Current Affairs - Sports

The Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 was held in Malaysia, where India clinched the silver medal after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Australia in the final. This marked India’s fifth runners-up finish in the tournament, following bronze medals in the previous two editions. The event highlighted competitive international youth hockey, with Australia breaking their three-final losing streak by avenging their 2022 defeat to India. Hosting such tournaments in Malaysia emphasises the country’s growing role in promoting field hockey and providing a platform for emerging talent in the sport across Asia.

Joby Mathew, an accomplished Indian para powerlifter, won the bronze medal in the 65kg Legend (Masters) category at the 2025 Para Powerlifting World Championships held in Cairo, Egypt. He achieved a total lift of 300kg, with successful attempts of 148kg and 152kg, surpassing his previous personal best of 150kg. This remarkable performance earned him his second World Championship medal, following his earlier bronze in Dubai in 2023. Mathew’s consistent achievements highlight his exceptional strength, perseverance, and contribution to India’s growing prominence in international para sports.

The fifth Khelo India University Games (KIUG) will be held across seven cities in Rajasthan—Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur. Spanning 12 days, the event will feature 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport, Kho-Kho, with participation from over 5,000 university athletes nationwide. New disciplines such as beach volleyball, canoeing and kayaking, and cycling have been introduced this year. Hosting the KIUG highlights Rajasthan’s growing importance as a center for sporting excellence and its commitment to promoting youth sports development across multiple cities in the state.

The 69th National School Games began in Jammu & Kashmir, organised by the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports of the region. The event brought together 30 teams representing different States and Union Territories, competing across six venues in various sports such as Football, Wushu, Taekwondo, and Table Tennis. The inauguration was carried out by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, highlighting Jammu & Kashmir’s commitment to promoting youth sports and fostering national-level athletic talent.

The BWF World Junior Championships 2025 are being hosted in Guwahati, Assam, from October 6 to 19. This marks the return of the prestigious tournament to India after 17 years, with the previous edition held in Pune in 2008. The event features 36 national teams competing in the Suhandinata Cup (mixed team event) and the Eye-Level Cup (individual events including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles). Hosting the championship underscores India’s growing role in international badminton, providing a platform for top junior shuttlers and introducing a new best-of-three relay scoring system to enhance the competitiveness and viewer engagement of matches.