Current Affairs - Sports

The 2025 Duleep Trophy was won by Central Zone, who defeated South Zone by 6 wickets in the final. This victory marked Central Zone’s first Duleep Trophy title since the 2014-15 season, breaking a long gap and re-establishing their presence in domestic cricket. The team was captained by Rajat Patidar, who added this triumph to his successful run as an IPL player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Yash Rathod’s remarkable knock of 194 runs earned him the Player of the Match award, playing a decisive role in Central Zone’s championship victory.

Vaishali Rameshbabu achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament for the second year in a row. Her victory was sealed with a final-round draw against former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi in Uzbekistan, reflecting her consistency and resilience at the highest levels of competitive chess. This accomplishment further elevates her status as one of India’s leading women chess players. In the previous edition of the tournament, India celebrated a double victory as Vidit Gujrathi captured the men’s title, showcasing the country’s growing strength in the global chess arena.

Anandkumar Velkumar created history by becoming India’s first-ever Speed Skating World Champion at the 2025 World Championships in Beidaihe, China. He won gold in the senior men’s 1000m sprint with a timing of 1:24.924. This achievement followed his bronze medal in the 500m sprint, making him the first Indian to medal in the senior category at this prestigious event. Alongside him, Krish Sharma added glory by winning gold in the junior 1000m sprint. Anandkumar’s journey from a junior silver medalist to a global gold winner marks a turning point for Indian roller sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes.

India secured the 5th position overall at the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Ningbo, China. This performance was highlighted by Esha Singh’s gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event and Meghana Sajjanar’s first World Cup medal, a bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle. Despite strong individual performances, India ranked behind China, USA, Norway, and Italy in the overall medal standings. China dominated the competition with a massive haul of 41 medals, including 16 gold. India’s 5th place finish showcased the growing strength of its shooting contingent on the global stage.

India defeated ninth-seeded Switzerland 3–1 in the Davis Cup World Group I 2025 tie held at the Swiss Tennis Arena in Biel. This historic victory ended a 32-year drought, marking India’s first away win against a European nation since 1993, when Leander Paes and Ramesh Krishnan led India past France. Sumit Nagal sealed the tie with an impressive straight-sets victory over Henry Bernet in the reverse singles. The win not only highlighted India’s resilience but also secured their spot in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers. It reaffirmed India’s potential to compete at the highest levels of world tennis.