Current Affairs - Sports

South Africa secured their first-ever ICC World Test Championship title by defeating Australia in the 2025 final held at Lord’s, London. This landmark win ended a 27-year drought for the Proteas in international cricket, marking their first global trophy since the 1998 ICC KnockOut. The victory was built on a stellar century by Aiden Markram, a crucial half-century by captain Temba Bavuma, and a disciplined bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada. Overcoming a first-innings deficit, South Africa showed remarkable resilience in chasing down a challenging target of 282, making this triumph a defining moment in their cricketing history.

Coco Gauff secured her first French Open title by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final. At just 21 years old, she became the youngest American woman to win at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2002 and the first from the U.S. since Williams in 2015. This victory marked Gauff's second Grand Slam title, further establishing her as a leading figure in women's tennis. Her triumph highlighted her growth on clay and cemented her status as one of the sport's brightest young stars.

Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his French Open title by defeating world number 1 Jannik Sinner in an epic final that lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes—the longest men's singles final in Roland Garros history. This victory marked Alcaraz's second consecutive French Open title and handed Sinner his first-ever Grand Slam final defeat. The match was hailed as an all-time classic, showcasing Alcaraz's resilience and skill on clay. This win further solidified Alcaraz's status as one of the brightest young stars in tennis, continuing his rapid rise in the sport.

India delivered an outstanding performance at the Taiwan Athletics Open, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, securing a total of 16 medals—12 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. The team started strong by winning gold in all six events on Day 1 and continued their dominance by adding 10 more medals on the final day. This remarkable achievement highlighted India's growing prowess in track and field, marking one of its most successful campaigns in an international athletics meet. The victory underscored the nation's rising talent in global athletics competitions.

The historic Test series between India and England has been officially renamed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, replacing the previous titles—the Pataudi Trophy (in England) and the Anthony de Mello Trophy (in India). This renaming is a tribute to two of the greatest Test cricketers: James Anderson, England's highest wicket-taker in the format, and Sachin Tendulkar, India’s most-capped Test player and one of the game’s most celebrated batsmen. The announcement was made by the ECB and BCCI and reflects a move to honour cricketing legends while enhancing the legacy and emotional connection of fans with the India-England rivalry.