- Rohit sharma took over India’s Test captaincy in February 2022 and led the team in 24 matches, securing 12 wins, mostly at home. His leadership style was marked by composure, strategic field placements, and efficient use of bowlers, although overseas success was limited.

Main Point :-   (i) Rohit Sharma holds the world record for the highest individual score in ODI cricket — a stunning 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014. He is also the only cricketer to have scored three ODI double centuries, showcasing his dominance in the 50-over format. As of May 2025, he continues to be a crucial part of India’s ODI setup.

      (ii) Under his captaincy, India won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, cementing his status as a successful white-ball captain. Post the T20 World Cup 2024 win, he retired from T20 Internationals. As of May 2025, Rohit ranks 3rd in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, following Shubman Gill and Babar Azam.

(iii) Rohit was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2015 and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020, recognizing his excellence in Indian sports. Beyond cricket, since 2018, he has served as the brand ambassador of WWF India’s Rhino Conservation Initiative, reflecting his commitment to wildlife preservation.

Main Point :-   (i) India participated in the tournament but did not advance past the group stage. Despite securing a 3-2 win against England, India faced defeats against Denmark and Indonesia, finishing 9th among the 16 competing nations.

      (ii) Sudirman Cup History: Established in 1989 and named after Dick Sudirman, the founder of the Badminton Association of Indonesia, the Sudirman Cup is a biennial event that features mixed-team badminton competitions. It is considered one of the sport’s premier tournaments, alongside the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup.

(iii) China has been the most successful nation in the Sudirman Cup, winning a total of 14 titles. South Korea has won the tournament four times, while Indonesia has claimed one title.

      - Divyanshi Bhowmick also won silver in the U-15 Girls' Singles, after a 1-3 loss to China’s Liu Ziling in the final.

Main Point :-   (i) In the U-15 Girls' Doubles, the Indian duo of Riana Bhootia and Ananya Muralidharan also bagged a silver medal, contributing to India’s strong showing at the event.

      (ii) In the U-19 Boys' Singles, Ankur Bhattacharjee reached the quarter-finals, defeating South Korea's Lee Seungsoo 3-0 before losing to Japan’s Kazuki Yoshiyama 0-3.

(iii) The total prize pool for the WTT Youth Star Contender Bangkok 2025 was USD 15,000.

Main Point :-   (i) Spanish midfielder Borja Herrera delivered an outstanding performance for FC Goa, scoring a brace with goals in the 23rd and 51st minutes. Serbian forward Dejan Drazic added to the tally with a third goal in the 71st minute, sealing a dominant 3-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 final.

      (ii) For his stellar performance, Borja Herrera was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’. With this triumph, FC Goa qualified for the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) Playoffs, marking their return to continental football after 4 years.

      - At 14 years and 32 days, Suryavanshi became the youngest cricketer ever to score a century in any official Twenty20 (T20) match. He broke the previous record set by Manish Pandey, who scored a T20 century at 19 years and 253 days in 2009.

Main Point :-   (i) Vaibhav Suryavanshi reached his century in just 35 balls, surpassing Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball ton in 2010. It now stands as the second-fastest IPL century overall, only behind Chris Gayle’s 30-ball hundred in 2013.

      (ii) Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 101 runs from just 38 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 265.79. His innings included 11 sixes, which is the joint-most by an Indian in a single IPL innings, along with 7 fours.

(iii) He scored 94 out of his 101 runs through boundaries, setting a new IPL record for the highest percentage of runs from boundaries in a century.

      - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full-contact combat sport combining techniques from various martial arts disciplines, will make its debut in the Asian Games. The sport will feature six medal events and will be part of the combat sports category, alongside kurash and jujitsu.

Main Point :-   (i) The return of cricket to the Asian Games reflects its growing global presence, particularly with its reintroduction into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, after being absent for 128 years.

      (ii) The inclusion of cricket and MMA is expected to strengthen South Asian rivalries and significantly enhance India's medal prospects, especially in MMA, with rising stars such as Anshul Jubli and Pooja Tomar gaining international recognition.

      - In the final round, Humpy defeated Bulgarian International Master (IM) Nurgyul Salimova, while Zhu Jiner secured second place by defeating Russian IM Polina Shuvalova. Indian IM Divya Deshmukh finished third with 5.5 points.

Main Point :-   (i) The 5th leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix (WGP) 2024-25 was played in a 10-player round-robin format featuring participants from various countries. Both Koneru Humpy and Zhu Jiner earned 117.5 WGP points each for their shared first-place finish.

      (ii) After five legs of the series, the cumulative Grand Prix standings are: Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) with 308.34 points from 3 events, Koneru Humpy (India) with 279.17 points from 3 events, and Zhu Jiner (China) with 235 points from 2 events.

(iii) The FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024-25 consists of six tournaments organized by FIDE, with each tournament featuring ten players, and each player participating in three of the six events. The series serves as a qualification pathway for the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026, which will determine the challenger for the Women's World Chess Championship. The final leg of the WGP series is scheduled to be held in Großlobming, Austria, from May 5 to 16, 2025.

Main Point :-   (i) India’s Arjun Erigaisi finished in fifth place on his Freestyle Chess debut after defeating France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. He was awarded USD 50,000 (around Rs 43 lakh) for his performance.

      (ii) Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured the 9th position in the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour after winning his placement match against Hungary’s Richard Rapport, earning a prize of USD 12,500.

(iii) In 2013, Magnus Carlsen famously defeated Viswanathan Anand in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in the World Chess Championship match, with 3 wins and 7 draws across 10 games. He became the second-youngest world champion in chess history, after Garry Kasparov.

      - During the 2024–25 season, MBSG secured the ISL Winners Shield by defeating Odisha FC, showcasing consistent performance throughout the league stage.

Main Point :-   (i) In the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024–25 season, Alaaeddine Ajaraie of NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) emerged as the standout performer, clinching both the Golden Boot (Top Scorer) and Golden Ball (Best Player) awards. Vishal Kaith of Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) was awarded the Golden Glove for the most clean sheets. Brison Fernandes from FC Goa (FCG) was named the Emerging Player of the Season. Jamshedpur FC won the award for the Best Grassroot Program, while Punjab FC was recognized for having the Best Elite Youth Program.

      (ii) The Indian Super League (ISL) is India’s premier professional football league, established in 2014. It is co-promoted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) based in New Delhi, Reliance Industries Limited from Mumbai, and Star India. In 2019, the league gained official recognition as the top-tier domestic league of India by both FIFA (Zurich, Switzerland) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

(iii) The ISL features 13 clubs competing for two major titles: the ISL Winners Shield, awarded to the team topping the league table, and the ISL Title, given to the winner of the playoffs. Notably, in the 2023–24 season, the ISL Title was won by Mumbai City FC.

      - While the final qualification process is yet to be detailed, the host nation—the United States of America (USA)—is expected to receive a direct entry. The remaining teams will qualify based on the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings.

Main Point :-   (i) The venues for the cricket tournaments in Los Angeles are yet to be finalized, and details regarding scheduling will be released closer to the event.

      (ii) The ICC currently includes 12 full-member countries—such as India, Australia, and England—alongside 94 associate members, many of whom could be contenders for Olympic qualification.

Main Point :-   (i) Oscar Piastri started from pole position and maintained a commanding lead throughout the race, ultimately finishing with a 15.499-second margin over the runner-up, George Russell of Germany-based Mercedes, who secured 2nd place despite facing gearbox issues and a malfunctioning Drag Reduction System (DRS).

      (ii) Lando Norris of McLaren secured 3rd place, finishing 16.273 seconds behind the winner. He faced a 5-second penalty due to incorrect grid positioning, but still made it to the podium.

(iii) Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both racing for Italy-based Ferrari, secured 4th and 5th positions respectively. With this win, Oscar Piastri advanced to 2nd place in the F1 2025 Drivers' Standings, behind Lando Norris.

Main Point :-   (i) In the Men’s 10m Air Pistol event, Rudrankksh Patil won the gold medal with a score of 252.9, beating Hungary’s Istvan Marton Peni.

      (ii) In the Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event, Vijayveer Sidhu made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in this event at any ISSF World Cup, scoring 29 points.

(iii) United States of America (USA) finished third with a total of 6 medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze).

      - This marks a historic first for the tournament being held in the UK and the third time for the USA, showcasing a major global commitment to the growth of women’s football.

Main Point :-   (i) The United States of America (USA) is set to host the 11th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031, potentially in collaboration with other CONCACAF member nations. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s (UK) bid, involving England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, remains the only valid submission to host the 2035 edition.

      (ii) The 10th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be held in 2027, will be hosted by Brazil, making it the first time the women’s tournament will be conducted in South America. This reinforces FIFA's aim to diversify global hosting of major football tournaments.

(iii) In addition to this, the USA, along with Canada and Mexico, is already confirmed as the co-host for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup (23rd edition). Furthermore, the UEFA Euro 2028 (18th edition) will be co-hosted by England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, further strengthening collaborative hosting efforts in global football.

      - Her retirement marks the end of an era, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most accomplished and inspiring figures in Indian hockey.

Main Point :-   (i) Vandana Katariya represented India at the Olympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She played in the FIH Hockey Women's World Cups in 2018 and 2022. She also participated in three Commonwealth Games – 2014, 2018, and 2022 – where she helped secure a Bronze medal in 2022.

      (ii) Katariya was instrumental in India’s success at the Asian Games, winning a Silver medal in 2018 and Bronze medals in 2014 and 2022. She also clinched Gold in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and 2023, and won the FIH Nations Cup in 2022.

      - Nihal Sarin, who was ranked World No. 2 in Rapid Chess in 2022, continues to demonstrate exceptional skill and consistency.

Main Point :-   (i) Indian GM Abhimanyu Puranik claimed third place after tie-breaks, while Indian GM Aditya Mittal showcased impressive skills with a top-ten finish.

      (ii) Women FIDE Master (WFM) Shubhi Gupta (India) emerged as the top female performer, securing 44th place overall with a score of 6/10.

Main Point :-   (i) The Hero Asia Cup 2025 will be the 12th edition of the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament. It will feature eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, and Malaysia, with the remaining two teams qualifying through the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup.

      (ii) This tournament is crucial as it serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH (International Hockey Federation) Men's World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.

(iii) The winner of the Asia Cup 2025 will secure a direct spot in the 2026 FIH Men’s World Cup, making it a high-stakes competition.

Main Point :-   (i) Udit (Freestyle - 61 kg) secured his 2nd consecutive silver medal, after winning silver in the 57 kg category in 2024.

      (ii) Olympian Deepak Punia (Freestyle - 92 kg) clinched silver, losing to Iran's Amir Hossein Firouzpour (10-0) via technical superiority in the final. This was his 5th medal and 3rd silver at the continental championships.

(iii) Sunil Kumar (Greco-Roman - 87 kg) won bronze, marking his 5th senior medal and 3rd bronze at the Asian Wrestling Championships, having also won bronze in 2022 and 2023.

Main Point :-   (i) Gurindervir Singh's previous personal best was 10.27 seconds, set in 2021. He made a strong comeback by winning gold at the 2024 Federation Cup with a wind-assisted 10.33 seconds and later clocked 10.32 seconds at the National Inter-State Championships in June 2024.

      (ii) His record-breaking performance not only establishes him as India's fastest man but also meets the entry standard of 10.25 seconds for the 26th Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled for May 2025 in Gumi, South Korea.

      - Anahat Singh has made remarkable progress in her squash career, gaining recognition as the youngest Indian athlete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She later won the senior national championship in November 2023 and secured her third British Junior Open title in January 2025.

Main Point :-   (i) The Indian Open 2025, a PSA Copper event with a prize pool of USD 53,500, was held at the historic Bombay Gymkhana from March 24 to 28, 2025.

      (ii) The tournament featured both men's and women's categories, with quarterfinals onwards played on a full-glass outdoor court.

(iii) In the men’s singles final, Kareem El Torkey of Egypt defeated India’s Abhay Singh with a score of 12-10, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10, securing his sixth PSA title and earning 500 ranking points.

      - Ujjwala is the Official Mascot of the 2nd KIPG 2025. The design of Ujjwala is inspired by the house sparrow of Delhi, symbolizing the pride and fighting spirit of the city.

Main Point :-   (i) Jaspreet Kaur became the 1st athlete in KIPG 2025 to break a national record.

      (ii) She secured the gold medal in the 45-kilogram (kg) category, lifting 101 kg, surpassing her previous best of 100 kg.

Main Point :-   (i) This is Pranati Nayak’s second medal at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup, following her bronze in the vault event at Cairo in 2024.

      (ii) She becomes the third Indian gymnast to win an international medal in the vault event, following the achievements of Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Reddy.

(iii) Apart from her World Cup medals, Pranati Nayak has an outstanding track record, having represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She also won bronze medals at the Asian Championships in 2019 (Ulaanbaatar) and 2022 (Doha).

      - In 2017, he won a silver medal at the Syed Modi International in India, partnering with Ashwini Ponnappa.

Main Point :-   (i) B. Sumeeth Reddy won a silver medal in the mixed team event at the 2022 CWG held in Birmingham, England.

      (ii) B. Sumeeth Reddy, who established the Sikki Sumeeth Badminton Academy in Hyderabad in 2021, is also a member of India's coaching panel and has been entrusted with mentoring the women's doubles players.

      - The 2025 KWC received support from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its Commonwealth Games Major Events Legacy Fund. It was sponsored by Irish gambling company Paddy Power and received an additional GBP 500,000 from WMCA along with backing from the University of Wolverhampton.

Main Point :-   (i) The first Kabaddi World Cup was organized by the World Kabaddi Federation (WKF) in Malaysia in 2019, where India also won both the Men's and Women's titles, defeating Iraq and Chinese Taipei, respectively.

      (ii) The Men's competition had 10 teams divided into Group A and Group B. India, in Group B, competed against Italy, Scotland, Wales, and Hong Kong. The Women's event featured six teams, with India in Group D alongside Wales and Poland.

(iii) March 24 is celebrated as World Kabaddi Day, marking the founding of the World Kabaddi Federation in 2018.

      - The anthem for KIPG 2025, "Khelega Khelega Mera India, Jeetega Jeetega Mera India" (My India will play, my India will win), aims to inspire both fans and athletes alike.

Main Point :-   (i) The second edition of KIPG will take place from March 20 to 27, 2025, at three venues in New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Arena, and Dr. Kami Singh Shooting Range.

      (ii) This edition will feature six para-sports: para-archery, para-badminton, para-athletics, para powerlifting, para shooting, and para table tennis, with over 1,300 para-athletes competing.

(iii) KIPG 2025 is part of the Khelo India Mission and will be organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), further promoting sports inclusivity and engagement. The inaugural KIPG was held in December 2023 in New Delhi, featuring events across 7 sports disciplines at three venues.

Main Point :-   (i) Vasu Tiwari, Shalini Chauhan, and Tanya earned silver in the 25-meter Snowshoeing event, while Jahangir added a bronze.

      (ii) Radha Devi and Nirmala Devi clinched silver medals in Intermediate Slalom, F01 and F04 categories, respectively. Abhishek Kumar also secured a silver in the Novice Slalom, M02 category.

      - Top nations such as Germany, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan participated in the event.

Main Point :-   (i) The World Para Athletics Grand Prix will be an annual event in India until 2028, as confirmed by the World Para Athletics Federation.

      (ii) The World Para Athletics Federation is the global governing body for the sport of para-athletics, established in 1989 as part of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Main Point :-   (i) The 3rd edition of WPL was held from 14 February to 15 March 2025, with matches played across four cities: Vadodara (Gujarat), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, UP), and Mumbai (Maharashtra).

      (ii) The tournament, branded as TATA WPL 2025, featured 5 teams: Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W), Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W), Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W), Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W), and UP Warriorz Women (UPW-W).

(iii) In the final, MI-W batter Natalie Ruth Sciver-Brunt became the first player to score 1000 runs in WPL history.

      - CM Omar Abdullah also launched the official website for KIWG 2025 at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, with the platform accessible at winter.kheloindia.gov.in.

Main Point :-   (i) The first phase of KIWG 2025 took place at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Sports Complex and Guphuk Pond in Leh, Ladakh, from January 23 to 27, 2025.

      (ii) The second phase of KIWG 2025 was held from March 9 to 12 at Kangdoori Phase 1 and the Golf Course Club in Gulmarg, J&K.

(iii) The Indian Army (IA) won the KIWG 2025 title, securing 18 medals, including seven gold, five silver, and six bronze.

      - The India Masters, as the winners, were awarded Rs. 1,00,00,000 (1 crore rupees), while the West Indies Masters, as the runners-up, received Rs. 50,00,000 (50 lakh rupees) in prize money.

Main Point :-   (i) The IML is a Twenty20 International (T201) cricket tournament featuring former international cricketers.

      (ii) The inaugural season was held in 2025, with 6 teams participating: Australia Masters, England Masters, India Masters, South Africa Masters, Sri Lanka Masters, and West Indies Masters.

(iii) The tournament structure included a round-robin group stage, followed by knockout semifinals and the final.

Main Point :-   (i) Mahmudullah Riyad made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo on July 20, 2007, and became Bangladesh's 4th-highest run-scorer in ODIs with 5,689 runs at an average of 36.46.

      (ii) He remains the only Bangladeshi cricketer to score three centuries in the ODI World Cup—two in 2015 and one in 2023.

(iii) As a bowler, he took 166 wickets across formats, including a five-wicket haul (5/51) against West Indies in 2009.

      - Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) emerged as a standout performer in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, winning both the 'Golden Bat' and 'Player of the Tournament' honors for his all-round contributions. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja (India) earned the 'Fielder of the Match' award for his exceptional fielding performance.

Main Point :-   (i) The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was held from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with Pakistan serving as the primary host, while some matches were also played in Dubai, UAE.

      (ii) The tournament featured the top 8 Men's National Teams, including Afghanistan (debut appearance), Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa, making it a highly competitive event.

(iii) Shikhar Dhawan, India's highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy history with 701 runs across two editions, was appointed as one of the four Event Ambassadors for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, alongside former Pakistani cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, and New Zealand cricketer Tim Southee.

      - In the Challengers' section, India’s Divya Deshmukh ended on a high note by winning her final match against Greece’s Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis. Meanwhile, Nodirbek Yakubboev from Uzbekistan and Denmark’s Jonas Buhk Bjerre shared the top position in the Challengers' category with 7 points each.

Main Point :-   (i) Aravindh Chithambaram's journey in chess began at the age of 12 when he won the Indian Under-19 Chess Championship.

      (ii) He earned the International Master (IM) title in 2014 and the Grandmaster (GM) title in 2015.

(iii) His remarkable achievement came in 2018 when he became India's national champion in all three formats—Classical, Rapid, and Blitz—an unprecedented feat in the country.

Main Point :-   (i) The total prize fund for the 2025 FIDE World Junior U20 Championship was 10,000 Euros.

      (ii) The top prizes were 2,000 Euros, 1,250 Euros, and 750 Euros, also with a medal and trophy for each winner.

      - Congo was excluded from the tournament due to unlawful third-party interference in the management of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT).

Main Point :-   (i) FIFA had earlier banned Pakistan from participating in the tournament. However, the ban was lifted after necessary governance reforms were implemented, allowing Pakistan to participate in the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup qualifiers.

      (ii) Due to the exclusion of these nations, FIFA has redistributed the available spots in the expanded 48-team format. Europe now has 16 slots (up from 13), Africa has secured 10 additional slots, and Asia has secured 9 qualification spots.

(iii) Since 1950, FIFA has banned 17 countries, including Germany, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, and Chile, for violations of its regulations.

Main Point :-   (i) The event will host over 90 competitions across three days, with elite para-athletes from 20 countries participating.

      (ii) Athletes from top countries including Germany, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and others will compete in the event.

(iii) The 12th Para Athletics World Championships 2025 will be held from September 26 to October 5, 2025, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi (Delhi).

      - Three players—Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE), Humpy Koneru (India), and Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia)—finished tied with 5.5 points each.

Main Point :-   (i) Aleksandra Goryachkina clinched the gold with a Sonneborn-Berger score of 23.50, followed by Humpy Koneru securing silver and Batkhuyag Munguntuul taking bronze.

      (ii) The 41,500 Euro prize pool was equally distributed among the top three, with each receiving 13,833 Euro.

(iii) Sonneborn-Berger Score: A tiebreak system that rewards wins against higher-ranked opponents.

      - Three players—Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE), Humpy Koneru (India), and Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia)—finished tied with 5.5 points each.

Main Point :-   (i) Aleksandra Goryachkina clinched the gold with a Sonneborn-Berger score of 23.50, followed by Humpy Koneru securing silver and Batkhuyag Munguntuul taking bronze.

      (ii) The 41,500 Euro prize pool was equally distributed among the top three, with each receiving 13,833 Euro.

(iii) Sonneborn-Berger Score: A tiebreak system that rewards wins against higher-ranked opponents.

Main Point :-   (i) On May 7, 2024, World Boxing is scheduled to have its first official meeting with the IOC to begin planning for boxing's Olympic future.

      (ii) Boxing has been part of the Olympic Games since 1904, but in 2019, the IOC suspended recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to various issues.

(iii) After the IOC de-recognized the IBA in June 2023, boxing was not included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Main Point :-   (i) On May 7, 2024, World Boxing is scheduled to have its first official meeting with the IOC to begin planning for boxing's Olympic future.

      (ii) Boxing has been part of the Olympic Games since 1904, but in 2019, the IOC suspended recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to various issues.

(iii) After the IOC de-recognized the IBA in June 2023, boxing was not included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

      - Vishnu Choudhary claimed 2 gold in both the Men’s Individual and Men’s Team in the Recurve category.

Main Point :-   (i) Kushal Dalal secured 2 gold in both the Men’s Compound Team and Men’s Compound Individual.

      (ii) Basanti Mahato won gold in the Women’s Recurve, defeating Fong You Jhu of Chinese Taipei after a remarkable comeback from 0-4 down to win 6-4.

(iii) Vishnu Choudhary earned a silver medal in the Mixed Team Recurve alongside women’s individual champion Basanti Mahato, after losing to China 6-0 in the final, while Chinese Taipei secured the bronze. Additionally, the Women’s Compound Team, comprising Avneet Kaur, Madhuravarshini Muruganantham, and Chikitha Taniparth, won bronze after a shoot-off victory against Iran. South Korea claimed gold, while Kazakhstan secured silver.

Main Point :-   (i) The IOA also cited "numerous complaints" from athletes, coaches, and relevant authorities regarding the non-participation of Indian boxers in several important national and international events, including the lack of medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (France).

      (ii) The ad-hoc committee will manage the affairs of the BFI and ensure the "smooth functioning of its activities" until free and fair elections are conducted.

(iii) The committee will promptly address the grievances raised by the boxing community, ensure athlete participation in upcoming international competitions, and work towards conducting the elections as soon as possible.

      - The event, themed 'Green Games,' emphasized sustainability with eco-friendly welcome kits, e-waste medals, and tree plantations for medalists.

Main Point :-   (i) The latest edition of the National Games witnessed the participation of over 16,000 athletes from 28 states, 8 Union Territories (UTs), and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB). Competitions were held in 35 different sports, with 33 medal events, awarding a total of 448 gold, 448 silver, and 594 bronze medals.

      (ii) 14-year-old swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu from Karnataka and India's top backstroke swimmer Srihari Nataraj (Bengaluru, Karnataka) were honored as the Best Female Athlete and Best Male Athlete, respectively, at the 38th National Games.

(iii) Meghalaya is set to host the 39th edition of the National Games, tentatively scheduled for February or March 2027.

Main Point :-   (i) The goal of the Olympic Esports Games is to merge traditional sports with esports, creating more opportunities for athletes and teams. The "Road to the Games" will begin in 2025, with initial Olympic esports competitions leading up to the main event in 2027.

      (ii) This initiative was announced during the 142nd IOC Session in July 2024.

      - China dominated the 9th Asian Winter Games (Harbin 2025), topping the medal tally with 32 Gold, 27 Silver, and 26 Bronze medals, totaling 85 medals. The Republic of Korea secured the second position with 16 Gold, 15 Silver, and 14 Bronze medals, totaling 45 medals. Japan followed closely in third place with 10 Gold, 12 Silver, and 15 Bronze medals, totaling 37 medals, excelling in short-track speed skating and skiing.

Main Point :-   (i) India sent its largest-ever contingent of 59 athletes to the Asian Winter Games 2025. Although India ended its campaign without any medals, the athletes showcased significant potential. Tara Prasad, India's skater, delivered a personal best performance, securing 8th place in the women's skating event.

      (ii) For the first time in the Asian Winter Games, Saudi Arabia participated in alpine skiing and snowboarding, while Cambodia made its debut in cross-country skiing, marking their historic entry into the competition.

(iii) Saudi Arabia officially received the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) flag as the host of the 10th Asian Winter Games (NEOM) 2029, making it the first country in West Asia to host the prestigious continental sporting event.

Main Point :-   (i) For the 2nd straight year, female athletes were absent from the top 100, and the list also does not feature any sportsperson from India.

      (ii) Coco Gauff, American professional tennis player, was the highest-paid female athlete in 2024, with earnings of USD 30.4 million for the 2nd consecutive year.

Main Point :-   (i) Karunaratne has played 100 Test matches, scoring 7,222 runs at an average of 39.25, including 16 centuries and 39 half-centuries.

      (ii) He has featured in 50 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), accumulating 1,316 runs, with one century and 11 half-centuries.

(iii) As the captain of Sri Lanka, he led the team in 30 Tests between 2019 and 2023, recording 12 wins and 12 losses under his leadership.

      - Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh claimed bronze in the Men’s Recurve Open by defeating Nurfaizal Hamzah with a 6-2 scoreline.

Main Point :-   (i) Adil Mohamed Nazir Ansari secured a bronze in the Men's W1 (Recurve/Compound), defeating Hong Kong's Yung Man Tai 120-116. Para-archery classifications ensure fair competition by grouping athletes based on the severity of their impairments, allowing athletes with different disabilities to compete equitably.

      (ii) The sport features three primary classification categories: Recurve Open, Compound Open, and W1, catering to athletes with varying levels of impairment.

      - Marcelo was an integral part of the Real Madrid squad that won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

Main Point :-   (i) In the 2014 UEFA Champions League final, Marcelo played a crucial role in helping Real Madrid secure "La Decima," their long-awaited 10th European title.

      (ii) He won five UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid, triumphing in the 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2021-22 seasons.

(iii) Marcelo earned 58 caps for the Brazil national team, winning the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013. He was also part of Brazil’s Olympic squads, securing a bronze medal in 2008 and a silver medal in 2012.