Current Affairs - Sports

Mullanpur Stadium, officially known as the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, became the venue where stadium stands were named after Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur. This honour recognized their extraordinary contributions to Indian cricket, spanning iconic World Cup performances and inspirational leadership. The inauguration took place ahead of an international T20 match, adding to the stadium’s significance as it hosted its first men’s international fixture. The tribute reflects Punjab’s growing sports culture and commitment to celebrating cricketing excellence while strengthening modern cricket infrastructure in the state.

Abdul Quadir Indori emerged as a standout performer for India at the Asian Youth Para Games 2025 held in Dubai by securing two gold medals on the very first day of competition. He topped the podium in both the 50m Butterfly and 50m Backstroke events, underlining his versatility and competitive excellence in para-swimming. His achievement reflects the growing depth and quality of India’s youth para-sports ecosystem. Such performances not only boost India’s medal tally but also inspire young athletes with disabilities, showcasing the country’s increasing investment, training standards, and international competitiveness in para-sports.

Italy, through its Italian National Olympic Committee, entered into an MoU with the Indian Olympic Association to strengthen sports cooperation between the two nations. The partnership focuses on key areas such as athlete training, access to world-class infrastructure, and advancement in sports science. It also promotes sharing of expertise and enables mutual access to elite training facilities and high-performance centres for athletes, coaches, and specialists. This collaboration aims to enhance sporting excellence, support talent development, and build long-term strategic ties that benefit both countries across multiple sporting disciplines.

India is set to host the Squash World Cup 2025 from December 10–14 at SDAT Stadium, Chennai, marking the third consecutive time the country has organized this prestigious tournament. The event will feature 12 nations, including top squash teams like Egypt and Malaysia. India’s strong infrastructure, the support of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, and Chennai’s reputation as the “Home of Indian Squash” contribute to its recurring role as host. The tournament highlights India’s growing prominence in international squash, its commitment to promoting the sport, and its aim to improve its global ranking, building on a third-place finish in 2023.

Yashasvi Jaiswal achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring his maiden ODI century during the third ODI against South Africa on December 6, 2025. This century completed his set of hundreds across all three international formats—Tests, ODIs, and T20Is—making him the 6th Indian to do so. Known for his aggressive yet composed batting, Jaiswal has already amassed seven Test centuries and a T20I century. His achievement underscores his versatility and adaptability across formats, highlighting him as one of India’s most promising young cricketers with the potential to play key roles in future international tournaments.