Current Affairs - Sports

India’s U-19 football team won the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025 by defeating Bangladesh 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout. The final was held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, India showed great composure to clinch their second SAFF U-19 title, having previously won in 2023. This victory underscores India’s growing strength in South Asian youth football and highlights the success of its youth development programs. The championship features teams from across South Asia, promoting football among the region’s youth.

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Italian Open title on May 18, 2025, by defeating Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-1. This victory marked his 7th Masters 1000 title and ended Sinner’s impressive 26-match winning streak. Alcaraz’s performance demonstrated his mastery of clay courts and his evolving tactical and mental skills. The win solidified his dominance ahead of Roland Garros 2025 and placed him among the elite players who have won all major clay-court titles in the ATP Tour era. Alcaraz’s success also strengthened his head-to-head record against Sinner to 7-4.

Rohit Sharma was honoured with a stand named after him at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a venue closely associated with his cricketing journey. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) held a grand ceremony on May 16, 2025, to inaugurate the Rohit Sharma Stand, formerly known as Divecha Pavilion Level 3. This tribute celebrated his recent retirement from Test and T20 cricket and recognized his historic achievements, including leading India to victories in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. The renaming of the stand at Wankhede reflects both his roots in Mumbai and his contributions to Indian cricket.

Neeraj Chopra made history by achieving a javelin throw of 90.23 meters at the Doha Diamond League, setting a new national record and becoming the first Indian to cross the 90-meter mark in the sport. This performance surpassed his previous best of 89.94 meters, which he recorded at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022. Although Chopra secured second place behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who threw 91.06 meters, his achievement is a major milestone in Indian athletics. It marks his continued rise in global javelin rankings and strengthens his reputation as one of the world’s top throwers.

FIFA lifted the suspension on the Republic of Congo’s football federation (FECOFOOT) after the organization complied with conditions aimed at eliminating third-party interference, particularly from the Congolese Ministry of Sports. The suspension had halted football operations in the country and resulted in the temporary closure of several sports facilities. The resolution followed negotiations and a commitment from the government to restore full administrative autonomy to FECOFOOT. By fulfilling FIFA’s reinstatement requirements, Congo can now fully participate in international football activities. The development underscores FIFA’s strict stance on maintaining the independence of national football bodies from political or governmental control.