Current Affairs January 2020 - Sports

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1 - Government approved IOA's proposal to host Commonwealth shooting in India

The government approved in principle the Indian Olympic Association’s proposal to host the Commonwealth shooting championships and archery events which were not part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games roster in March 2022.

IOA had withdrawn its threat to boycott the Birmingham Commonwealth Games over shooting’s omission and decided to submit a formal proposal to host a shooting championship, where the medals won will be counted in the tally of the 2022 edition.

2 - Manav Thakkar became world no.1 in latest International Table Tennis Federation rankings

Young Indian paddler Manav Thakkar became world no.1 in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings in the Under-21 men's singles category. With this, Thakkar became the fourth Indian to achieve the feat after Harmeet Desai, G Sathiyan and Soumyajit Ghosh.

The 19-year-old Manav Thakkar achieved the top spot after clinching the Under-21 men's singles title at the ITTF Challenge Plus Benemax-Virgo North American Open in Markham, Canada in December 2019.

3 - ICC plans to scrap five-day Tests from 2023

Cricket's apex body, the International Cricket Council, plans to scrap five-day Tests from 2023. The ICC could make four-day Tests mandatory from 2023 as part of the World Test Championship. Tests have been played over five days through most of their 140-year history.

It could provide a sustainable solution to the complex scheduling needs and players' workloads. A four-day test was played between England and Ireland earlier in 2019. South Africa and Zimbabwe too played one in 2017.

4 - MS Dhoni picked captain of ESPNCricinfo's ODI and T20 teams of past decade

Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was picked as captain of ESPN Cricinfo's ODI and Twenty20 teams of the decade, while Virat Kohli was named the leader in Tests.

The criteria, set by the 23-member panel, for selection was a minimum of 50 Tests or six active years in the traditional format while it was 75 ODIs and 100 T20s for the limited-overs teams. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were the only other Indians to make the Test XI. Rohit Sharma was named in the ODI XI and Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 XI.

5 - 5^th IHAI National Ice Hockey Championship 2020

Host Leh-Ladakh won the 5^th Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) National Ice Hockey Championship - 2020 in both Boys and Girls categories. Ladakh Scouts Regiment Centre (LSRC) won the bronze medal, in Under-20 Boys category.

Maharashtra girls stood 3^rd in the championship. The Under-20 boys will be playing Asia Challenge Cup in Thailand while the girls will play in the Asian Championship in the Philippines. Ice Hockey Association of India is the governing body of ice hockey in India.

6 - K. Srikkanth & Anjum Chopra to get CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award

Former India captain and member of the 1983 World Cup - winning team Krishnamachari Srikkanth was conferred with this year’s prestigious CK Nayudu Lifetime Award. Former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra is the co-recipient of the lifetime achievement award for the year 2019.

Srikkanth represented India between 1981 and 1992 and played 43 Tests, scoring 2062 runs with 2 hundreds and 12 half-centuries. Anjum is considered to be one of India’s finest batswomen before Mithali Raj. She played 12 Tests scoring 548 runs.

7 - Bhubaneswar to host 1^st edition of Khelo India University Games

The first edition of Khelo India University Games is scheduled to be held at the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar from February 22 to March 1, 2020. Khelo India University Games will witness over 4,000 athletes from 100 Universities.

The Khelo India University Games will have 17 different disciplines namely archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weight-lifting, wrestling, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi.

8 - Leo Carter became 7^th cricketer to hit six 6s in an over

New Zealand’s Leo Carter became the 7^th cricketer in the world to score six sixes in an over. He achieved this feat during his team's Canterbury Kings' victory against Northern Knight at New Zealand's Twenty20 tournament Super Smash. He smashed left-arm spinner Anton Devcich.

Gary Sobers of the West Indies, Ravi Shastri and Yuvraj Singh of India, Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa, Ross Whiteley of England and Hazratullah Zazai of Afghanistan have scored six sixes in an over.

9 - Jasprit Bumrah to receive Polly Umrigar Award

The BCCI has announced that Jasprit Bumrah will receive the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for his super performance in international cricket in the 2018-19 season. He is the world's No. 1 ODI bowler and made his Test debut during India's tour of South Africa in January 2018.

Bumrah picked up a five-wicket haul in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies becoming the first and only Asian bowler to achieve the feat. Poonam Yadav has claimed the top prize in women's section and will be awarded the best international cricketer.

10 - India finished 2019 as number one shooting nation in world

India finished the year as the top shooting nation in the world, leaving behind Olympic heavyweights China and the USA. India won a total of 21 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals as it topped all the Rifle-Pistol World Cups and Finals in 2019.

China, with 11 gold, 15 silver and 18 bronze, was second in the list. The USA is placed third with 6 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals.

11 - Malaysia Masters 2020

Japan's Kento Momota won the Malaysia masters 2020 after he defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the Perodua Malaysian Masters final. China’s world No. 2 Chen Yufei won the women’s singles against Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying.

South Korea's Kim Gi-jung-Lee and Yong-dae won the men’s doubles title while China's Du Yue and Li Yinhui won the women's doubles title. China’s world No. 1 mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong won the mixed doubles title.

12 - Strandja Memorial 2020

Former world silver-winner Sonia Lather (57kg) and Four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63kg) won bronze medals at the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) won a silver medal after losing 1-4 to Italy's Francesco Maietta.

India ended the competition with three medals in all. The tournament features more than 200 boxers from over 30 countries and is a season-opener in the European boxing calendar.

13 - World Archery lifted suspension on India

The World Archery conditionally lifted the suspension on India. It instructed the Archery Association of India to make changes in its constitution regarding athlete membership, resolve governance issues and develop a strategic plan. It also asked AAI to furnish a quarterly progress report on these issues.

The AAI had been suspended since August 5, with the Indian athletes only allowed to compete under a neutral flag. With the lifting of the ban, Indian archers are now free to compete under the Indian flag.

14 - RFI lifts Dattu Bhokanal's ban after IOA's intervention

Rowing Federation of India lifted the two-year suspension of Rower Dattu Bhokanal. He was charged of tanking a race during the 2018 Asian Games. The ban was lifted after the intervention of the Indian Olympic Association.

Bhokanal was one of the Indian quartets that won gold in the men's quadruple sculls event in the Asian Games, but later left the single sculls race midway. He was banned by the Rowing Federation of India in March 2019.

15 - Khelo India Youth Games 2020

The Khelo India Youth Games 2020 was concluded in Guwahati. It was held between January 16-22, 2020. The defending champions Maharashtra won the medals tally with 256 medals, including 78 gold and 77 silver.

Haryana took the second spot on the medals tally becoming only the second state to win a total of 200 medals including 68 Golds, 60 Silvers and 72 Bronzes. Delhi was third on the tally for the second time in a row as well with 122 medals (39 Gold, 36 Silver and 47 Bronze).

16 - Indian shooters Divyansh Singh Pawar, Apurvi Chandela Clinch Gold in Meyton Cup

Indian shooters Divyansh Singh Pawar and Apurvi Chandela won a gold medal each in Meyton Cup in Innsbruck, Austria. While Divyansh won the gold in the men's 10m air rifle event, Apurvi bagged the gold metal in the 10m air rifle women's category.

Deepak Kumar and Anjum Moudgil also bagged a bronze medal each in men's and women's 10m air rifle events respectively. The Meyton Cup is a private tournament where shooters go on their own to participate to gain experience before international events.

17 - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma consolidate top batting positions in ICC ODI rankings

India Captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma consolidated their top two positions in the batting chart in the One-Day International Rankings issued by International Cricket Council. Kohli has 886 points and Rohit has 868 points. Pakistan's Babar Azam is in third position with 829 points.

Indian pace ace Jasprit Bumrah continued to lead among bowlers with 764 points. New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult and Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman are second and third in the ranking.

18 - Indonesia Masters 2020

Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting won the men's Indonesia Masters title over defending champion Anders Antonsen. Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon won the women's singles title against Spain's Carolina Marin.

Indonesia's Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo won the men's doubles title defeating hometown rivals Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan. In women's doubles, Indonesian pair Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu beat Denmark's Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen. The 2020 Indonesia Masters is officially known as the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2020 and took place at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno in Indonesia.

19 - Derrara Hurisa of Ethiopia won full marathon in elite category in Mumbai

Derrara Hurisa of Ethiopia broke the event record and won the full marathon in the elite category in the 7^th edition of the Mumbai marathon. Ayele Abshero and Birhanu Teshome came in second and third in the category. Srinu Bugatha and Sudha Singh have won the Indian Elite Full Marathon Men's and Women's category respectively.

Ethiopia's Amane Beriso finished at the top in the International Elite Full Marathon Women's category. In the half marathon category, Uttar Pradesh's Parul Choudhary has emerged victorious while Mumbai's Aarti Patil comes in second and Nasik's Monica secured the third spot.

20 - Kiren Rijiju and Pramod Sawant flagged off ‘Fit India Cyclothon’ in Panaji

The Fit India Mission under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Goa, organized the inaugural event of ‘Fit India Cyclothon’ event in Panaji. The Cyclothon was flagged off by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

The Cyclothon event witnessed participation by over 500 cycling enthusiasts cycled through a five-kilometre stretch within the Panaji city.

21 - Kuldeep Yadav becomes fastest Indian spinner to take 100 wickets in ODIs

Kuldeep Yadav became the fastest Indian spinner to claim 100 wickets in ODI during the second match against Australia in Rajkot. The left-arm wrist-spinner reached the milestone in his 58^th match when he got rid of Alex Carey. Among spinners, the earlier fastest to 100 wickets was Harbhajan Singh in 76 matches.

Kuldeep is now also the third-fastest Indian bowler to take 100 ODI wickets behind current teammates Mohammed Shami, who reached the milestone in 56 matches, and Jasprit Bumrah in 57 matches.

22 - Rajshahi Royals won Bangladesh Premier League Trophy

The Rajshahi Royals defeated Khulna Tigers in the finals of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) Twenty20 trophy in Dhaka. West Indian cricket player and Rajshahi Royal skipper Andre Russel was named the player of the match for his performance in the finals. He was also declared the player of the tournament for his 225 runs and 14 wickets over the course of the tournament.

Rilee Rossouw scored the most runs in the tournament - 495 in 14 innings. Mustafizur Rahman was the most successful bowler with 20 wickets in the tournament.

23 - Yogeshwar Dutt & Deepa Malik included in All India Council of Sports

Paralympian Deepa Malik and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt were inducted in the All India Council of Sports along with shooter Anjali Bhagwat, footballer Renedy Singh, mountaineer Bachendri Pal and former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. AICS is reconstituted government panel on sports.

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal constituted All India Council of Sports (AICS) in 2015. The Council is an advisory body for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

24 - India beat Pakistan to lift Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship

The team of the Indian Consulate in Dubai defeated the team of the Pakistan Consulate to lift the Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship of 2020. This is the third time in succession that India has won the Diplomat Cup Championship.

The Championship was organised by Skyline University College in Sharjah. Consulates of eight countries participated in the tournament. The participating Consulates were – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and the USA. The aim of the Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship is to bring together officials and employees of different Consulates based in UAE.

25 - India's Esow Alben bagged gold in Six Day Berlin Tournament

India's Esow Alben has bagged a gold in the men's Keirin individual event of the Six Day Berlin Cycling Tournament. Czech Republic's Tomas Babek came in second while Maximilian Lev of Germany won the bronze.

The event is a six-day track cycling race. Each cyclist competes on every day of the competition. Esow was honoured with the Young Athlete of the Year Award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2020 in Mumbai.

26 - Mizoram won North East Dr T Ao Trophy

Two times champion Mizoram defeated Sikkim to emerge as the champion of the Northeast Dr. T Ao Football Trophy 2020 at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima. While the champion team received a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees, the runners up got six 6 lakhs. Rhitsho Mero received the golden boot for his 10 goals.

Nagaland defeated Arunachal Pradesh claim the third position. Nagaland received two lakh rupees and Arunachal Pradesh one Lakh rupees with a certificate.

27 - ATF unanimously nominates Anil Khanna as life President

Senior Sports Administrator Anil Khanna was nominated Life President of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). Mr Khanna had served as ATF President from 2005 to 2019 and also ITF Vice President from 2015-19.

The ATF also appointed Mr. Khanna as the Chairman of the ATF Finance Committee. CS Sunder Raj was voted as the Senior Vice President of the federation, representing South Asia. Anil Dhupar was elected as the member of the Senior Committee, while VK Batra was voted as a member of the Constitution Committee of the ATF.