara Wins Gold as India Bags Nine Medals at U-23 Wrestling World Championships 2024.

Indian wrestler Chirag Chikkara clinched gold in the men's freestyle 57kg category, defeating Abdymalik Karachov of Kyrgyzstan in the finals of the 7th UWW U23 World Wrestling C'ships 2024 held from 21-27 Oct in Tirana, Albania.

      - The 18-year-old became the second Indian men's wrestler and third overall to win gold at the U23 World C'ships.

      - Aman Sehrawat (57kg) was the first Indian to win gold in 2022, while Reetika Hooda claimed gold in the women's 76kg category in 2023. In 2018, Ravi Kumar Dahiya secured a silver medal in the 57kg category.

      - India bagged a total of nine medals, comprising one gold, one silver, and seven bronze, placing the nation fourth in the team standings with 82 pts, behind Iran (158), Japan (102), and Azerbaijan (100).

Main Points:-   (i) Vicky won bronze in men's 97kg, becoming the first Indian to medal in a heavyweight category at the U23 C'ships.

      (ii) With four medals in men's freestyle wrestling, India finished fourth in this segment behind Iran, Japan, and Azerbaijan.

(iii) In the Greco-Roman category, India placed 12th, earning a single bronze in the 55kg category.

About United World Wrestling

President : Nenad Lalovic

Headquarters : Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland

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Rani Rampal, Padma Shri Awardee and Former Captain of Indian Women's Hockey Team, Announces Retirement.

Rani Rampal, Former India Women's Hockey Team Captain and Padma Shri Awardee, Announces Retirement from Hockey.

      - Hockey India honors Rani Rampal’s remarkable contributions by retiring her iconic No.28 jersey.

      - The Indian Railways' Modern Coach Factory Stadium in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, was renamed "Rani’s Girls" in her honor.

      - Rani was named "Best Young Player of the Tournament" at the 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup and "Player of the Tournament" at the 2013 Junior World Cup, where India won its first-ever bronze medal in the event.

Main Points:-   (i) Rani Rampal, from Haryana, made her international debut in 2008. She scored 205 goals in 254 matches for India.

      (ii) The Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri Award for sports in 2020 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award) in 2020.

(iii) She received the Arjuna Award in 2016 and the World Games Athlete of the Year award in 2019.

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