Sports Current Affairs

The Asian Para Games 2023 was held in Hangzhou, China from October 22 to 28. India sent its largest-ever contingent of 303 athletes, consisting of 191 men and 112 women. The Indian para-athletes made history by securing their 100th medal, with Dilip Mahadu Gavit winning a gold medal on the final day of the event. In total, India won 111 medals, including 18 golds, 23 silvers, and 41 bronzes. Here are some key highlights:

1. India’s medal tally of 111 is the highest ever in the history of the Asian Para Games.
2. India exceeded its previous best gold medal tally of 15 from the 2018 Jakarta games.
3. India’s medal tally included 82 medals in athletics alone, with 18 golds.
4. Indian para-athletes set several records during the games, including a world record by Avani Lekhara in shooting.

Q.: What is the total number of medals that India won at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China?

a) 82
b) 111
c) 303
d) 15

Ans : b) 111

The Asian Women’s Hockey Champion’s Trophy began in Ranchi on October 17, 2023. All matches of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy are taking place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi.

1. This championship serves as an Olympic qualifier tournament for the Paris Olympics.
2. The tournament features Asia’s top six hockey teams, including India, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
3. The scheduled matches will continue until November 5th, determining the champion.
4. In the first match, Japan, the defending champions, defeated Malaysia with a score of three goals to nil.
5. In the second match, Korea beat China by a solitary goal.
6. India defeated Thailand by 7-1 in it’s first match.
7. India had previously won the title in 2016.

Q.: What is the primary purpose of the Asian Women’s Hockey Champion’s Trophy 2023 that began on October 17, 2023 in Ranchi ?
a) To determine the world champion in women’s hockey
b) To qualify teams for the upcoming Paris Olympics
c) To promote women’s hockey in Asia
d) To raise funds for hockey development

Ans : b) To qualify teams for the upcoming Paris Olympics

Unnati Hooda won the women’s singles title at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023 Badminton tournament on October 24, 2023.

1. She defeated Samiya Imad Farooqui in the final with a score of 21-16, 22-20.
2. Unnati Hooda secured her second BWF Super 100 World Tour title with this victory.
3. She had previously become the youngest Indian to win a BWF title at the age of 14.

Q.: Who won the women’s singles title at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023 Badminton tournament on October 24, 2023?

A. Samiya Imad Farooqui
B. Unnati Hooda
C. Saina Nehwal
D. P.V. Sindhu

Ans : B. Unnati Hooda

The 37th National Games 2023 will take place in Goa from October 26 to November 9, 2023.

1. More than 10,000 athletes are expected to participate in the National Games 2023.
2. The National Games are a multi-sport event where athletes from Indian states and Union Territories compete for medals.
3. The National Games 2023 will feature a total of 43 sports, including both Olympic and indigenous disciplines, an increase from the previous edition’s 36 sports.
4. New sports introduced in the National Games 2023 include beach football, roll ball, golf, sepaktakraw, sqay martial arts, Kalliyarapattu, and pencak silat.
5. Yachting and taekwondo are making a return after being excluded in the last edition.
6. Traditional sports lagori and gatka have been included as demonstration sports.
7. Various venues throughout Goa will host the competitions, except for cycling and golf, which will be held in New Delhi.

Q.: In which city were the 37th National Games 2023 held from October 26 to November 9, 2023?”

a) Mumbai
b) New Delhi
c) Goa
d) Chennai

Ans : c) Goa

The fourth Asian Para Games officially began in Hangzhou, China, on October 22, 2023, and will continue until October 28.

1. The Indian contingent participating in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou consists of 303 sportspersons representing 17 different sporting disciplines.
2. The Indian contingent includes a total of 143 coaches, escorts, officials, and support staff in addition to the athletes.
3. The contingent’s athletes are divided into 191 males and 112 females.
4. In the previous edition of the Asian Para Games in 2018, India had 190 athletes participating in 13 sporting events and secured a total of 72 medals, including 15 gold medals.

Q.: In which city is the fourth Asian Para Games taking place, and what are the event dates?

a. Hangzhou, China, from October 22 to October 28, 2023
b. Beijing, China, from November 1 to November 7, 2023
c. Tokyo, Japan, from September 15 to September 21, 2022
d. New Delhi, India, from December 10 to December 16, 2023

Ans : a. Hangzhou, China, from October 22 to October 28, 2023

On October 19, 2023, during the Qatar Masters chess tournament, Indian chess grandmaster Karthikeyan Murali achieved a remarkable victory.

1. Karthikeyan Murali, at 24 years of age, became the third Indian chess player to defeat Magnus Carlsen, the world’s number one player, in classical chess.
2. Prior to Karthikeyan Murali, both Pentala Harikrishna and Viswanathan Anand, two other Indian chess grandmasters, had beaten Magnus Carlsen.
3. The notable win by Karthikeyan Murali took place in the tournament’s seventh round, where he effectively played with the black pieces.
4. Karthikeyan Murali’s victory earned him a place among other top players, including SL Narayan, Javokhir Sindarov, David Paravyan, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nodirbek Yakubboev, all of whom had an impressive score of 5.5 out of 7 in the tournament.

Q.: Prior to Karthikeyan Murali, who were the other two Indian chess grandmasters who had defeated Magnus Carlsen?

a) SL Narayan and Javokhir Sindarov
b) David Paravyan and Arjun Erigaisi
c) Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna
d) Nodirbek Yakubboev and Arjun Erigaisi

Ans : c) Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the inclusion of Twenty-20 cricket and four other sports in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. The decision was taken during the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session held in Mumbai, India from October 15 to October 17, 2023.

1. The other new sports added to the Olympic program are flag football, lacrosse, squash, and baseball-softball.
2. The IOC’s executive board approved a proposal by Los Angeles organizers to include Twenty20 cricket and these additional events.
3. The addition of cricket to the Olympics aims to tap into the South Asian market and attract fans from countries like India and Pakistan.
4. The last time cricket was featured in the Olympics was in 1900 in Paris, with Britain winning the Gold Medal in a match against France. This remains the only cricket match played in the Olympics to date.

MCQs

Q.: Which sport has been announced for inclusion in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028?

A) Twenty-20 cricket
B) Rugby
C) Tennis
D) Golf

Ans : A) Twenty-20 cricket

Q.: When was the last time cricket was featured in the Olympics before the 2028 announcement?

A) 2000
B) 1924
C) 1900
D) 1988

Ans : C) 1900

India is actively pursuing the goal of hosting the 2036 Olympics, as confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during inauguration of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai. 

1. The 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session took place in Mumbai, India, from October 15 to October 17, 2023.
2. The opening ceremony was held on October 14th and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
3. The IOC Session provided an opportunity for interaction and knowledge sharing among various stakeholders in the field of sports.
4. Prior to the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board meetings were held from October 12 to October 14 at the Trident Hotel in the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.
5. The event witnessed the presence of several celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt.

MCQ:

Q.: Which year does India aspire to host the Olympic Games?

a) 2030
b) 2032
c) 2036
d) 2040

Answer: c) 2036