Current Affairs - Persons

R. Praggnanandhaa emerged as India’s top-ranked chess player following his victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 held in Tashkent. The 19-year-old Grandmaster secured 5.5 points in the round-robin stage and won the tiebreaks to clinch the title. This marked his third major classical title of the year and elevated his live FIDE rating to 2778.3, pushing him to World No. 4. With this achievement, he surpassed fellow Indian stars D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, becoming the highest-rated Indian chess player in live rankings. His ascent highlights his remarkable consistency and growing dominance in global chess.

Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medallist and one of India’s most celebrated athletes secured the Javelin Throw title at the Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 meet held in the Czech Republic. At 27 years old, he achieved a winning throw of 85.29 metres in the one-day event, earning the gold medal. This performance also marked his second consecutive victory in international competition, reaffirming his consistency and elite status in the field of athletics. Neeraj’s success continues to inspire aspiring athletes and brings international recognition to India’s growing presence in track and field sports.

Dangeti Jahnavi, hailing from Palakollu in Andhra Pradesh, has made history as the first Indian to complete NASA’s International Air and Space Program. Her outstanding achievement has earned her a place in the 2029 mission to Titan’s Orbital Port Space Station, a pioneering space infrastructure project. Jahnavi’s journey is a testament to the global recognition of Indian scientific talent and the increasing role of Indian professionals in international space collaborations. With a background in Electronics and Communication Engineering and support from her family living abroad, her story reflects the determination and excellence required to reach the frontiers of space exploration.

On June 23, 2025, Kirsty Coventry made history by becoming the first female and first African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). A two-time Olympic gold medallist and one of Zimbabwe’s most accomplished athletes, Coventry has long been involved in sports governance, including serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. Her inauguration marked a significant shift in the IOC’s leadership, highlighting a new vision centred on diversity, inclusivity, and integrity. With outgoing president Thomas Bach stepping down after 12 years, Coventry’s rise signifies a generational and cultural transformation in global sports administration.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force test pilot, made history by commanding the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on June 25, 2025. This mission marked the second time an Indian ventured into space and the very first time an Indian astronaut lived and conducted experiments aboard the ISS. Shukla, with over 2,000 hours of combat flight experience and extensive astronaut training, joined a diverse international crew for a 14-day mission. His participation also marks a major milestone in India's growing involvement in global space missions, building momentum for the country’s Gaganyaan programme.