Current Affairs - Sports

Magnus Carlsen, the world number one chess player, secured victory in the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz 2025 tournament held in Zagreb, Croatia. He clinched the title with a round to spare by drawing against R Praggnanandhaa and defeating Ivan Saric in the final round. Carlsen’s total score was 22.5 out of 36, placing him ahead of Wesley So, who finished second. This win reinforced Carlsen’s dominance in fast-format chess. The tournament is part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour, which includes top global players. Carlsen’s performance once again demonstrated his consistent brilliance and strategic mastery in competitive chess.

India made history by becoming the first Asian team to win a Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, defeating England by a massive margin of 336 runs. This victory was particularly significant as it marked India's first-ever win at the venue in nine attempts since 1967. The match also saw Shubman Gill, at just 25 years and 301 days old, become the youngest Indian captain to secure an away Test win, surpassing the record previously held by Sunil Gavaskar. Gill's outstanding performance with the bat, scoring 430 runs, earned him the Man of the Match award and solidified the win’s historical importance.

Aryaveer Dewan clinched the U17 boys’ title at the Asian Junior Squash Championships, bringing an end to India’s 13-year title drought in this category. He achieved this milestone by defeating the defending champion, Nikhileswar Moganasundharam of Malaysia, showcasing exceptional skill and composure. The tournament was held in Gimcheon, South Korea. Aryaveer’s win marks a significant achievement for Indian junior squash and adds to the country’s growing presence in the sport. His victory was one of the major highlights alongside Anahat Singh’s triumph in the U19 girls’ category, making the event a memorable one for Indian squash.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old Indian cricketer, created history by scoring the fastest known century in Youth ODIs. He achieved this milestone in just 52 balls during a match against England in Worcester. His aggressive innings featured 13 boundaries and 10 sixes, showcasing extraordinary talent at such a young age. Alongside his incredible performance, he also built a massive 219-run partnership for the second wicket with teammate Vihaan Malhotra, who remained unbeaten on 100. This record-breaking feat not only highlights Vaibhav’s batting prowess but also adds to India’s growing reputation in youth cricket on the international stage.

India secured a total of 9 medals at the Asian Para Archery Championships 2025, comprising 3 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals. This strong performance placed India 2nd in the overall medal standings, just behind China. Harvinder Singh was a standout performer, winning two golds—in Men’s Recurve Individual and Mixed Recurve Team with Bhawna—as well as a silver, achieving a remarkable hat-trick of podium finishes. Another significant contribution came from Sheetal Devi and Jyoti, who claimed gold in the Compound Women’s Team event by defeating China, underscoring India’s rising stature in para archery on the Asian stage.