Current Affairs - Sports

Anju Bobby George, a legendary long jumper, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Athletes Commission. She leads a diverse panel that includes prominent athletes like Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Krishna Poonia, and others. This panel aims to provide a voice for athletes within AFI. The inclusion of Neeraj Chopra and other notable members signifies the representation of excellence across various disciplines in Indian athletics, with Anju Bobby George at the helm, reflecting her enduring influence in the field.

Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic and six-time world champion, has been appointed as the international event ambassador for the 20th Mumbai Marathon. Known for his unparalleled achievements in retaining 5000m and 10000m Olympic and World Championship titles, Farah brings global attention to this World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, which anticipates participation from 60,000 runners starting from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.

The AFC Asian Cup 2027 will be hosted by Saudi Arabia across cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar from January 7 to February 5. Matches will be held in premier venues such as Riyadh's King Fahd Sports City and Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City, with plans for a new stadium in Al Khobar. This marks a significant moment for Saudi Arabia in showcasing its sports infrastructure on an international stage.

West Bengal secured its record-extending 33rd Santosh Trophy title in 2024 by defeating Kerala 1-0 in the final held at Gachibowli Stadium. Robi Hansda scored the decisive goal in added time, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 12 goals. The closely contested match highlighted Bengal's dominance in Indian football and the intense rivalry between the teams. Kerala's late free-kick after Bengal’s goal narrowly missed, sealing Bengal's historic victory in the premier state-level football competition.

Uttarakhand will host the 38th National Games for the first time, marking a major milestone in the state’s sporting history. The event will take place from January 28 to February 14, 2025, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun. To celebrate and raise awareness, the torch named 'Tejaswini' was flagged off by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami from Haldwani on December 26, 2024. The torch will travel 3,823 kilometres across 13 districts, visiting 99 locations, before reaching Dehradun on January 25, 2025.