Sports Current Affairs

National Sports Awards 2018 announced; Mirabai Chanu, Virat Kohli to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

This year, the Ministry received a large number of nominations for these awards. The nominations were considered by the Selection Committees consisting of a former Olympian, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees, Sport Journalists, Experts and sports administrators.

Former Indian pacer RP Singh announces retirement from cricket

Former Indian pacer RP Singh has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. His international career spanned a period of six years and he played 82 matches across all three formats and picked up over 100 wickets.

Alastair Cook to retire from International cricket after final Test against India

Alastair Cook, former captain of England’s national cricket team has decided to retire from international cricket after the fifth and final match against India at the Oval, starting September 7, 2018. Cook took over as captain from Andrew Strauss in 2012 and England went on to win 24 Tests under his charge.

India records best-ever performance at Asian Games 2018: In Detail

India with a haul of 69 medals including 15 gold recorded its best-ever performance in the history of Asian Games at the 2018 edition held in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia. India set a new record for most medals won and equaled its previous record for maximum gold medals at the Asian Games.

Asian Games 2018: India ends Asian Games campaign with best medal haul

The 18th edition of Asian Games concluded in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 2, 2018. India concluded its run at the Asian Games with a record show that boasted of a total of 69 medals, including 15 gold, 24 silver and 30 bronze. The previous highest medal tally for India was at the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China where they had finished sixth with 14 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze.

National Sports Day 2018 celebrated in India

Every year on this day, the President of India confers National sports and adventure awards including Arjuna and Khel Ratna to celebrate the achievements of exceptional athletes in the country. However, this year, the date has been postponed to September 25, 2018 in the wake of ongoing Asian Games 2018.

Steel Ministry launches sports policy for CPSEs

The Union Minister of Steel, Chaudhary Birender Singh has unveiled the corporate sports policy for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Steel in New Delhi. The policy will provide a framework for the promotion of sports by Steel Ministry CPSEs.

18th edition of Asian Games to begin in Jakarta, Indonesia

The 18th edition of Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 18 August to 2 September 2018. The opening ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm Indian time, with most of the events scheduled to commence from August 19.

Former Indian cricket captain Ajit Wadekar passes away

Former Indian cricket captain Ajit Wadekar, passed away at the age of 77 on August 15, 2018 after a prolonged illness. He led team India to their first overseas Test wins in England and the West Indies in 1971.

Games period to be made compulsory in schools: Sports Minister

Union Sports Minister, Rajyavardhan Rathore has announced that a games period will be made mandatory in all schools from 2019 onwards. Along with this, the Ministry of Education will ensure a 50 per cent reduction in the syllabus.

Tokyo 2020 committee officially launches Olympic mascots

The name of the blue-checked Olympic mascot ‘Miraitowa’ is derived from a combination of the Japanese words for future and eternity and seeks to "promote a future full of eternal hope in the hearts of people all over the world".

Sports Authority of India shortlists 734 youngsters for KHELO INDIA scholarship programme

The scholarship programme is designed to take care of expenses of the players including training, development, boarding and lodging and tournament exposure apart from the expense allowance.

Neeraj Chopra clinches gold at French Athletics meet

India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the Sotteville Athletics meet in France on July 17, 2018. The competitive field also included the 2012 London Olympics gold-medallist Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, who could only manage to throw78.26m, finishing at the fifth position.

France crowned World Champions after 20 years, Croatia’s Luka Modric wins Golden Ball

The 2018 FIFA World Cup ended with France being crowned the world champions. The French team with 4-2 scorecard triumphed over Croatia, in one of the highest-scoring finals ever. The win comes for France, 20 years after they claimed their first FIFA title- in 1998.

Hima Das becomes first Indian woman to win gold in World Junior Athletics

Indian sprinter Hima Das has scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold medal in the women's 400m final race at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships, held in Tampere, Finland.

Dipa Karmakar becomes first Indian to win gold at Gymnastics World Cup

Dipa Karmakar has scripted history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to win a gold medal in the vault event of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey. The win comes as Karmakar returned to action after a long layoff of almost two years due to a knee injury.

Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and former England Women’s wicket-keeper Claire Taylor have been inducted by the ICC into the Cricket Hall of Fame. With the move, Dravid became the fifth Indian player to be named in the Hall of Fame.

Sports ministry approves upward revision of pension to meritorious sportspersons

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Rathore has approved the upward revision of pension to meritorious sportspersons. Under the revised rates, the rate of pension has been doubled off the existing rate of pension on winning medals in international sports events.

Mithali Raj becomes first Indian to score 2,000 runs in T20 International

Mithali Raj has become the first Indian cricketer to score 2,000 runs in T20 Internationals. She achieved the feat during India's seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup T20 at Kaula Lumpur.

National Sports University Ordinance, 2018 comes into force

The National Sports University Ordinance, 2018 has come into force after it received Indian President Ram Nath Kovind’s assent. The approval of the ordinance will pave way for the set up of the country’s first National Sports University with headquarters at Manipur.