Current Affairs - Sports

Manu Bhaker secured the silver medal in the 25m pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026 in New Delhi. She delivered a strong comeback performance after finishing seventh in the 10m air pistol event earlier in the tournament. Manu qualified with an impressive score of 584 and later scored 35 points in a tense final, which included two shoot-offs. Although she narrowly missed gold, the silver marked her first individual silver medal in the 25m pistol category, reflecting improved consistency, mental resilience, and growing confidence ahead of major events like the Asian Games and Olympic qualification rounds.

India is the country that clinched the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship title with a dominant 4–0 victory over Bangladesh in the final held at Pokhara Rangasala Stadium in Nepal. The team delivered an impressive performance, with Captain Julan Nongmaithem opening the scoring, followed by goals from Elizabeth Lakra, Pearl Fernandes, and Anwita Raghuraman. The triumph also served as redemption for an earlier setback and provided valuable competitive exposure for the U-17 squad. The tournament acted as crucial preparation for the upcoming AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup, strengthening the team’s international prospects.

Jharkhand emerged as the gold medal winner in the women’s category of the National Federation Cup 2026 Para Throwball tournament. The team secured victory by defeating the host state Rajasthan with a score of 21–17 in the final held at Jhunjhunu. This achievement highlights Jharkhand’s growing presence and performance in para sports at the national level. The tournament, conducted from February 3 to 5, also acted as a selection trial for the upcoming 2nd Asian Para Throwball Championship in Malaysia, making the win particularly significant for future international representation.

India will host the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships 2027, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from December 1 to 10. The championship is significant as it will offer eight Olympic quota places for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. In the same year, New Delhi will also host an ISSF World Cup in April 2027, providing an additional 12 Olympic quota spots. These events fall within the LA 2028 qualification window and reflect India’s growing prominence in international shooting sports, building on its strong medal performance at Paris 2024.

India emerged as the champion of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 with a commanding victory over England in the final. The team delivered an all-round performance, highlighted by a record-breaking batting display and disciplined bowling. India posted a historic total of 411 runs, the highest ever in an Under-19 World Cup final, powered by a sensational 175-run knock from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. England’s chase, despite a valiant century from Caleb Falconer, fell short under sustained pressure. The win marked India’s sixth U-19 World Cup title, reinforcing its dominance in youth cricket.