Current Affairs - Sports

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.

West Bengal emerged victorious in the Santosh Trophy final, defeating Kerala 1-0. This prestigious football tournament showcases the best state teams in India, and West Bengal's win adds to its storied history in the competition. The event highlights the state's continued excellence in football and its commitment to fostering sports at the grassroots level.

Jasprit Bumrah made history as the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets in Test cricket, achieving this milestone in just 44 Tests. He surpassed the previous record held by Mohammed Shami. Bumrah's exceptional performance, including a standout display in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, helped him achieve this feat with remarkable efficiency. His average of 19.56 made him the first bowler to reach 200 wickets with a sub-20 average, further cementing his place among the best Test bowlers globally.