Current Affairs - Persons

Divya Deshmukh, a 19-year-old Indian chess prodigy, created history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, held in Batumi, Georgia. In the semifinals, she secured a remarkable win against former World Champion Tan Zhongyi from China. Her achievement not only marks a milestone for Indian chess but also earned her a place in the FIDE Candidates Tournament, which brings her one step closer to competing for the Women’s World Chess Championship title. This historic performance places Divya among the elite of international women’s chess.

Koneru Humpy created history by becoming the first Indian woman to advance to the semifinals of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. The prestigious tournament took place in Batumi, Georgia, in 2025. Humpy secured her place in the final four by defeating China’s Song Yuxin in the quarterfinals. This remarkable achievement marks the first time any Indian, male or female, has reached the semifinals of this global chess event. Her performance not only reflects her individual brilliance but also highlights the growing strength of Indian women in international chess competitions.

Murali Sreeshankar emerged as the winner of the Long Jump title at the Portugal Sports Meet, which is a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour – Bronze level. He achieved a leap of 7.75 metres in the second round to secure the top position. Sreeshankar, who is also known for winning a silver medal at the Asian Games, outperformed his competitors at this international event. Piotr Tarkowski from Poland and Chris Mitrevski from Australia followed him in second and third place, respectively, making Sreeshankar’s performance the highlight of the meet.

B. Benediction Rohit made history at the FISU World University Games 2025 in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, by becoming the first Indian male swimmer to complete the 50m butterfly in under 24 seconds. His semifinal timing of 23.96 seconds broke a 7-year-old national record previously held by Virdhawal Khade, who had clocked 24.09 seconds. Rohit also surpassed that same record earlier during the heats, showing consistent and elite-level performance. This milestone is not only a personal achievement for Rohit but also a testament to India’s evolving stature in international swimming, inspiring a new generation of athletes and expanding the country's sporting potential.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Nitu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha as SVEEP icons for Bihar. SVEEP, which stands for Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation, is the ECI’s flagship program aimed at increasing voter awareness and participation, especially in regions with historically low voter turnout as public figures with strong roots in Bihar, Nitu Chandra and Kranti Jha are expected to use their influence to connect with citizens and encourage informed and active electoral engagement. Their selection aligns with the broader goal of strengthening democracy through inclusive voter education initiatives.