Current Affairs - Sports

The ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 took place at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. India, hosting the event for the first time, showcased exceptional performance by winning five medals, including a clean sweep in the women’s 50m prone rifle event. The tournament featured 208 shooters from 19 countries, with the 69-member Indian contingent performing strongly on home soil. Hosting the event highlighted India’s growing stature in international shooting sports and provided young athletes with a platform to gain experience, exposure, and recognition at a global level.

Smriti Mandhana etched her name in history by scoring the fastest ODI century ever by an Indian, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 52-ball record set in 2013. On 20 September 2025, during the 3rd ODI against Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, she reached her hundred in just 50 balls. Her blistering knock of 125 runs off 65 balls included 17 fours and 5 sixes, and she completed her century with a massive six over midwicket. This achievement also places her second in the list of fastest women’s ODI centuries, behind only Meg Lanning’s 45-ball ton, further cementing her legacy.

Arshdeep Singh achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. He reached the landmark during India’s Asia Cup 2025 group-stage match against Oman, dismissing Vinayak Shukla as his 100th wicket. Remarkably, Arshdeep accomplished this feat in just 64 matches and 1,329 deliveries, making him the fastest fast bowler globally to reach the milestone and the fourth-fastest overall. Known for his powerplay effectiveness and death-over dominance, he has consistently outperformed peers like Haris Rauf. His achievement cements his position as one of India’s finest modern-day T20 specialists and a global pace-bowling force.

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.