1. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur unveils Hockey World Cup trophy
Tags: Sports Sports News
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur on 16th December unveiled the Hockey World Cup trophy in New Delhi.
Important facts
The Federation of Indian Hockey (FIH) Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar - Rourkela Trophy arrived at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the national capital.
The event was also graced by 1975 World Cup winners Ajit Pal Singh, Ashok Dhyanchand, Brig HJS Chimni, and former Olympians Harbinder Singh, Padma Shri Zafar Iqbal, and Vinit Kumar (Vice president, Delhi Hockey) among other dignitaries.
About the Trophy Tour
The trophy will travel across 13 states and one union territory before returning to Odisha on December 25, giving fans and the public a chance to engage with the coveted trophy.
The nationwide Trophy Tour was launched in Bhubaneswar on 5th December by the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik.
The trophy will go to West Bengal, Manipur, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.
Men’s Hockey World Cup- 2023
The World Cup will be jointly hosted by Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from 13 to 29 January 2023.
Matches will be played in the newly constructed Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, and in the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The Hockey World Cup is organised every four years.
Teams of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023
Pool A: Australia, Argentina, France, South Africa
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, Korea, Japan
Pool C: Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile
Pool D: India, England, Spain, Wales
Semi Final 1: 27th January, 2023
Semi Final 2: 27th January, 2023
Final: 29th January, 2023
2. FINA World Swimming Championships 2022: Chahat Arora sets national record in 100m breaststroke
Tags: Sports Sports News
In Swimming, Indian swimmer Chahat Arora set a national record in the women's 100-metre breaststroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships 2022 in Melbourne, Australia on 14 December.
Important facts
Chahat Arora completed the 100-metre breaststroke race in 1 minute, 13.13 seconds.
Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte, topped the overall heats in 1 minute, 3.81 seconds, which was 9.32 seconds quicker than Chahat Arora.
The 19-year-old Lara Van Niekerk of South Africa came second in 1 minute 3.93 seconds, while Lilly King of the USA came third in 1 minute 3.94 seconds.
Chahat will participate in the women's 50m breaststroke event on 17 December. Siva Sridhar will compete in the 100-metre individual medley on 15 December.
The FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2022, the 16th edition of the competition, will conclude on 18 December.
The Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) is the world governing body for aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, waterpolo, synchronised and open water swimming.
3. Jos Buttler, Sidra Ameen win ICC Player of the month awards
Tags: Person in news Sports News
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 12 November announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for November 2022.
Important facts
England's T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler was named the ICC Player of the Month for the first time after his stellar performance in November.
Playing his 100th T20 match against New Zealand in Brisbane, opener Buttler played a key role in the victory, scoring 73 off 47 balls.
Butler has achieved this award by leaving behind his compatriot spinner Adil Rashid and Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan's Sidra Amin became the country's second consecutive winner of the Women's Player of the Month award after a stellar performance in the ODI series win against Ireland.
Sidra played an unbeaten inning of 176 runs against Ireland in the month of November, this was also the highest score of his cricket career.
Sidra has won this award leaving behind Thailand's Natthakan Chantham and Ireland's Gabby Lewis.
4. Axelsen and Yamaguchi win BWF World Tour Finals
Tags: Sports Sports News
Men's badminton world number one Viktor Axelsen won the men's singles title after defeating Indonesian ace Anthony Ginting at the season-ending World Tour Finals in Bangkok on 11 December.
The BWF moved its $1.5 million flagship event to the Thai capital's Nimibutra Arena after the tournament's original host China pulled out of the tournament due to Covid restrictions.
Men's Singles Final
Defending champion Axelsen appeared fresh, relaxed, energetic and in control as he cruised to a 21-13 win in the first game.
His confidence had been shakey following a surprise loss to India's H S Prannoy on 9 December -- only his third defeat this year -- but he appeared to be a different player on 11 December.
Women's Singles Final
Defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan won the women's singles title by defeating Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan.
In the women's singles final, Yamaguchi won in straight games 21–18, 22–20 in a close match.
With that, Yamaguchi became the first women’s singles player since Ye Zhaoying in 1997 to claim the All England Open, World Championships and end-of-season finals all in the same year, as per the Badminton World Federation.
About BWF World Tour
The BWF World Tour is a Grade 2 badminton tournament series, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).
It is a competition open to the top world ranked players in singles (men's and women's) and doubles (men's, women's and mixed).
The competition was announced on 19 March 2017 and came into effect starting from 2018.
5. HS Prannoy beats Viktor Axelsen in BWF World Tour finals
Tags: Sports Sports News
In badminton India's HS Prannoy, on 9 December, registered a magnificent win over Olympic and world champion Viktor Axelsen in his final BWF World Tour Finals 2022 match in Bangkok.
Important facts
Prannoy prevailed 14-21, 21-17, 21-18 over Axelsen in 51 minutes. It is his second win over the Dane shuttler in seven meetings.
After losing the first game, Prannoy fought back to win the two games and the match in 51 minutes.
Seeded third in the tournament, Prannoy had lost his earlier two Group A matches. In both matches, the Indian shuttler lost after playing a three-game contest.
Prannoy was the lone Indian player competing at the 2022 season-ending BWF World Tour Finals - where only the top 8 players/pairs of the year take part.
About BWF World Tour
The BWF World Tour is a Grade 2 badminton tournament series, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).
It is a competition open to the top world ranked players in singles (men's and women's) and doubles (men's, women's and mixed).
The competition was announced on 19 March 2017 and came into effect starting from 2018.
6. Air Warrior Corp Amar Singh Devanda Finishes 6th in 24 Hour Ultra Marathon in Taiwan
Tags: Sports Sports News
Cpl Amar bagged sixth position by covering a distance of 204.47 Kms in 24 Hrs Ultra Marathon organised by Chinese Taipai Association of Ultra runners for 2022 at Soochow University, Taiwan.
Important facts
Cpl Amar Singh Devanda represented India in the event.
A total of 31 runners comprising 21 males and 10 females from 5 countries participated in the event. The competition started on 3 December 22.
Prior to this, during Asia-Oceania 24 Hrs Championship 2022 held at Bengaluru, Cpl Amar covered 257.618 Kms on 3 July 2022 and created a new national record. The Indian team led by him stood first in the championship.
7. Meghna Ahlawat becomes TTFI’s first female president
Tags: Person in news Sports News
Meghna Ahlawat was elected the first-ever woman president of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), while former veteran Kamlesh Mehta was elected as the general secretary. Patel Nagendra Reddy was elected as the treasurer.
Important facts
Ahlawat, who is the wife of Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, contested against Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghvi.
The Delhi High Court had suspended TTFI in February and appointed a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to take over its functioning.
Dushyant Chautala was the previous TTFI president. The Delhi High Court had barred members of the suspended executive board from taking part in the elections.
About TTFI
It was established in 1926.
It is a founder member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and has been at the forefront in the promotion of the game in India and the world.
It has the affiliation of 34 state units and 37 institutions.
It is one of the most active among all sports federations in the country.
India is represented through TTFI in all the major international championships like Olympics, World, Commonwealth, Asian and all Pro tours.
8. Congress Wins Himachal Prdesh Assembly Election
Tags: Sports News
The Congress wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP by winning 40 seats in the 68-member assembly in the hill state.
Important facts
The BJP won 25 seats, while eight ministers of state, including Suresh Bhardwaj, Ram Lal Markanda and Surveen Chowdhary, lost the elections.
The Independents won from three constituencies and the Aam Aadmi Party, which had contested from 67 seats, failed to open its account.
Independent candidates were successful in winning three seats.
The Congress’ vote share was 43.9 per cent and the BJP’s was 43 per cent - a gap of less than one per cent.
Traditionally, Himachal Pradesh has never allowed a government in power for a second consecutive term in the last 37 years.
The practical Himachali voter has always thought that no party should be allowed to get too comfortable on the seat.
9. Deepika Padukone to unveil FIFA World Cup Trophy during final in Qatar
Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News
Deepika Padukone will unveil the FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar before the World Cup final on December 18.
Important facts
The 36-year-old Dipika will be the first actor to receive such an honour at the world's most-watched sporting event.
The FIFA World Cup final will be held on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.
A few months back, Deepika represented India at the Cannes Film Festival as a jury member.
Nora Fatehi, an actor and dancer, performed last week at the FIFA World Cup 2022 Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park in Doha.
She performed on the World Cup anthem "Light the Sky." She also performed some of her hits, such as 'O Saki.'
Deepika will be seen in the film Pathan alongside Shahrukh Khan and John Abraham.
10. NADA to develop Apps to assist athletes verify medicines with prohibited substances
Tags: Sports Sports News
The National Anti-Doping Agency of India (NADA) is developing Apps to assist athletes to verify medicines with prohibited substances.
Important facts
Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India Sujata Chaturvedi announced the app at the Inclusion Conclave organised by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in New Delhi.
The inclusion Conclave was attended by participants from India and 20 countries.
Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator, India also addressed the gathering.
NADA Director General and CEO Ritu Sen said the conclave was a step towards ensuring that the anti-doping program is inclusive and athletes with disabilities are not left behind.
NADA is making all efforts to spread awareness to make Indian sports dope-free including sports for disabled players.
