Current Affairs - Sports

India is set to make history by sending its first official pickleball team to the World Cup in Florida, scheduled from October 27 to November 2. The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) organised two-day national selection trials in Ahmedabad, with more than 140 players competing across Open, U-16, and 50+ categories. Following the trials, the selected players will undergo specialised high-performance training to prepare for the international challenge. The tournament is sanctioned by the Global Pickleball Federation, marking a significant step in India’s growing engagement with this fast-emerging sport.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Google to enhance the global visibility and accessibility of women’s cricket. This collaboration leverages Google’s wide range of products, including Android, Google Gemini, Google Pay, and Google Pixel, to provide fans with live updates, highlights, personalised content, and localised experiences. With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales approaching, this alliance is expected to significantly boost fan engagement, inspire younger audiences, and foster greater participation in women’s cricket worldwide.

Gurpreet Singh secured the gold medal in the Men’s 25m Standard Pistol individual event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. His performance was part of India’s impressive outing, where the country achieved a ‘double gold.’ In addition to his individual success, Gurpreet Singh, along with Amanpreet Singh and Harsh Gupta, won the gold medal in the team event of the same category. These victories further underline India’s growing dominance in shooting sports, with additional gold medals also being won in the 50m Rifle Prone Junior team and 25m Standard Pistol Junior team events.

At the Zurich Diamond League Final 2025, Germany’s Julian Weber emerged victorious in the men’s javelin event with a commanding performance, registering two throws over 90m, including his winning 91.51m effort. This season-best throw secured him the top spot ahead of India’s Neeraj Chopra, who finished second with 85.01m, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who claimed third with 84.95m. Weber’s dominance highlighted his exceptional form, with consistent strong throws across the competition. The event also extended Neeraj Chopra’s incredible streak of 26 consecutive top-two finishes, underlining his consistency, while Weber’s performance reaffirmed his standing as a world-class javelin thrower.

Mirabai Chanu achieved a remarkable comeback by winning gold in the women’s 48kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 held in Ahmedabad. She lifted a total of 193kg, which included 84kg in snatch and 109kg in clean & jerk, setting new Commonwealth records in each segment as well as in the overall total. This outstanding performance not only secured her the gold medal but also guaranteed her direct qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Chanu’s victory further strengthens her position as one of India’s most celebrated athletes in international weightlifting.