Current Affairs - Sports

South Africa emerged as the champions of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 by defeating Pakistan in the final held at Edgbaston, Birmingham. AB de Villiers starred with a match-winning knock that helped South Africa secure a dominant 9-wicket victory. This triumph marked the second edition of the tournament. Pakistan had reached the final through a walkover against India due to political tensions, but South Africa displayed superior performance on the field to claim the title, with de Villiers playing a crucial role in their success.

Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious at the inaugural Chess Esports World Cup 2025, held in Riyadh, by defeating Alireza Firouzja in the Grand Final. Representing Team Liquid, Carlsen showcased his dominance with a powerful performance—securing four wins, two draws, and only one loss across seven games. The event highlighted his superior time management, calm under pressure, and strategic brilliance. Carlsen's path to the title included a crucial semifinal win over Hikaru Nakamura. His competitive drive and witty remarks added flair to the tournament, culminating in a decisive victory that firmly established him as the first champion of this new esports chess format.

The 2025 U17 World Wrestling Championships, where Indian women wrestlers achieved remarkable success by winning a total of five medals, took place in Athens. The performance included two golds—won by Rachana in the 43 kg freestyle category and Ashvini Vishnoi in the 65 kg category—along with two silver and one bronze medal. Hosting the event in Athens, a city with a deep-rooted Olympic legacy, added further prestige to the competition. This venue served as the stage for one of India’s standout performances in junior wrestling, demonstrating the country’s growing strength in the sport on an international level.

England won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 on July 27, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland, by defeating Spain in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Despite a rough start—losing their opening match to France—England bounced back with remarkable resilience. Their journey through the knockout stages was intense, with every win coming through extra time. Coach Sarina Wiegman’s tactical brilliance and key performances from players like Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo played pivotal roles. This victory made England the first team to win the Euros after an opening game loss and marked the first major senior team trophy for the nation on foreign soil.

At the 32nd FISU Summer World University Games 2025 held in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, India secured a total of 12 medals, including 2 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze. Although a commendable performance, it fell short of India’s best-ever tally of 26 medals achieved in Chengdu in 2021. The gold medals were won in archery by Sahil Rajesh Jadhav in the men’s individual compound event and by the duo Parneet Kaur and Kushal Dalal in the mixed team compound category. The result reflects consistent international competitiveness but also leaves room for future improvement.