Current Affairs April 2017 - Sports

News 1 - SV Sunil Named Asian Hockey Federation Player of the Year 2016

India forward SV Sunil was named the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Player of the Year for 2016 while drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh was named as the Asian Promising Player of the Year 2016 in the junior men’s category.

Sunil is considered as one of the fastest men on the pitch in the world. He has also served as the team’s Vice Captain. Sunil played a vital role in India’s memorable run in last year’s Champions Trophy in London, where they claimed silver for the first time.

News 2 - Sachin Tendulkar launched his own mobile app

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar launched his Android and iOS app called 100MB. The app has been developed by Pune-based technology firm JetSynthesys.

The app incorporates a ‘Live chat with Sachin’ section for fan engagement, apart from displaying the latest scores, schedules and player statistics. The other highlights of the app include live feeds, chats, and discussions about cricket. The app also allows users access to their personal social media account within the app.

News 3 - Jepkosgei broke three world records at Prague Half Marathon

Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya smashed three world records in winning the Prague Half Marathon. The Kenyan set a new half marathon world record — as well as registering the quickest times for the 10-kilometre and 15-kilometre marks — in just her fifth half marathon.

She clocked 64 minutes 52 seconds to complete the half marathon, 14 seconds better than the previous record. Her 10-km split time was 30:05 while she clocked 45:37 at the 15-km split.

News 4 - P V Sindhu won India Open badminton title 2017

P.V. Sindhu won the India Open badminton championship in New Delhi. She defeated reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin in straight sets 21-19, 21-16. She entered the final after beating Saina Nehwal and Sung ji-Hyun.

Viktor Axelsen of Denmark clinched the men’s singles title beating Chinese Taipei’s Tien Chen Chou. The India Open (officially titled as the Yonex-Sunrise India Open) is an annual badminton event, which has been held in India since 2008.

News 5 - Roger Federer defeated Rafal Nadal to win Miami Open 2017

Roger Federer defeated his old nemesis Rafael Nadal to win the Miami Open title. Federer beat Nadal for the third time this year. He defeated Nadal in the Australian Open final and in the Indian Wells.

The victory was Federer’s 26^th ATP Masters 1000 title. Only Novak Djokovic with 30 and Nadal with 28 have won more.

The other winners in Miami Open 2017 are:

Women's Singles − Johanna Konta (United Kingdom)
Men's Doubles − Lukasz Kubot (Poland)/ Marcelo Melo (Brazil)
Women's Doubles − Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) / Xu Yifan (China)

News 6 - NHL will not participate in 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

National Hockey League announced that they would not take part in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. NHL had been seeking major concessions from the IOC for taking part in the South Korea games. The NHL had participated in every Winter Olympics since the 1998 Nagano Winter Games.

The decision will affect almost every major hockey-playing nation with the Sweden, Finland, Russia, United States and Canadian teams almost entirely made up of NHL players.

News 7 - Vijay Goel approved appointment of Foreign Coaches in Athletics

Sports Minister Vijay Goel approved appointment of two foreign coaches and two support staff for athletics. Appointments of Dave Smith, Galina P. Bukharina, Dmitry Kislev and Elmira Kisleva have been made up to 2020 Olympics and they will be subject to performance review annually.

The Government is committed to provide best possible help and support, sports infrastructure and equipments to athletes. These appointments were recommended by the Foreign Coach Selection committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Sports.

News 8 - Indian Batsman Virat Kohli crowned Wisden’s ‘King of the Willow’

Indian batsman Virat Kohli was named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2016. Recently, Virat Kohli scored 641 T20 International runs at 106.83 and 739 runs at 92.37 in 10 One-day international matches. Virat Kohli was also awarded Wisden India Almanack’s Cricketer of the Year for the second time in its 2017 edition.

Batsman Virat Kohli scored 1,215 Test runs at average of 75.93. Virat Kohli was honored with ‘Polly Umrigar award’ at the BCCI Annual Awards.

News 9 - Indian Olympic Association granted affiliation to Boxing Federation of India

The Indian Olympic Association granted affiliation to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). IOA now recognizes BFI as a fully recognized body by granting affiliation as per the directives of the International Olympic Committee.

The two bodies had been at an impasse since the BFI took charge of the Boxing after elections, which were conducted in the presence of individuals from International Boxing Association and the sports ministry. Indian Amateur Boxing Federation will be considered as the official national body for the sport.

News 10 - US, Canada & Mexico to launch joint World Cup 2026 bid

Football federations of US, Canada and Mexico appear set to launch a joint bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. President of the Canadian Federation, Victor Montagliani announced that a joint bid for the 2026 World Cup between the three countries was being discussed.

FIFA will designate a host for the 2026 edition in 2020. US had last organized the World Cup in 1994. Mexico has hosted the event twice, in 1970 and 1986. There has been only one World Cup hosted by multiple nations. The 2026 World Cup will expand to 48 teams from 32.

News 11 - India’s first basketball school launched in Mumbai

National Basketball Association of India announced establishment of India’s first basketball school in Mumbai. It is a training-based tutorial basketball development programs around the world for international male and female players ages 6-18.

This launch is a part of multiyear agreement between National Basketball Association and India on Track (IOT). National Basketball Association has also announced launch of additional schools in India. School’s development program is designed by Elite Basketball Development team.

News 12 - Lewis Hamilton won his fifth Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel stood second while Max Verstappen of the Red Bull finished third.Daniel Ricciardo of the Red Bull and Kimi Räikkönen of the FERRARI finished fourth and fifth respectively.

It was Hamilton’s 54^th career win and a record fifth in Shanghai. It was the first win of the season for Hamilton. The Chinese Grand Prix is currently held at the Shanghai International Circuit, Jiading and Shanghai.

News 13 - India School team bagged Asian School Hockey Championship

The Indian School team beat Malaysia 5-1 to lift the title at the Fifth Asian School Hockey Championship in Bhopal.

For India, Alishan Mohammad scored two goals and Pratap Lakra successfully converted a penalty corner and a penalty stroke in the goal. Maninder Singh scored the fifth goal. Malaysia managed to score its single goal through Akhimullah Anuar Esook. India defeated China 11-0 in the semifinal, while defending champion Malaysia defeated Singapore by 12-1. In the match for third and fourth place, Singapore beat China 3-1.

News 14 - Cricketer Harbhajan Singh selected as the brand ambassador for ICC Champions Trophy

Eight cricketers have been selected as brand ambassador for ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in in the UK from June 1-18. Shahid Afridi from Pakistan, Bangladesh’s Habibul Bashar, Ian Bell from England, Shane Bond from New Zealand, Mike Hussey from Australia, India’s Harbhajan Singh, Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lanka and Graeme Smith of South Africa are eight brand ambassadors selected for Champions Trophy.

The brand ambassadors of ICC Champions Trophy Tour will take part in Cricket for Good coaching clinics, a program aimed at providing schoolchildren with an opportunity to meet and play with legends.

News 15 - Chris Gayle became the first batsman to score 10K runs in Twenty-20

Chris Gayle of Royal Challengers Bangalore became the first batsman to make 10,000 runs in Twenty-20 cricket.

The second highest run-scorer after Gayle is Brendon McCullum (7596). Brad Hodge has 7338 runs to his name while David Warner has 7156 runs.

Gayle also made the record of becoming the first batsman to score more than 10,000 runs in three formats - First Class cricket, list A and Twenty 20s.

News 16 - Golf Industry Awards to SSP Chawrasia and Aditi Ashok

The Golf Industry Association (GIA) announced the winners of the second edition of the Golf Industry Association (GIA) Awards 2017.

Aditi Ashok was given the Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Player. She finished second in the Ladies European Tour (LET) order of merit last year. S.S.P Chawrasia bagged the Award for the Men’s Player of the Year (2016). Ali Sher, the Delhi Golf Club caddy-turned-pro-golfer, was feted for an Outstanding Playing Career.

News 17 - Nadal won Men's Singles at Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal won his 10^th Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters crown after beating fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final. It was Nadal’s 29^th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.

India's Rohan Bopanna and his Uruguayan partner Pablo Cuevas lifted the men's doubles crown at the Monte Carlo Masters after win over Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez in Monaco. The Monte-Carlo Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, a commune that borders on Monaco.

News 18 - Jehan Daruvala becomes the 1^st Indian on pole in the Formula 3 European Championship

Jehan Daruvala became the first Indian racer to take pole position in the F3 European Championships in the qualifying session for Round 2 in Monza, Italy. However, he finished the race in second place, behind Lando Norris of the UK.

Daruvala’s feat came over 16 years after Narain Karthikeyan’s pole during the 2000 Macau GP in the British F3 Championship. Formula 3 is considered one of the most crucial steps en route to Formula 1.