Sports Current Affairs

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

Cricket is set to feature in the 2028 Olympics. On 13 October 2023, the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board approved the proposal of Los Angeles Games organisers to include the cricket in the programme. Cricket, will be played in the T20 format. , four other sports — baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse Sixes and squash also got the nod of the IOC Executive Board, which met in Mumbai with President Thomas Bach chairing it.

Additionally, four other sports, including baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse Sixes, and squash, were also given the green light by the IOC Executive Board. This decision was made during a meeting in Mumbai, presided over by President Thomas Bach. The final vote on this proposal will take place during the upcoming IOC session, commencing in Mumbai on October 15, 2023.

Q.: In which format will cricket be played in the 2028 Olympics?

a) Test format
b) One Day International (ODI) format
c) T20 format
d) T10 format

Ans : c) T20 format

The 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session is scheduled to be held in Mumbai, India from October 15 to October 17, 2023. The opening ceremony will be held on October 14th and will be preceded by meetings of the IOC Executive Board on October 12th, 13th, and 14th. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the session at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai on October 14th.

The IOC session serves as a key meeting of the members of the International Olympic Committee. Important decisions regarding the future of Olympic games are made at the IOC Sessions. India is hosting the IOC session for the second time and after a gap of about 40 years. The IOC’s 86th session was last held in New Delhi in 1983.

The session will also be attended by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, and other members of the IOC.

MCQs

Q.: When is the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session scheduled to be held in Mumbai, India?

a) October 12 to October 14, 2023
b) October 14 to October 17, 2023
c) October 15 to October 17, 2023
d) October 14 to October 16, 2023

Ans : c) October 15 to October 17, 2023

Q.: Who is the President of the International Olympic Committee ?

a) Thomas Bach
b) Vladimir Putin
c) Xi Jinping
d) Emmanuel Macron

Answer is: a) Thomas Bach

A 655-member Indian contingent participated in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8. The 19th edition of the event was originally scheduled for 2022 but was postponed by a year due to COVID-19.

1. India achieved a record medal haul of 107 medals at the Asian Games 2023, including 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze.
2. This performance surpassed India’s previous record from the Jakarta 2018 edition, where they won 70 medals (16 gold, 23 silver, and 31 bronze).
3. China led the overall medal tally with 200 gold medals, followed by Japan (51) and South Korea (42).
4. Shooting was the leading sport for India at the Asian Games 2023, winning 22 medals, including seven gold.
5. Athletics, highlighted by Neeraj Chopra’s gold in the javelin throw, secured six gold medals along with 14 silver and nine bronze.
6. The archery compound team won all five gold medals in their category.
7. Cricket and kabaddi teams each won two gold medals, while the men’s hockey team’s gold earned them a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
8. India also earned their first Asian Games badminton gold medal through the men’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
9. Squash, tennis, and equestrian contributed to India’s total of 28 gold medals in Hangzhou.
10. Hangzhou offered 74 Paris 2024 Olympic quotas in various sports, and India secured six of them, including four in boxing and one each in athletics and men’s hockey.

MCQ on Asian Games 2023

Q.: When did the Asian Games 2023 take place in Hangzhou, China?

A) September 22 to October 7, 2022
B) September 23 to October 8, 2023
C) August 15 to September 1, 2023
D) July 10 to August 25, 2022

Ans : B) September 23 to October 8, 2023

Q.: How many medals did India win in total at the Asian Games 2023?

A) 84 medals
B) 107 medals
C) 100 medals
D) 121 medals

Ans : B) 107 medals

Q.: Which country led the overall medal tally at the Asian Games 2023?

A) India
B) Japan
C) China
D) South Korea

Ans : C) China

Q.: Which sport contributed the most medals for India at the Asian Games 2023?

A) Athletics
B) Shooting
C) Archery
D) Kabaddi

Ans : B) Shooting – 22 medals, including seven gold.

Q.: What was India’s previous best medal tally at the Asian Games before the Asian Games 2023?

A) 50 medals
B) 70 medals
C) 90 medals
D) 110 medals

Ans : B) 70 medals – Jakarta 2018 , (16 gold, 23 silver, and 31 bronze)

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is being held in India from 5 October to 19 November 2023. The tournament features ten teams and is being played across ten venues.

On the opening day of the tournament, New Zealand defeated England by 9 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. England had set a winning target of 283 runs before New Zealand. The Kiwis achieved that target in 36.2 overs by losing only one wicket.

The tournament will retain the round-robin format of the previous edition, with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches. The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16.

Q.: Where did New Zealand defeat England on the opening day of the tournament on 5 October 2023?

a) Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
b) Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
c) Eden Gardens, Kolkata
d) Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Answer: b) Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

Indian athletes had a remarkable performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games on 4 October 2023 (day 11), securing a total of 12 medals, consisting of 3 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze. India is currently ranked fourth in the medal tally with a total of 81 medals, marking the country’s best-ever performance at the Asian Games.

1. The medal count for India includes 18 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze medals.
2. Notable gold medalists on day 11 include Neeraj Chopra in men’s javelin throw, the men’s 4x400m relay team, Jyoti Surekha Vennam, and Ojas Deotale in compound mixed team archery.
3. Silver medals were secured by Kishore Jena in men’s javelin throw, Harmilan Bains in women’s 800m, Avinash Sable in men’s 5000m, and Lovlina Borgohain in women’s 75kg boxing.
4. Bronze medals were won by Parveen Hooda in women’s 57kg boxing, Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh in squash, Ram Babu and Manju Rani in the 35km mixed relay race walk, and Sunil Kumar in men’s Greco-Roman 87kg wrestling.

MCQs

Q.: Who won a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Hangzhou Asian Games?

a. Avinash Sable
b. Kishore Jena
c. Neeraj Chopra
d. Lovlina Borgohain

Answer: c. Neeraj Chopra

Q.: Which sport did Jyoti Surekha Vennam and Ojas Deotale win a gold medal in?

a. Swimming
b. Archery
c. Gymnastics
d. Table Tennis

Answer: b. Archery

India’s performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games on 3 October 2023 (Day 10):

• India won two gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.
• The overall medal tally for India is 69 medals, consisting of 15 gold, 26 silver, and 28 bronze medals.
• India is currently ranked 4th on the scoreboard.

Notable achievements in Athletics:

• Annu Rani won gold in the women’s javelin throw final with a throw of 62.92m.
• Tejaswin Shankar secured a historic silver in men’s decathlon, breaking a national record.
• Praveen Chithravel won bronze in the Men’s Triple Jump.
• Mohammed Afsal won silver in the men’s 800m race.
• Parul Chaudhary clinched gold in the women’s 5000m race.
• Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Boxing results:

• Narender Berwal obtained a bronze medal in the men’s 92kg semifinal.
• Preeti Pawar won bronze in the women’s 54kg boxing semi-final.
• Lovlina Borgohain secured a berth at the Paris Olympics by winning in the 75 kg category.

Canoeing: Arjun Singh and Sunil Singh Salam won bronze in men’s canoe double 1000m, marking India’s second canoe medal in Asian Games history.

Squash:

• Indian pairs excelled in the Mixed Doubles Squash Competition.
• Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh advanced to the semifinals.
• Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu also progressed to the semifinals.
• Saurav Ghosal reached the Men’s Singles semifinal, raising hopes for more medals in squash.

Archery:

• Abhishek Verma won his archery semi-final against South Korea’s Joo Jaehoon.
• Ojas Pravin Deotale will face Abhishek Verma in the gold medal match, ensuring at least silver for India.

Badminton:

• HS Prannoy and PV Sindhu won their respective men’s singles matches.
• Several women’s doubles teams, including Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Tanisha Crasto-Ashwini Ponnappa, advanced to the round of 16.

MCQs

Q.: Who won the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw final at the Asian Games?

a) Tejaswin Shankar
b) Praveen Chithravel
c) Annu Rani
d) Mohammed Afsal

Ans : c) Annu Rani

Q.: Who won the gold medal in the women’s 5000m race at the Hangzhou Asian Games?

a) Annu Rani
b) Tejaswin Shankar
c) Parul Chaudhary
d) Mohammed Afsal

Answer: c) Parul Chaudhary