Current Affairs - Sports

India’s U-20 women’s football team secured qualification for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 after a long gap of 20 years. They achieved this milestone by defeating Myanmar 1–0 in Yangon, with the decisive goal coming from Pooja’s first-half header. This qualification is significant as it marks a major achievement in Indian women’s football, demonstrating the team’s growth and determination. The tournament will feature 12 teams, including the host nation Thailand, who qualify automatically, and 11 other teams that made it through the qualifiers.

Ramesh Budihal created history by winning the bronze medal in the open men’s event at the Asian Surfing Championships 2025, held on the beaches of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. This remarkable feat marks India’s first individual medal at the continental surfing championships. The event was also significant because it was the first time India hosted the prestigious competition. Surfing, which made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, is steadily gaining popularity in the country, and Budihal’s achievement is expected to inspire more athletes to take up the sport and compete at an international level.

Argentina emerged as the dominant force at the 2025 Pan American Hockey Cup held in Montevideo, Uruguay, by clinching gold in both the men’s and women’s categories. In the men’s final, Argentina defeated the USA with a commanding 10-0 victory, marking their fourth consecutive and fifth overall title. The women’s team also showcased their supremacy by beating the USA 3-0, securing their seventh consecutive championship. This dual triumph underscores Argentina’s long-standing excellence and consistency in field hockey across the Americas, setting a high standard for regional competition.

The Sub-junior (U-15) National Boxing Championships will be hosted in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, with participation from over 700 young athletes, including approximately 400 boys and 300 girls. Organised by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the competition will feature 15 weight categories for each gender. This event forms a crucial part of BFI’s long-term strategy to identify and nurture boxing talent from the grassroots level, aiming to create a robust pipeline of skilled boxers who can potentially represent India at elite international levels in the future.

South Africa emerged as the champions of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 by defeating Pakistan in the final held at Edgbaston, Birmingham. AB de Villiers starred with a match-winning knock that helped South Africa secure a dominant 9-wicket victory. This triumph marked the second edition of the tournament. Pakistan had reached the final through a walkover against India due to political tensions, but South Africa displayed superior performance on the field to claim the title, with de Villiers playing a crucial role in their success.