Current Affairs - Sports

Smriti Mandhana was honoured as the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 in recognition of her exceptional leadership and performance. She guided India to a historic Women’s World Cup triumph, marking a significant milestone in Indian women’s cricket. Other notable contenders included Divya Deshmukh, a Chess World Cup winner, and Preethi Pal, a Paralympic medalist. Veteran shooter Anjali Bhagwat received the Lifetime Achievement Award, highlighting her long-standing contribution to Indian shooting sports.

Smriti Mandhana was honoured with the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 award in recognition of her exceptional performance during India’s Women’s World Cup triumph. At 29, she delivered a historic season, setting remarkable records including the fastest 50-over international century by an Indian and ranking among the top run-scorers in women’s cricket. The award ceremony took place in New Delhi, celebrating excellence across various sports disciplines. Her achievement highlights the rapid growth of women’s cricket in India and underscores her role as an inspiration for aspiring young athletes across the country.

Magnus Carlsen secured the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship title after defeating Fabiano Caruana 2.5–1.5 in the final held in Weissenhaus. A draw in the fourth game was sufficient for him to clinch the championship. This victory marked his 21st world title across various chess formats and his first official FIDE-recognised title in the Freestyle (Chess960) category. The tournament carried historic significance as it was the first official FIDE-recognised Freestyle Chess World Championship, further cementing Carlsen’s legacy as one of the greatest chess players in history.

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.