Current Affairs - Sports

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously declared 25th May as World Football Day on 7 May 2024. This declaration commemorates the 100th anniversary of football’s inclusive global representation at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics. Proposed by Libya’s ambassador Taher El-Sonni and supported by over 160 member nations, the resolution recognizes football’s immense cultural, social, and unifying influence worldwide. The UN’s acknowledgement highlights football’s role in promoting peace, development, health, and education globally, reinforcing its position as the world’s most popular and unifying sport.

Paraguay emerged as the champions of the inaugural FIFA Youth Series, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over New Zealand in the final match. The tournament, which was a pilot under-16 youth competition, took place at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich from 18 to 22 May as part of World Football Week. It featured six participating nations: Guatemala, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Switzerland, and Tunisia. Paraguay's win not only highlights the country's growing investment in youth football but also sets a high benchmark for future editions of the tournament, aligning with the theme ‘Together, We Are Stronger’.

Neeraj Chopra secured the second position in the men’s javelin throw event at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 held in Chorzow, Poland. His best throw measured 84.14 meters and came on his final attempt. The event, now in its 71st edition, is one of the oldest and most prestigious athletics meets in Europe. Germany’s Julian Weber claimed the top spot with a throw of 86.12 meters. Neeraj's performance at this high-level international competition reinforces his consistency and stature in the global javelin throwing scene, as he continues to be a top contender on the athletics circuit.

Adriyan Karmakar clinched the silver medal in the 50m rifle prone event at the ISSF Junior World Cup held in Suhl, Germany. Competing in his debut World Cup appearance, the 20-year-old marksman delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 626.7 points and narrowly missing the gold by just 0.3 points to Sweden’s Jesper Johansson. In addition to earning India its first medal at the event, Adriyan set a new junior national record in the discipline, underscoring his potential as a rising star in Indian shooting sports and contributing significantly to the country's presence on the international stage.

The first-ever Khelo India Beach Games were inaugurated by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at Ghoghla Beach in Diu. This significant event brought together over 1,000 athletes to compete in six medal sports such as beach soccer, volleyball, kabaddi, sepak takraw, pencak silat, and open water swimming. Additionally, traditional Indian sports like mallakhamb and tug-of-war were showcased as demonstration events. Hosting such a large-scale beach sporting event in Diu marks an important step in promoting coastal sports infrastructure and tourism in the region, highlighting the government's commitment to expanding athletic engagement across diverse geographies.