Current Affairs - Sports

Gurpreet Singh secured the gold medal in the Men’s 25m Standard Pistol individual event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. His performance was part of India’s impressive outing, where the country achieved a ‘double gold.’ In addition to his individual success, Gurpreet Singh, along with Amanpreet Singh and Harsh Gupta, won the gold medal in the team event of the same category. These victories further underline India’s growing dominance in shooting sports, with additional gold medals also being won in the 50m Rifle Prone Junior team and 25m Standard Pistol Junior team events.

At the Zurich Diamond League Final 2025, Germany’s Julian Weber emerged victorious in the men’s javelin event with a commanding performance, registering two throws over 90m, including his winning 91.51m effort. This season-best throw secured him the top spot ahead of India’s Neeraj Chopra, who finished second with 85.01m, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who claimed third with 84.95m. Weber’s dominance highlighted his exceptional form, with consistent strong throws across the competition. The event also extended Neeraj Chopra’s incredible streak of 26 consecutive top-two finishes, underlining his consistency, while Weber’s performance reaffirmed his standing as a world-class javelin thrower.

Mirabai Chanu achieved a remarkable comeback by winning gold in the women’s 48kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 held in Ahmedabad. She lifted a total of 193kg, which included 84kg in snatch and 109kg in clean & jerk, setting new Commonwealth records in each segment as well as in the overall total. This outstanding performance not only secured her the gold medal but also guaranteed her direct qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Chanu’s victory further strengthens her position as one of India’s most celebrated athletes in international weightlifting.

The Indian women’s shooting team showcased an outstanding performance at the Asian Shooting Championship held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. In the 25m pistol junior individual event, Payal Khatri won gold, Naamya Kapoor secured silver, and Tejaswani earned bronze, completing a clean sweep of the podium. Additionally, the trio also won gold in the team event, further cementing India’s dominance in the competition. Beyond this, Bhowneesh Mendiratta secured a silver medal in the men’s trap, while Neeru Dhanda and Aashima Ahlawat brought home gold and bronze respectively in the women’s trap, highlighting India’s rising stature in shooting sports.

Madhya Pradesh secured the top position in the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival, which took place over three days at Dal Lake in Srinagar. The state dominated water sports, particularly kayaking and canoeing, where it won all four gold medals. In total, Madhya Pradesh bagged 18 medals, comprising 10 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze, making it the clear champion. Odisha followed with 10 medals, while Kerala secured the third spot with seven. The event was organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the J&K Sports Council, marking a significant milestone in promoting water sports in India.