Current Affairs - Sports

Rakshitha Raju, a visually impaired athlete born with vision impairment but raised by her grandmother, will make history as India's first athlete in the Women’s 1500m T-11 Category at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Born in 1995 and currently residing in Bengaluru, Rakshitha has overcome adversity through her passion for athletics, with the support of CBM India and her coach, Rahul Balakrishna. She has achieved significant success in her athletic career, including a gold medal at the Asian Para Games and a silver at the World Para Athletics Championships. Now, with the nation proudly supporting her, her journey continues as she prepares to represent India on the global stage in Tokyo 2020.

India has announced its largest Paralympic delegation to Paris 2024, comprising 84 athletes, with an increased representation of women to 32 participants. This marks a significant improvement from Tokyo 2020, where India had sent 54 athletes with only 14 women. In Paris, India is competing in three new sports para-cycling, para-rowing, and blind judo, totalling 22 sports across the event. India's Paralympic journey has been marked by both success and challenges. In Paris 2020, India secured 19 medals across six sports, with the most medals being won in shooting. However, there are high hopes and determination for a stronger showing in the 12 Paralympic sports at Paris 2024. India's participation spans a variety of sports, including para archery, athletics, shooting, swimming, and more, showcasing the nation's broad Paralympic program.

Aman Sehrawat, a 21-year-old wrestler from the Chhatrasal Akhada in Haryana, made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by securing India's first wrestling medal. His journey from the Chhatrasal Akhada, where he has trained since age 11, culminated in his victory over Darian Cruz of Venezuela. Sehrawat's bronze medal not only marks him as India's youngest Olympic medalist but also brings the nation its only wrestling medal. Despite this achievement, Sehrawat remains focused on the ultimate prize – the gold medal at the 2028 LA Olympics, a testament to his dedication and the high standards set by his coach.

In the Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 tournament, the Goa Challengers secured a victory against the Jaipur Patriots with a final score of 5-2. Key contributions from players like Harmeet Desai and Yangzi Liu played a crucial role in their triumph. Desai's remarkable comeback in Mixed Doubles, alongside Liu's win in Women's Singles, helped the Goa Challengers dominate the match and ultimately emerge victorious in this opening tie.

The 2024 Lausanne Diamond League took place in Switzerland, where India's Neeraj Chopra achieved a season-best javelin throw of 89.49m. Despite his strong performance, Chopra finished in second place, as Grenada's Anderson Peters secured first place with a record-breaking throw of 90.81m. This event in Lausanne is part of the prestigious Diamond League series, highlighting top athletes from around the world.