Current Affairs - Sports

Ahmedabad hosted the First World Yogasana Championship 2026, a landmark event inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The championship brought together athletes from various countries and marked a significant step toward establishing Yogasana as a globally recognised competitive sport. Ahmedabad was chosen as the host city due to its cultural and historical importance as India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. The event was organised ahead of International Yoga Day 2026 and aimed to promote yoga beyond wellness by showcasing its potential as a competitive discipline. It also highlighted India’s efforts to popularise yoga on the international stage and encourage global participation in Yogasana.

Arjun Erigaisi achieved a significant milestone on June 02, 2026, by securing the World No. 8 position in the latest FIDE rankings, making him the only Indian player in the global top 10 at that time. He gained 10 rating points during the assessment period and strengthened his standing through strong performances in major international tournaments. One of his notable achievements was finishing as the runner-up at the TePe Sigeman 2026 tournament, where he lost to Magnus Carlsen in a playoff. Erigaisi, who became India's 54th Grandmaster in 2018, continues to be one of the country's leading chess talents.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became the first Indian men's doubles pair to win the Singapore Open title by securing the championship in 2026. They achieved this milestone after defeating Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Fikri in a thrilling three-game final. The victory marked their third BWF Super 750 title and the ninth World Tour title of their careers. The triumph also ended a two-year title drought, with their previous title having come at the Thailand Open in 2024. Ranked World No. 4 at the time, the duo further strengthened their position among the world's leading badminton pairs.

Lionel Messi reached billionaire status on May 24, 2026, marking a major financial milestone in his football career. He became only the second footballer ever to achieve this status after Cristiano Ronaldo. His total career earnings exceed $700 million from salaries and bonuses accumulated since 2007, and his net worth has been verified by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Messi also continues to be a global football icon, currently captaining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. His influence extends beyond football, with honours such as a street renamed in his name and record achievements including multiple Ballon d’Or awards and a FIFA World Cup victory with Argentina in 2022.

Dev Kumar Meena delivered a record-breaking performance in the men’s pole vault event at the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition held in Ranchi on May 24, 2026. He cleared a height of 5.45 metres to win the gold medal, equalling Kuldeep Kumar’s jump but finishing ahead on countback. This performance surpassed the previous national record of 5.41 metres. Both athletes also achieved the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 5.25 metres. The achievement highlights Dev Kumar Meena’s excellence in field athletics and marks a significant improvement in India’s national pole vault standards at a competitive level.