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1 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL

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Last 6 Months

UP-PSC CURRENT AFFAIR

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April 2020 – Important • The mascots of the 19th released at a Current Affairs digital launch ceremony in to host the 3rd edition of the Hangzhou, China. • The three robots, which are • China is to host the third going to be the mascots for the 2022 edition of the Asian Youth Games Hangzhou Asian Games, are (AYG) in Shantou in November collectively known as the smart 2021. triplets. • The announcement was made • The Mascots - Congcong, by the Olympic Council of Lianlian, and Chenchen, which (OCA) on 1 April 2020. reflect the internet prowess of • The third edition was Hangzhou city and Zhejiang supposed to be held in 2017. But was province, were unveiled at a digital postponed to 2021 by OCA. ceremony in the wake of the COVID- PT POINTERS: 19 pandemic. : PT POINTERS: • Formed on: 16 November China (Capital/Currency): 1982 /Renminbi • Headquarters: City, • President: Xi Jinping Kuwait UEFA postpones all the international • President: Ahmed Al-Fahad matches Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah • UEFA has postponed all the • Membership: 45 National international matches that had been Olympic Committees pushed back to June to further • Official language: English notice. • OCA is the apex body that • The decision was made after governs . Asian Europe's 55 member federations Youth Games: discussions on how to adapt the • AYG is held every 4 years fixture calendar in the face of the among from across Asia. ongoing coronavirus crisis. The games are organized by the UEFA's announcement: OCA. The first edition of the games • The postponed matches was held in 2009 in Singapore. The include the play-off matches for second edition was held in 2013 in UEFA Euro 2020 and qualifying Nanjing, China. China matches for UEFA Women's Euro (Capital/Currency): 2021. Beijing/Renminbi • It has also postponed all the • President: Xi Jinping UEFA competition matches, Official mascots of 19th Asian Games including the centralized unveiled in Hangzhou China international friendly matches.

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• The matches will be held finalized soon to give certainty to when the countries return to athletes and NOCs. normality. Friendly matches that PT POINTERS: were postponed include England's International Olympic Committee: matches in Austria, Champions  Type: Sports Federation League final, Europa League final. • Formed on: 23 June 1894 PT POINTERS: • Headquarters: Lausanne, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): • Honorary President: Jacques • Formed on: 15 June 1954 Rogge • Founded at: Basel, • President: Thomas Switzerland Bach • Headquarters: Nyon, FIFA Under-17 Women Switzerland scheduled in November postponed • President: Aleksander Čeferin • FIFA Under-17 Women's • First vice-president: Karl-Erik World Cup was scheduled to be Nilsson played in between November • Membership: 55 full member 2nd and 21st postponed due to the associations Coronavirus pandemic. IOC sets new deadline for the • The FIFA-Confederations qualification period of working group decided in its first Olympics meeting held yesterday. • The International Olympic • The working group postponed Committee (IOC) announced that 29 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup June 2021 has been set as the new which was scheduled between deadline for the qualification period August and September in Panama of the Tokyo Olympics. and Costa Rica. • The decision was made after • The working group has been discussion with the National recently established by the FIFA Olympic Committee (NOC) Council to address the consequences Presidents, Secretary Generals and of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chef de Missions, IOC Director of • Under-17 Women's World Solidarity and NOC relations. Cup was scheduled to be played in • Tokyo Olympics was India across five host cities - Navi rescheduled to be held in 2021 due , , , to the COVID-19 pandemic. , and . • The revised entries PT POINTERS: deadline has now been set for 5 July FIFA: The Fédération Internationale de 2021. Football Association is a non-profit • The committee also organization which describes itself as an announced that the revision of the international governing body of association qualifications systems will be football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball.

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It is the highest governing body of football. PM-CARES President: Gianni Infantino PT POINTERS: • Headquarters: Zürich, : Hockey India is now the Switzerland governing body with exclusive mandate to • Founded at: Paris, direct and conduct all activities for both • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue men and women's hockey in India. It is Saint-Honoré, Paris, France recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs • Senior Vice-President: Salman & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) responsible towards promoting Hockey in • Subsidiaries: Confederation of India. African Football, • President: Mr. Md. Mustaque Soccer Federation, Early Warning Ahmad System • Headquarters location: New GmbH Hockey India donates additional 75 • Founded: 20 May 2009 lakh rupees towards PM-CARES Fund • Chairperson: Mr. Jaideep • Hockey India donated an yadav additional Rs 75 lakhs towards the • Sport: Field hockey PM-CARES Fund to take its total • Coach: Sarthak bansal contribution to Rs 1 crore to tackle Kobe Bryant inducted into Naismith worsening COVID-19 pandemic in Memorial Hall of Fame the country. • The late Kobe Bryant has been • Hockey India earlier donated selected as a member of the Rs 25 lakhs towards the cause in Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall April. Hockey India secretary of Fame. general Rajinder Singh agreed with • He has been selected as the Mushtaq's views. member of the Hall of Fame in his • Hockey India has always first year of eligibility. believed in helping those in need, • The late Kobe Bryant has been and I am proud the Executive Board selected as a member of the took this unanimous decision to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall contribute a total of Rs 1.00 crore of Fame. towards the PM Cares Fund. • He has been selected as the • The millions of Indian lives member of the Hall of Fame in his affected because of this pandemic, it first year of eligibility. was important for us to step up, PT POINTERS: keeping in mind the interest of the The Naismith Memorial Basketball nation. Hall of Fame is an American history • All sportspersons of the museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 country with golfer Anirban Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Lahiri being the latest to donate a Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's sum of Rs 7 lakhs most complete library, in addition to

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promoting and preserving the history of • Andrew Flintoff was the last basketball. English player to win the award in • Founded: 1959 2005. • President: John Doleva • Ben Stokes was the hero of the & Malaysia weightlifters World Cup 2019 final as he banned from Tokyo Olympics 2020 guided England to their maiden • The Independent Member triumph in the 50-over showpiece Federation Sanctions Panel (IMFSP) tournament at Lord’s on July 14. of the International Weightlifting • In Women’s category, Federation (IWF) has banned the ’s has been Malaysia & Thailand weightlifters named the Wisden’s Leading Female from competing in Tokyo Olympics Cricketer in the World. 2020. • Perry scored the highest runs • IMSP has imposed the and took the most as disciplinary sanctions on both the Australia successfully retained their countries from participating in Women’s Ashes title against weightlifting events at the Tokyo England last year. Olympics for doping violations. • The other Five Cricketers of • Due to the doping violations, the Year by Wisden’s are Jofra the membership status of Thai Archer (England), Pat Cummins Amateur Weightlifting Association (Australia), Simon Harmer (South (TAWA) has been suspended for a Africa), Marnus Labuschagne period of three years through to 1 (Australia) and Ellyse Perry April 2023 while Malaysian (Australia- female). Weightlifting Federation (MWF) is FIFA’s 2020: Indian football suspended from all IWF activities team stats at 108th position; for a period 12 months through to 1 on top April 2021. • According to the FIFA PT POINTERS: (Federation Internationale de Malaysia (Capital/Currency): Kuala Football Association)/Coca-Cola Lumpur/ Malaysian ringgit World Ranking 2020, released on Thailand (Capital/Currency): April 09, 2020, Indian football team Bangkok/ Thai baht retained its 108th position with 1187 • Prime Minister: Prayut Chan- points. o-cha • While Belgium ranked first Ben Stokes named Wisden’s Leading and world champion France is in Cricketer in the World 2020 2nd place and is at 3rd spot. • England’s all-rounder Ben Top three countries: Stokes has been named as the 1. Belgium leading cricketer in the world 2020 2. France by Wisden. 3. Brazil Highlights:

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• India ranks 108th 2020 in November-December as he • In the wake of the coronavirus expressed confidence that by then (Covid-19) epidemic, qualifier the coronavirus (Covid-19) tournaments have been postponed pandemic would have been for the FIFA World Cup and other completely under control.However, major games at the international the host city will be decided by BFI level. after things return to normal. • Not only this, due to Corona, • India last hosted the Men’s the Olympic football tournament, in CONMEBOL (South American Mumbai, in the year Football Confederation) Copa 1980, while the Women’s America and UEFA (Union of Championship was hosted in 2003 European Football Associations) in , . EURO also had to cancel famous • This competition is usually events. held once in two years but in the PT POINTERS: past it has also been held in FIFA: The Fédération Internationale de consecutive years. Football Association is a non-profit PT POINTERS: organization which describes itself as an BFI: Indian Federation is the international governing body of association Indian national governing body for Olympic football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. boxing and is the India's member It is the highest governing body of football. organization of the International Amateur • President: Gianni Infantino Boxing Association. It is headquartered in • Headquarters: Zürich, . Indian Boxing Federation is also Switzerland known as all India boxing association. • Founded at: Paris, France • Headquarters location: New • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Delhi Saint-Honoré, Paris, France • Head: Ajay Singh • Senior Vice-President: Salman Charles Leclerc wins Chinese Virtual bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) Grand Prix • Subsidiaries: Confederation of • Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins African Football, United States the Chinese Soccer Federation, Early Warning Virtual Grand Prix championship. System • Due to the ongoing GmbH Coronavirus pandemic, the actual F1 India to host Asian Boxing races are not being held. In its place, Championships 2020 in Nov-Dec Formula 1 has announced new F1 • According to the Boxing Esports Virtual Grand Prix series. Federation of India’s (BFI) • The virtual races will run Executive Director R K Sacheti, instead of each delayed Grand Prix. India will host the Women’s and Men’s Asian Boxing Championships

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• The Virtual Grand Prix series • The 11th edition of World to use the official F1 2019 PC video Games which is to be held in game, developed by Codemasters. , Alabama, US (United BWF selects Sindhu as ambassador States) has unveiled an updated logo for ‘i am ’ campaign and title after being delayed a year • World Badminton Champion, because of the Coronavirus P V Sindhu has been selected as one pandemic. of the ambassadors for Badminton • The was World initially scheduled for July 2021, but Federation (BWF)’s “I am badminton” it will now be held from July 7 to 17, awareness campaign. 2022. • The campaign gives a • The World Games 2021 platform for those players, who Birmingham has been renamed to express their love and respect for World Games 2022 Birmingham. badminton by advocating and • The first event of World committing to clean and honest Games was held in 1981 in Santa play. Clara, California, United States (US). • Other ambassadors of the “I PT POINTERS: am badminton” awareness USA (Capital/Currency): Washington, campaign: the Chinese duo of Zheng D.C./ United States Dollar Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong, • President: Donald Trump ’s Michelle Li, England’s • Official languages: English Jack Shephard, ’s Chan ’s Alireza Firouzja beats Magnus Ho Yuen. Carlsen in Banter Blitz Cup final PT POINTERS: • 16-year-old Iranian refugee, BWF: The Badminton World Federation is Alireza Firouzja beats World the international governing body for the Champion in the sport of badminton recognised by the final of the Banter Blitz Cup 2020 International Olympic Committee. Founded and to claim the $14,000 prize. in 1934 as the International Badminton • Firouzja, an Iranian now Federation with nine member nations, the living in Paris, is the second- BWF has since expanded to 176 member youngest player to reach a rating of nations around the world. 2700 from Fédération • Headquarters: , Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), Malaysia the body that governs international • Founded: 5 July 1934 chess competition.  He is ranked • President: Poul-Erik Høyer 21st in the world. Larsen PT POINTERS: • Type of business: Sports Iran (Capital/Currency): governing body Tehran/Iranian rial World Games unveil new logo for • President: Hassan Rouhani 2022 edition

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PT POINTERS: • Type of business: Sports Women’s National Cricket governing body Team: PCB bans Umar Akmal over • One of the eight teams corruption charges participating in the ICC Women’s • The Pakistan Cricket Board Championship. has banned Pakistan batsman Umar • : BismahMaroof Akmal from all forms of cricket for a • Coach: Iqbal Imam period of three years. • Founded: 1997 • The Pakistani batsmen has Olympic silver medallist Mathias Boe been charged with two breaches of announces retirement from anti-corruption codes of Pakistan international badminton Cricket Board after he failed to • Mathias Boe, 39 years old, report details of corrupt approaches badminton doubles player from made to him ahead of 2020 PSL. Denmark announced retirement • The Pakistan batsman Umar from international badminton. Akmal has been charged under • He won silver medallist at the Article 2.4.4, which deals with a 2012 Olympics and 2013 failure of participant to disclose to World Championships. the PCB Vigilance and Security • Boe planned to retire after Department (without unnecessary either the Badminton World delay) full details of any approaches Federation (BWF) in or invitations received by the May or the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Participant to engage in Corrupt Games, both of which have been Conduct under this Anti- postponed because of the CORRUPTION CODE coronavirus pandemic. PT POINTERS: PT POINTERS: BWF: The Badminton World Federation is PCB: The Pakistan Cricket Board - PCB the international governing body for the controls and organises all tours and sport of badminton recognised by the matches undertaken by the Pakistan International Olympic Committee. Founded National Cricket Team. in 1934 as the International Badminton • Chairperson: Ehsan Mani Federation with nine member nations, the • Women's coach: Iqbal Imam BWF has since expanded to 176 member • Men's coach: Misbah-Ul-Haq nations around the world.  Headquarters: • Headquarters location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Lahore, Pakistan • Founded: 5 July 1934 • Director: Wasim Khan • President: Poul-Erik Høyer • Sport: Cricket Larsen Jhuma Khatun banned for 4 years for • Membership: 194 member failing dope test associations • Indian middle-distance • Formation: 1934 runner, Jhuma Khatun was banned

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for 4 years for using banned the agreement signed in 2017 by substances(Steroids) by the Athletics India. Integrity Unit (AIU) for the doping • India will also have to pay the case from 2018. cancellation fee penalty of USD 500. • The sample from Jhuma • The elite competition, which Khatun collected during the would have happened for the first National Inter-State Championships time in India, will now be held in the in June 2018 in Guwahati meet. Serbian city of Belgrade. • In National Inter-State • President of Serbian Boxing Championships, Guwahati, she won Federation, Nenad Borovcanin a bronze each in 1500 m and 5000 welcomed the Championships back m, tested negative for the presence to Belgrade after 43 years. of substances by the National Dope • According to AIBA Interim Testing Laboratory (NDTL). President Mohamed Moustahsane, • The World Anti-Doping Serbia has everything to organize a Agency (WADA) then decided to test great event for athletes, coaches. the sample of Khatun at its Montreal PT POINTERS: Laboratory in Canada and it AIBA: The International Boxing returned positive for Association or AIBA, originally the dehydrochloromethyl testosterone. Association Internationale de Boxe India loses hosting rights of men’s Amateur, is a sport organization that World Boxing Championships 2021 sanctions amateur boxing matches and • India lost the hosting rights of awards world and subordinate the men’s World boxing championships. championship 2021 to Serbia. • Headquarters location: • International Boxing Lausanne, Switzerland Association (AIBA) has terminated • President: Gafur Rakhimov continue his involvement in cricket • Founded: 1946 from 27 October 2021. • Main organ: Congress • Deepak Agarwal was one of the • Type of business: Sports team owners of the Sindhi’s franchise governing body in the 2018 T10 Cricket League. Deepak Agarwal banned by ICC from • He has been charged by ICC all cricket for 2 years under the Article 2.4.7 which states • Deepak Agarwal has been “obstructing or delaying an banned by the International Cricket investigation, including concealing, Council (ICC) from all cricket for a tampering with or destroying any period of 2 years. documentation or other information • He has been banned by the ICC that may be relevant to that after he accepted one charge of investigation and or that may be breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption evidence of or may lead to the Code.  Deepak will be free to discovery of evidence of corrupt

10 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL conduct under the ICC Anti- • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Corruption Code”. Saint-Honoré, Paris, France PT POINTERS: • Senior Vice-President: Salman ICC: The International Cricket Council is the bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) world governing body of cricket. It was • Subsidiaries: Confederation of founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in African Football, United States Soccer 1909 by representatives from Australia, Federation, Early Warning System England and South Africa. It was renamed as GmbH the International Cricket Conference in 1965, India lost top spot in the ICC Test and took up its current name in 1989. to Australia • Chairperson: Shashank • India lost the top spot in the Manohar ICC Test rankings to Australia on 1 • Headquarters: Dubai, United May. It lost the rank because of the Arab Emirates 2016-17 record was eliminated from • CEO: Manu Sawhney the annual update as per rules. • Founded: 15 June 1909 Highlights: • Motto: Cricket for good. • India dropped in the ladder largely because the record of 12 Tests May 2020 – Important Sports Current Affairs victories and just one Test defeat in 201617 was removed in the latest FIFA launches #WeWillWin campaign chart. to pay tribute to health workers • Australia, the top-ranking • Federation International de country, now has 116 points. It is Football Association(FIFA) has followed by New Zealand with 115 launched a campaign called points and India with 114 points. “#WeWillWin”. • India yielded the top spot in • Through this campaign FIFA Test rankings for the first time since tribute a special video to health October 2016. It continues to lead the workers and other professionals who ICC World Test Championship. ensure the society continues to PT POINTERS: function among COVID-19 pandemic. ICC: The International Cricket Council is the • Former India football captain world governing body of cricket. It was who is also featured founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in among 50 past and present football 1909 by representatives from Australia, stars. England and South Africa. It was renamed as PT POINTERS: the International Cricket Conference in 1965, FIFA: The Fédération Internationale de and took up its current name in 1989. Football Association is a non-profit • Chairperson: Shashank organization which describes itself as an Manohar international governing body of association • Headquarters: Dubai, United football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. It Arab Emirates is the highest governing body of football. • CEO: Manu Sawhney • President: Gianni Infantino • Founded: 15 June 1909  • Headquarters: Zürich, Motto: Cricket for good. Switzerland Australia restrict use of saliva to shine • Founded at: Paris, France ball under COVID-19 guidelines

11 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Australia restricts the use of • The ANZ Cricket Awards were saliva & sweat to shine ball under presented for the first time due to the COVID-19 guidelines. Australian COVID-19 pandemic. Institute of Sport (AIS) in consultation • New Zealand captain Kane with doctors has come up with Willamson has been named as the guidelines, restricting the utilization of men’s ODI Player of the Year. saliva and sweat to shine the ball. Here is the complete list of Annual New • There is speculation that the Zealand Cricket Award winners: utilization of saliva to shine the ball • ANZ International Women’s are going to be stopped to cut down ODI Player of the Year: Suzie Bates the danger of the highly contagious • ANZ International Men’s ODI infection with reports suggesting that Player of the Year: Kane Williamson the ICC is considering the likelihood of • ANZ International Women’s allowing the utilization of artificial T20 Player of the Year: Sophie Devine substances to shine their ball under • ANZ International Men’s T20 the supervision of umpires. Player of the Year: Ross Taylor PT POINTERS: Discus thrower Sandeep Kumari gets Australia (Capital/Currency): Canberra/ 4-year ban for dope flunk Australian Dollar • Discus thrower Sandeep Kumari • Prime Minister: Scott Morrison has been banned for 4 years by Former World champion WADA’s Athletics Integrity Unit for announces retirement flunking a dope test. • Former World Snooker • The sample was deemed clean Champion Peter Ebdon has by the NDTL officials during the announced his retirement from National Inter-State Championships professional snooker. in June 2018 in Guwahati. • He has announced his • The World Anti-Doping Agency retirement after suffering from various (WADA) then decided to test the neck and back injuries. sample of Kumari at its Montreal • Peter Ebdon was the winner of Laboratory in Canada. 2002 World Snooker championship • Her four-year ban, announced when he defeated in by WADA will begin from June 26, an 18-17 final thriller. 2018 — the date of her sample • He also ended as a runner up in collection. the championship for the record two Kumari’s results from June 26, 2018 to times in his professional career of 29 November 21, 2018 will now be annulled. years. FINA postpones 2021 world • He also won the UK championships to May 2022 Championship in 2006. • world governing New Zealand Cricket announces ANZ body, Federation Internationale de Cricket Awards Natation(FINA) rescheduled the 2021 • New Zealand Cricket has Fukuoka aquatics world announced the Annual New Zealand championships to May 2022 to avoid a Cricket Awards. clash with the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

12 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • The new dates for the aquatics • Sangakkara is all set to enter an in the Japanese elite list of people who have served city are May 13-29, 2022. multiple terms. • FINA had to move the • Presidents of MCC traditionally championships because the 2021 slot only a 12-month term, but of Jul 16 to Aug 1 clashed with the new during the first and second World date for the Tokyo Games, which were War, Lord Hawke (1914-18) and postponed due to the COVID-19 Stanley Christopherson (1939-45) pandemic. both served for longer periods. PT POINTERS: PT POINTERS: FINA MCC: Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket • President: Julio C. Maglione club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at • Founded: July 29, 1908 Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St • Headquarters: Lausanne, John's Wood, London. The club was formerly Switzerland the governing body of cricket in England, Egypt tennis player Youssef Hossam Scotland and Wales, and still holds banned for life on match-fixing charges considerable global influence. • Egyptian professional tennis • Ground: Lord's Cricket Ground player Youssef Hossam has been • Founded: 1787 banned from professional tennis for • Headquarters location: London, life for match-fixing, as per the official notification by the Tennis Integrity SAI forms 6-member panel to prepare Unit on 4 May 2020. SOP for phased resumption of training • The 21-year-old Youssef post COVID; Head- Rohit Bharadwaj Hassam was already provisionally • The Sports Authority of India suspended since May 2019, and now (SAI) has formed a six-membered has been banned for life following his committee that will prepare Standard conviction on multiple match-fixing Operating Procedure (SOP) for the and associated corruption charges. phased resumption of training of • Hossam has been found guilty sports after the lockdown due to of 21 breaches of the Tennis Anti- COVID19 is lifted. Coprruption Program from 2015 to • The committee is headed by 2019. Rohit Bharadwaj. He is a secretary at PT POINTERS: the Sports Authority of India. Egypt (Capital/Currency): Cairo/ PT POINTERS: Egyptian pound SAI: The Sports Authority of India is the • President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi apex national sports body of India, Kumar Sangakkara set for 2nd term as established in 1984 by the Ministry of Youth MCC President Affairs and Sports of Government of India for • Former Sri Lanka skipper the development of .  Kumar Sangakkara is set to serve his Headquarters: Delhi second term as the president of • Founder: Ministry of Youth Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Affairs and Sports • He became the first non-British • Founded: 25 January 1984 President of the club when he • Agency executive: Sandip assumed office on October 1 last year. Pradhan Indian Revenue Service,

13 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Sports Secretary-cum-Director the president of the Paralympic General  Annual budget: 481 crores Committee of India. INR (US$70 million, 2017–2018) • As per the National Sports • Parent agencies: Department of Code, an active cannot hold an Youth and Sports Development, official post in any federation. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, • She is the first Indian woman to Government of India earn a medal at the FIH extends Narinder Batra term as and has won 58 national and 23 President till 2021 international medals. • International Hockey PT POINTERS: Federation (FIH) has extended the The Paralympic Committee of India is term of Narinder Batra as President of the body responsible for selecting athletes to FIH until May 2021. represent India at the Paralympic Games and • Batra and therefore the other international athletic meets and for Executive Board members which were managing the Indian teams at the events. The due to end in October 2020 have now organisation was founded in 1992 as the been extended. Physically Handicapped Sports Federation of • The Executive Board (EB) of the India. International Hockey Federation • Founded: 1992 (FIH) has also decided to postpone the • Continental Association: APC 47th FIH Congress, initially planned • Secretary General: Shri. on 28 October-1 November 2020 in Chandrashekar.J New Delhi, to May 2021. FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup in India PT POINTERS: to begin in 2021 February FIH: The Fédération Internationale de • The FIFA U-17 Women's World Hockey, commonly known by the acronym Cup has been rescheduled between 17 FIH, is the international governing body of February and 7 March 2021. field hockey and indoor field hockey. Its • The recommendations were headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland made by the FIFA-Confederations and the president is Narinder Batra. COVID-19 Working Group, the Bureau • Headquarters: Lausanne, of the FIFA Council. Switzerland Highlights: • President: Narinder Batra • FIFA announced that the • Founded: 7 January 1924, Paris, tournament will keep original France eligibility criteria which are the • CEO: Thierry Weil players born on or after 1 January • Abbreviation: FIH 2003 and on or before 31 December • Membership: 137 national 2005 despite the postponement. associations • The U-17 Women's World Cup Para-athlete Deepa Malik announces was originally scheduled to be played retirement, to head India’s Paralympic across five host cities , Committee Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and • Para-athlete Deepa Malik has Bhubaneswar. announced her retirement from • Also, it announced that the Paralympics games to hold her post as FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica/Panama 2020 has been

14 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL rescheduled between 20 January and • Founded: 14 April 1900, Paris, 6 February 2021. The tournament will France keep original eligibility criteria for • Leader: David Lappartient players born on or after 1 January • Affiliation: International 2000 and on or before 31 December Olympic Committee 2004. • Type of business: Sports • FIFA Futsal World Cup federation Lithuania 2020 has been rescheduled • Subsidiaries: UCI Professional to be held between 12 September and Continental Tour, UCI Continental 3 October 2021. Circuits PT POINTERS: China defeats USA to win FIDE FIFA: International Federation of Chess.com Online Nations Cup • China has won the first edition • President: Gianni Infantino of FIDE Chess.com Online Nations • Headquarters: Zürich, Cup against USA. Switzerland • In the finals, China faced the • Founded at: Paris, France USA which ended in a draw with 2-2. • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue • China was adjudged the winner Saint-Honoré, Paris, France on the basis of its topping the points • Senior Vice-President: Salman table in the round-robin stage. bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) • In this tournament, India • Subsidiaries: Confederation of finished at 5th rank. African Football, United States Soccer • The Superfinal concluded six Federation, Early Warning System days of online competitive chess at the GmbH highest level between six international French cyclist Remy Di Gregorio teams full of top grandmasters. banned by UCI for 4 years • These 6 teams are China, USA, • French cyclist Remy Di Europe, , India, Rest of the Gregorio has been banned for 4 years world. by the International Cycling Union PT POINTERS: (UCI) for using a form of banned FIDE: International Chess Federation. blood-boosting hormone EPO • President: Arkady Dvorkovich (Erythropoietin). • Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, • Remy Di Gregorio had tested France positive for the hormone during a • CEO: Geoffrey D. Borg long-distance trip from Paris to Nice • Membership: 189 national during a doping test on March 8, associations 2018. • Motto: Gens una sumus • His suspension starts from the becomes 1st major sports date of the test so he is going to be event to resume post COVID-19 suspended until 7 March 2022. lockdown PT POINTERS: • The Bundesliga primary football UCI: International Cycling Union league of Germany becomes the • Headquarters: Aigle, world’s first major sports event to Switzerland resume after COVID-19 lockdown. The Bundesliga games began with empty

15 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL stadium though the stadium had the platform and will see users face off capacity to hold more than 80,000 against each other, with cash prizes for players. Bundesliga means “Federal grabs for each battle and tournament. League”.  The players are being MPL currently has over 40 games on tested twice a week. its platform. • The teams participating in the • The idea behind Rogue Heist is games were kept under quarantine. to create a unique experience of a • The teams entered the ground heist, which is intense, engaging, and at different times. fun in a truly competitive real-time • The substitutes sat well apart multi-player environment. during the matches. • The game mode on MPL is PT POINTERS: Rogue Heist- BRAWL – a super fast, The Bundesliga is a professional association action-packed Esport mode. football league in Germany and the football • Each game lasts only seven league with the highest average stadium minutes in which 10 players are pitted attendance worldwide. At the top of the against each other to steal the German football , the maximum amount of money. Bundesliga is Germany's primary football • Here, the players get the real competition. feel of a heist, yet come out top gainers • Current champion: FC Bayern based on their individual Munich (28th title) performance. • Most championships: Bayern • Based on the leaderboard, top Munich (28 titles) players will win cash prizes on MPL, • Most appearances: Charly making it a virtual cash heist with real Körbel (602) money for takes. • Top goalscorer: Gerd Müller PT POINTERS: (365) MPL: Mobile is the mobile e- • Number of teams: 18 Sports platform based in India. It is operated MPL launches India’s first indigenous by -based Galactus Funware shooter game Rogue Heist Technology Pvt. Ltd. Users can compete in • India’s largest mobile gaming multiple skill based mobile gaming platform Mobile Premier League tournaments on MPL. (MPL) has partnered with Mumbai- • Founder: Sai Srinivas Kiran based game developer Lifelike Studios Garimella, Shubham Malhotra to launch Rogue Heist. • Headquarters: Bangalore, India Highlights of The Game  Founded: September 2018 • India’s first indigenous multi- • Type of business: Pvt. Ltd. player online shooter game exclusively • Subsidiary: Crevise on the MPL app, ahead of other Technologies Private Limited platforms. • Areas served: India, • Rogue Heist is developed by Haryana govt allows opening of all Lifelike Studios and backed by sports complexes and stadiums Actor and Producer Arbaaz • Haryana Government Khan and Time2play Gaming Studios. announced, under the guidelines • Rogue Heist is one of the first issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs multi-player Esports on the MPL for containment of COVID-19, all

16 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Sports Complexes and Stadiums in the NADA provisionally suspends state have been permitted to open. powerlifters Savita Kumari & Ankit • Giving this information at Shishodia Chandigah, Sports and Youth Affairs • Two Indian Powerlifters namely Minister Sandeep Singh said, all the Savita Kumari & Ankit Shishodia have District Sports & Youth Affairs been provisionally suspended by the Officers have been directed to ensure National Anti Doping Agency (NADA). maintaining of social distance to • The powerlifters have been ensure availability of sanitizers at provisionally suspended for violating every where needed. the anti-doping rules. Both athletes Measures to be Taken were given a chance to present • Coaches and trainees will wear themselves before the Anti Doping face masks. However spectators will Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) to explain not be allowed, he added. their cases. • All sports staff and players shall • But because of lockdown amid use ‘Arogya Setu’ application. The COVID-19 pandemic, no sitting of instruction issued by PWD (B&R) in panel could take place. respect of use of Air Conditioners in PT POINTERS: office buildings shall be strictly NADA: The National Anti-Doping Agency is followed, he added. the national organisation responsible for • Sports Department will ensure promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the provision of health screening via non- doping control program in sports in all its contact thermal temperature checks forms in India. also. • CEO: Navin Agarwal • The record of such screening • Founded: 24 November 2005 will be maintained and awareness • Chairman: Minister of Sports briefing of all the persons entering (India) sports stadiums/complexes will be • Motto: Play fair conducted by health department. • Purpose: Anti-doping in sports • Athletes with age less than 18 • Headquarters: New Delhi, India years have to take written tops Forbes world’s confirmation from their parents. highest-paid female athlete list 2020 • Swimming pool will not be • Japanese tennis player Naomi opened under any circumstances. Osaka has become the world’s highest- paid female athlete.  She has PT POINTERS: replaced US rival, , Haryana: from the top spot. • Capital: Chandigarh • Osaka’s had an earning of $37.4 • Chief Minister: Manohar Lal million while Serena Williams had an Khattar earning of $36 million. PT • Governor: Satyadev Narayan POINTERS: Arya (Capital/Currency): Tokyo/ • National Park: Sultanpur Japanese yen National Park, Kalesar National Park • Prime Minister: Shinzō Abe Spanish football player Aritz Aduriz announces retirement

17 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Spanish football player and by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz has Government of India for the development of sport announced his retirement citing in India. medical reasons. • Headquarters: Delhi • He has won 13 caps for • Founder: Ministry of Youth Affairs and also become the Spain’s oldest and Sports goalscorer in 2016, scoring at the age • Founded: 25 January 1984 of 35 years and 275 days. • Agency executive: Sandip Pradhan • Aritz Aduriz has scored 141 Indian Revenue Service, Sports Secretary- goals in 296 appearances for Bilbao cum-Director General and has also represented Real • Annual budget: 481 crores INR Valladolid, Real Mallorca and (US$70 million, 2017–2018) Valencia. • Parent agencies: Department of • He is also the only player other Youth and Sports Development, Ministry than Lionel Messi to score goals in 15 of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government LaLiga seasons in a row. of India PT POINTERS: beat Serbia to win the inaugural UEFA Spain (Capital/Currency): Madrid/Euro eEURO 2020 • Prime Minister: Pedro Sánchez • Italy has won UEFA eEURO 2020, 2,749 athletes given Rs beating Serbia in the final to clinch the 30,000 each: SAI inaugural virtual European Championship. • Sports Authority of India (SAI) • Italy emerged triumphant by has deposited 30,000 rupees each as defeating Serbia 3-1 in the best-of-five out of pocket allowance in accounts of series. 2,749 Khelo India athletes. • The UEFA EURO 2020 eTournament was the biggest ever • The amount added up to 8.25 crore national team efootball competition, rupees in all. the money has been featuring all 55 UEFA national transferred to the bank accounts of the associations. athletes. • The virtual tournament was played • A total of 2,893 athletes will be exclusively on Konami’s efootball PES given the pocket allowance with the funds 2020 on Playstation 4. for the remaining 144 athletes to be • The format of the tournament was transferred by the end of this month. similar to the template for UEFA EURO • The allowance is for the first 2020, involving a qualification phase and quarter of 2020-21. culminating in the final tournament. • Athletes from 35 states and union PT POINTERS: territories have been given the allownaces The UEFA European Football Championship, in 21 sporting disciplines with the commonly known as the UEFA European maximum number of them from Championship and informally as the Euros, is the Maharashtra (386), Haryana (381), Delhi primary association football competition contested (225), (202) and by the senior men's national teams of the members (165). of the Union of European Football Associations PT POINTERS: (UEFA). SAI: The Sports Authority of India is the apex • Current champion: Portugal national sports body of India, established in 1984 national football team

18 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Number of teams: 24 (finals); 55 Sri Lanka(Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri (eligible to enter qualification) Jayawardenepura Kotte/ Sri Lankan rupee • Founded: 1958 • President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa • Headquarters location: Warsaw, • Official Languages: Sinhala and Poland Tamil. • Venues: Stadio Olimpico, Lisbon WADA hands 4 year bans to Kiranjeet Kaur Italy (Capital/Currency): Rome/Euro for doping • President: Sergio Mattarella • India’s long-distance runner, • Prime Minister: Giuseppe Conte Kiranjeet Kaur has been handed a four- • Official Languages: Italian year ban by World Athletics’ anti-doping US Tennis Star Jamie Hampton Announces body for testing positive for a banned Retirement substance (Enobosarm). • American tennis player and former • She will be stripped of the gold world number 24 Jamie Hampton has medal she won at the Tata Steel Kolkata officially announced her retirement from 25K. professional tennis, bringing a sudden halt • Her ban period begins from to her career. December 15 (2019), the date of in- • She last played an official match competition sample collection. six years ago. • She was provisionally suspended • The 30-year-old has suffered by World Athletics on February 26. numerous injuries and surgeries in the last • The National Dope Testing 5 years, after reaching a career-high Laboratory has been suspended by the ranking of World No.24 in July 2013. World Anti-Doping Agency and so Kaur’s PT POINTERS: samples were tested in the WADA- USA (Capital/Currency): Washington, D.C./ accredited laboratory in Doha. United States Dollar • “Enobosarm is a Prohibited • President: Donald Trump Substance under the WADA 2019 • Official languages: English Prohibited List (S1.2: Other Anabolic Sri Lanka’s Shehan Madushanka suspended Agents). after heroin arrest • It is a non-Specified substance and • Sri Lankan fast bowler, Shehan is prohibited at all times. Madushanka has been suspended from all PT POINTERS: forms of cricket with immediate effect for WADA: alleged possession of heroin. • Headquarters: Montreal, Canada • The decision to suspend will stand • Purpose: Anti- until the board conducts a full inquiry of • Founder: Dick Pound the matter. • Founded: 10 November 1999 • Madushanka took a hat-trick • Affiliation: International Olympic against on his one-day Committee international debut in January 2018. • Type of business: Non-profit • He also played two T20 matches organization against Bangladesh in 2018 but has not played an international since due to June 2020 – Important Sports Current Affairs injuries. PT POINTERS: Virat Kohli only cricketer in Forbes’ 2020 list of world’s highest paid athletes

19 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • India skipper Virat Kohli is the young players and help them improve their only cricketer to feature in Forbes’ list of technical and overall game. the top 100 highest paid athletes in the • The 21 games include, athletics, world for the year 2020. archery, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, • Kohli is ranked at number 66 with , hockey, , kayaking & estimated earnings of $26 million. canoeing, , para games, rowing, • Swiss tennis great, Roger Federer shooting, taekwondo, , has topped the list of world’s highest-paid , weightlifting, and athlete for 2020 with an estimated $106.3 wushu. million. PT POINTERS: • Soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo Sports Authority of India (SAI): ($105 million), Lionel Messi ($104 million • Headquarters: New Delhi ) and Neymar ($95.5 million) and NBA’s • Director General: Sandip Pradhan LeBron James complete the top 5 positions Khel Ratna Award: India Women’s Team in the list. Captain Rani Rampal recommended • The factors used by Forbes’ for • The Hockey India recommended calculation were athletes’ revenue, India Women Team Captain Rani Rampal including prize money, salaries, contract for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards. bonuses, endorsements, royalties, and • Monika, Vandana Kataria and appearance fees from June 1, 2019, until Harmanpreet Singh were recommended for June 1, 2020. Arjuna Awards. PT POINTERS: • Besides the Captain, India Forbes: Stalwarts Tushar Khandker and RP Singh • CEO: Mike Federle have been recommended for Major Dhyan • CEO/Asia: William Adamopoulos Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement. • Headquarters: New Jersey, United • The coaches Romesh Pathania and States of America BJ Kariappa have been nominated for SAI in collaboration with NSF launches India’s 1st online coaching programme ‘Khelo India e- • A panel from the Sports Ministry Pathshala‘ will shortlist the nominations received • Sports Authority of India (SAI), from several other federations. The awards the apex national sports body of India, in are to be presented on National Sports association with National Sports Day, August 29. Federations (NSF) has launched India’s 1st Khelo India Community Coach Development -ever national-level open online coaching Programme and education programme called “Khelo • The Minister of Youth Affairs and India e-Pathshala” to grassroots players. Sports Kiren Rijju inaugurated the India Highlights: Community Coach Development • Minister of Youth Affairs and Programme Highlights: Sports Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister of • The India Community Coach Tribal Affairs and Archery Association of Development Programme is a 25-day long India president Arjun Munda have programme for community coaches and PE inaugurated the programme via a webinar. teachers all over the country. • A total of 21 games are included in • The programme has been launched this program, where veteran players to give more importance to Physical showcase their technical skills and talk to Education in schools. Both the Ministry of

20 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL HRD and Ministry of Youth Affairs and • The tournament is to be held in Sports are to work together to take the 2022 and around 12 teams are to programme to every school. Besides participate in the tournament. regular sessions by eminent educationalists • The Indian team has twice finished in the sports field, international expert will as runners in 1980 and 1983 and won also participate in the programme. bronze in 1981. • The Physical Education teachers PT POINTERS: and community coaches have major role to AFC: The Asian Football Confederation is one of reach every child, motivate them to the six continental confederations within FIFA participate in fitness and sports activities. and is the governing body of association football • The GoI has also launched several in Asia and Australia. steps to encourage people to take up fitness • Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, as their way of life. The Fit India Malaysia Movement is one such step. Fit India • President: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Movement Khalifa • The Fit India Movement was • General Secretary: Windsor John launched by PM Modi. The movement • Membership: 47 member highlighted the need to stay healthy amidst associations the modern lifestyle disorders. It was • Subsidiary: ASEAN Football announced to celebrate the National Sports Federation Day. MHRD, Sports Ministry launch special films to PT POINTERS: promote indigenous sports of India The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a • The Ministry of Human Resource branch of the Government of India, which Development (MHRD) and the Ministry of administers Department of youth affairs and Sports have collaborated to produce a Department of Sports in India. Kiren Rijiju is the series of special films to promote 10 current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who indigenous sports of India. is in the capacity of Minister of State. • For implementation, the • Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS Department of School Education and independent charge) Literacy under MHRD has partnered with • Founded: 27 May 2000 the Ministry of Sports flagship programme • Jurisdiction: India 'Fit India' under the 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha • Headquarters location: New Delhi Bharat' initiative. Highlights: • Annual budget: 1,943.21 crores • The series is aimed to raise INR (2017-18 est., US$270 million) awareness about the indigenous games and • Departments: Department of the culture and heritage of the states to Children and Youth Affairs, Department of which they belong. Youth and Sports Development • The 10 sports that will be covered India to host AFC Women’s Cup in the series are: • The Asian Football Confederation Kho-kho, Gatka, Kalaripayttu, Mallakhamb, confirmed that India will host 2022 Thang-Ta, Sqay, Kabaddi, Roll Ball, Tug of War, Women’s Asian Cup.  This is the first Shooting Ball. time India is hosting the cup since 1979. • The indigenous sports of India will • The Asian Football Confederation also cover a mix of very old sports, like, handed over the hosting rights to the All , and some recent Roll Ball India Football Federation.

21 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL which has gained a lot of popularity and is • The Gold Medal she bagged in the now played in at least 50 countries. 2019 Asian Championship that was held in • The 10 episodes can be watched Doha, with the timing of 2 minutes from June 8 to June 19, Monday to Friday, and 2.70 seconds has been stripped by the at 11 am, on the Fit India YouTube page Athletics Integrity Unit(AIU) when the B and MHRD digital platforms. sample of Gomathi returned positive. • Under the initiative, there are Alexander Shustov of Russia gets 4-year ban scholarships for athletes of these games for doping and there is a growing interest among • The Court of Arbitration for Sport youngsters to pursue these sports. (CAS) has banned Former European high PT POINTERS: jump champion, Alexander Shustov for 4- The Ministry of Human Resource years for the use or attempted use of a Development, formerly Ministry of Education, is banned substance or method (doping). responsible for the development of human • He won the gold medal at the resources in India. European championships in 2010. • Ministry executives: R. • His ban was dated from June 5, and Subrahmanyam, (IAS Officer); Rina Ray, his results were disqualified for a period (IAS Officer) from 2013 to 2017. • Founded: 26 September 1985 PT POINTERS: • Officeholder: Ramesh Pokhriyal Russia (Capital/Currency): / Russian (Union Minister) Ruble • Headquarters: New Delhi • President: Vladimir Putin • Jurisdiction: India • Official Languages: Russian • Departments: Department of Ukrainian boxing champion and Olympic Higher Education, Department of School medalist Oleksandr Gvozdyk retires Education and Literacy • The 33-year-old Ukrainian Gomathi Marimuthu gets four-year doping ban lightweight boxing champion Oleksandr by AIU Gvozdyk also known as “The Nail” • Athletics Integrity Unit(AIU) has announced his retirement. banned Gomathi Marimuthu for 4-years • He was born on 15th April 1987 in after testing positive for banned Kharkiv, Ukraine. substances. • He won the Bronze medal in the • The Athlete violated ADR Articles 2012 . 2.1 and 2.2, in that she had used a • He won the 2018 World Boxing Prohibited Substance and that a metabolite Council’s(WBCs) light heavyweight world of that prohibited substance was found to title against Adonis Stevenson in Quebec. be present in her urine Samples. Her ban • He lost the 2019 championship starts from 17th May 2019 to 16th May against Artur Beterbiev, Russian fighter 2023. which was the only loss in his pro career • All of Gomathi’s competition (17-1). results between March 18 and May 17, • He was the Former light 2019, stand annulled. heavyweight champion of North American • The Tamil Nadu athlete’s medals, Boxing Federation(NABF). titles, ranking points and prize and PT POINTERS: appearance money are to be forfeited as WBC: World Boxing Council well. • President: Mauricio Sulaimán

22 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Headquarters location: Mexico medal on April 22 last year, had returned City, Mexico positive for a steroid in the test conducted • Founder: Adolfo López Mateos during the Asian Championships in Doha. • Founded: 14 February 1963 • Now, Gomathi’s ‘B’ sample has • Purpose: Boxing sanctioning also tested positive and she will need to organization serve out a ban till May 16, 2023. In • Abbreviation: WBC addition, she will also need to pay a fine FIFA’s latest ranking: India retains 108th slot of Rs 1 lakh to the AIU. • India football team retained its Asian Champion Runner Gomathi Marimuthu 108th spot in the latest FIFA rankings. Banned For Four Years For Doping, Stripped • While Belgium ranked first and of Asian Championships Gold world champion France is in 2nd place and • Middle distance runner Gomathi Brazil is at 3rd spot. Marimuthu, has been banned for four • In the wake of the coronavirus years and stripped off her 2019 Asian (Covid-19) pandemic, the qualifier Championships gold medal by the tournaments have been postponed for the Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU), until May FIFA World Cup and other major games at 2023 for doping charges. the international level. • The 31-year-old Marimuthu tested Top three countries: positive for anabolic steroid nandrolone at 1. Belgium- 1765 the 2019 Asian championships in April. 2. France - 1733 • The Tamil Nadu athlete has also 3. Brazil- 1712 been disqualified from all races between PT POINTERS: March 18 and May 17, 2019. FIFA: • Gomathi had clocked a personal • President: Gianni Infantino best time of 2 minutes 02.70 seconds in • Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland the women’s 800m race in Asian Athletics • Founded at: Paris, France Championships 2019. • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint- • It was the first time an Indian won Honoré, Paris, France gold in the women’s 800m event in the • Senior Vice-President: Salman bin competition. Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) PT POINTERS: • Subsidiaries: Confederation of Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU): African Football, United States Soccer • The Athletics Integrity Unit was Federation, Early Warning System founded by the International Association GmbH of Athletics Federations in April 2017 to India’s 800m runner Gomathi Marimuthu combat doping in the . handed four-year ban by AIU for doping The unit functions fully independently • India’s Gomathi Marimuthu will be from the IAAF. It is currently led by head stripped off her 2019 Asian Athletics Brett Clothier. Championships gold medal after she was • Founded: 3 April 2017 handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Sports Ministry to establish Khelo India State Integrity Unit for testing positive for a Centres of Excellence banned substance. • The Ministry of Sports is to • The ‘A’ sample of the 30-year-old establish Khelo India State Centres of runner from Tamil Nadu, who clocked 2 Excellence (KISCE) under the Khelo minutes and 2.70 seconds to win the gold India Scheme.

23 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • The aim is to enhance India's current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who Olympic performance. is in the capacity of Minister of State. Highlights: • Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS • Under the move, one KISCE is to independent charge) be identified in every state and Union • Founded: 27 May 2000 Territory (UT), with an effort to create a • Jurisdiction: India robust sporting ecosystem in India. • Headquarters location: New Delhi • In the first phase, the Ministry of • Annual budget: 1,943.21 crores Sports has identified state-owned sports INR (2017-18 est., US$270 million) facilities in eight states of India. • Departments: Department of The 8 states are: Children and Youth Affairs, Department • of Youth and Sports Development • Mamedyarov wins Sharjah Online • International Chess Championship • • Shakhriyar • Arunachal Pradesh Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan has won the • World Stars Sharjah Online International • Chess Championship. • Nagaland • He won the coveted title and price • The 8 centres will be given a grant of $3000 after scoring 7.5 points from 10 based on the actual amount finalized as rounds. per the requirement indicated after a • Indian Grandmaster Pentala comprehensive gap analysis study. Harikrishna finished second in the The sporting facilities that are to be upgraded Championship after scoring 6.5 points to KISCE: from 10 rounds. • Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy, • Sharjah Online International Chess Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Championship was hosted by the Sharjah • Jaiprakash Narayan National Youth Cultural & Chess Club. Center, Bangalore, Karnataka • The Championship was held under • GV Raja Sr. Secondary Sports the patronage of Sheikh Saqr Bin School, , Kerala Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman of • Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Sharjah Sports Council. , Manipur to host 4th Asian Youth Para Games • Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, , 2021 Mizoram • The Asian Paralympic Committee • State Sports Academy, IG Stadium, (APC) has announced that the 4th edition Kohima, Nagaland of Asian Youth Para Games to be held in • , Bhubaneshwar, Bahrain in December 2021. Odisha • Around 800 athletes under 20 years • Regional Sports School, Hakimpet, aged are expected to compete in nine Telangana sports: athletics, badminton, boccia, PT POINTERS: , para taekwondo, , The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a swimming, table tennis and wheelchair branch of the Government of India, which basketball. administers Department of youth affairs and • The event is being organised in Department of Sports in India. Kiren Rijiju is the conjunction with the National Paralympic

24 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Committee (NPC) of Bahrain with the Other Football events in India: support of the government. • While India is all ready to host PT POINTERS: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India Bahrain (Capital/Currency): Manama/Bahraini 2020 from February 17 to March 7, 202. Dinar. • AIFF had also successfully • King of Bahrain: Hamad bin Isa Al organised FIFA U-17 World Cup India Khalifa; 2017 in 2017. • Chairman of the Bahrain • India had also hosted the AFC U- Paralympic Committee: Shaikh 16 Championship Indian 2016. Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa. PT POINTERS: AIFF Napoli beats Juventus in penalty shootout to • President: Praful Patel win its sixth Italian Cup Football title • Founded: 23 June 1937 • The football club Napoli has won • FIFA affiliation: 1948 the 2019-20 cup after • AFC affiliation: 1954 defeating Juventus with 4–2 on shootout • SAFF affiliation: 1997 penalties in the final after a goalless draw • Headquarters: Dwarka, Delhi on 17 June 2020. Government to establish 1,000 district-level • This is the sixth time that Napoli Khelo India Centres has won the title. The last time it won was • The Ministry of Sports has decided in 2014. to establish 1,000 Khelo India Centers Bayern Munich win eighth successive (KIC) at the district level across the Bundesliga title country. • Bayern Munich have been crowned • These centers will either be run by Bundesliga champions for an eighth a past champion or have them as coaches. successive season after a 1-0 win at • For the financial year 2020-21, 100 Werder Bremen. s uch centres have been proposed. • Bayern’s domination of German • The move aims to tap the expertise football continues as an 11th successive of past sporting champions for grassroot- win means Borussia Dortmund can no level training of athletes to ensure a longer catch them. sustained source of income in the sports India get rights to host AFC Women’s Asian ecosystem, for both the coach and the Cup 2022  The All India Football Consideration athlete. (AIFF) has been granted the rights to host AFC National Champion Niki Poonacha elected to Women’s Asian Cup 2022 by The Asian Football ITF Men’s Player Panel Confederation (AFC). • India’s reigning national tennis • The decision regarding the hosting champion Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has rights was taken at the AFC Women’s been elected by the International Tennis Football Committee. Federation (ITF) to the ITF World Tennis • The tournament will encourage the Tour Player Panels. aspiring women players and will bring • He will represent the Asia-Oceania social revolution as far as women’s zone in men’s player panel. is concerned. • Poonacha is one of the two • This will be the first time that India members from Asia-Oceania zone, to be will be hosting the event since 1979, at selected for the panel. The other member that time India had finished as a runner- is Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei. up.

25 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • The ITF World Tennis Tour Player Nagaland Sports Academy, Kohima selected to Panel will provide a forum for players to be established as Khelo India State Centre of provide their input on various matters Excellence related to how the ITF Tour is run. • Nagaland State Sports Academy at PT POINTERS: Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima has been ITF: selected to be established as Khelo India • Headquarters: London, United State Centre of Excellence, KISCE. Kingdom • In the first phase of setting up • Membership: 211 national KISCE, Sports Ministry has identified associations state-owned sports facilities in eight states • President: David Haggerty of India. • Type of business: Federation of • They are Nagaland, Arunachal national associations Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Kerala, • Founded: 1 March 1913 Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha. • Formation: 1 March 1913; 107 • In a press release, Adviser for years ago Youth Resources and Sports, Zale Neikha WWE legend The Undertaker announces expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, retirement Union Sports Minister and State Chief • Wrestling legend and WWE whiz Minister for recognizing the effort and “The Undertaker” has announced his giving the opportunity to the state to retirement from World Wrestling upgrade its sporting facilities into a Entertainment. National-level Centre of Excellence. • The Undertaker’s last match was PT POINTERS: against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. His Khelo India Youth Games, formerly Khelo India real name is Mark Calaway.  He School Games, means Play India Youth Games, conceived on March 24, 1965, in Texas, held annually in January or February, are the US. The Undertaker started his expert national level multidisciplinary grassroot games in vocation in 1987. India held for two categories, namely under-17 • He made his WWE debut in 1990’s years school students and under-21 college Survivor Series occasion and went on to students. become one of the most iconic stars of the • First event: 2018 WWE as his ‘The Deadman”. • Last event: 2020 • He enlisted consecutive 21 • Purpose: Grassroot talent hunt triumphs in WrestleMania. • Abbreviation: KIYG PT POINTERS: • Headquarters: New Delhi WWE: • Occur every: Annual • CEO: Vince McMahon World’s No.1 Tennis Player Novak Djokovic • Headquarters: Stamford, tests positive for COVID-19 Connecticut, United States • Novak Djokovic, the world’s no.1 • Founded: 21 February 1980, South tennis player, has tested positive for Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Massachusetts, COVID-19. Djokovic recently took part in United States an exhibition tennis tournament in the • Founders: Vince McMahon, Balkans. Vincent J. McMahon, Linda McMahon • He has tested positive for a virus COVID-19 although he is not showing any symptoms. Novak Djokovic was

26 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL tested along with his family members with Rachel Priest retires from International whom he was in Belgrade and Zadar. Cricket • He confirmed that his wife, Jelena • NewZealand wicketkeeper- Djokovic has also tested positive while the batswoman Rachel Priest has announced results of their children remain her retirement from International Cricket. negative. Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis • She has represented New Zealand player who is currently the world’s No. 1 in men’s in 87 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and singles tennis. 75 T20Is. She had a long career which England’s Clare Connor to become 1st female spanned for 13 years. president of MCC • After her retirement, she has now • Former England women’s captain signed up a contract with Cricket Clare Connor is to become the 1st female Tasmania to play in Australia Women’s president of Marylebone Cricket Club National Cricket League and will (MCC) in its 233-year history. represent Tasmanian Tigers for the • The 1st non-British MCC 2020/21 season. president, Kumar Sangakkara has PT POINTERS: nominated Connor. Connor is presently New Zealand (Capital/Currency): Wellington/ served as New Zealand dollar England and Wales Cricket Board’s head of • Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern women’s cricket. Liverpool wins English Premier League 2019- • She made her England debut aged 20 title 19 in 1995 and went on to captain her • Liverpool has won the English country in 2000 before retiring six years Premier League 2019-20 title. later. • The football club has won the first • Presidents of MCC usually remain English top title in last 30 years. in post for one year but Sangakkara’s term • This is club’s overall 19th league is about to be extended by an extra 12 title win, while this victory is their first in months due to the coronavirus pandemic. the Premier League era. • It was not until 1998 that MCC, • The club won the title after which owns Lord’s Cricket Ground, voted Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea with to permit women to become members. score 2-1. PT POINTERS: • Liverpool has clinched the title MCC: earlier than any other Premier League Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club founded champions, breaking the previous record in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket of five games left. Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, • Liverpool has scored 86 points London. The club was formerly the governing from 31 matches hence making them the body of cricket in England, Scotland and Wales, earliest ever champions in terms of games and still holds considerable global influence. played. • Ground: Lord's Cricket Ground PT POINTERS: • CEO: Derek Brewer The Premier League, often referred to as the • Headquarters location: London, English Premier League or the EPL outside United Kingdom England, is the top level of the English football • Founder: Thomas Lord league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates • Founded: 1787 on a system of with the English Football League.

27 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Current champion: Liverpool F.C. FIFA: • Most championships: Manchester • President: Gianni Infantino United; (13 titles) • Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland • Most appearances: Gareth Barry • Founded at: Paris, France (653) • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint- • Top goalscorer: Alan Shearer (260) Honoré, Paris, France • Founded: 20 February 1992 • Senior Vice-President: Salman bin Rahul Dravid beats in Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) Wisden India’s poll • Subsidiaries: Confederation of • According to a poll conducted by African Football, United States Soccer Wisden India, Rahul Dravid is the greatest Federation, Early Warning System Indian Test batsman of all time. GmbH • Dravid beats Sachin Tendulkar by Indian Nitin Menon inducted in ICC a narrow margin of votes in the final Elite Panel round of voting. • Indian umpire Nitin Menon has • Dravid got 52 per cent of the votes, been inducted into International Cricket with as many as 11,400 fans participating Council’s Elite Panel of Umpires. within the final round of voting. • He has been inducted into the Elite • Dravid saw off Tendulkar within Panel for the upcoming 2020-21 season. the final round of the voting by a narrow He has replaced England’s umpire Nigel margin despite trailing at 42 per cent. Llong. Nitin Menon was earlier a part of • The poll initially had 16 Indian the Emirates ICC International Panel of greats, with Sunil Gavaskar and Umpires. Virat Kohli being the 2 others to possess • He has an experience of officiating made it through to the ‘semi-finals’. in three Tests, 24 One Day Internationals • Gavaskar beat Kohli within the and 16 T20 Internationals. ‘third-place play-off’ by a narrow margin. • Nitin Menon is the third Indian to Australia and New Zealand named as hosts of make it to the prestigious panel after FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 former captain Srinivas Venkatraghavan • The FIFA Women’s World Cup and Sundaram Ravi. 2023™ will be hosted by Australia and • Nitin Menon has been inducted by New Zealand. the selection panel comprising of ICC • The joint offer put together by General Manager (Cricket) Geoff Football Federation Australia and New Allardice (Chairman), Indian Zealand Football got 22 of the 35 commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, and substantial votes cast by the FIFA Council match referees Ranjan Madugalle and individuals in the first voting form, with David Boon. the Colombian Football Association PT POINTERS: having acquired 13 votes. ICC: • The FIFA Women’s World Cup • Chairperson: Shashank Manohar 2023 will be the first edition to include 32 • CEO: Manu Sawhney teams and it will likewise be the first to be • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab hosted by Australia and New Zealand and Emirates across two confederations (AFC and • Founded: 15 June 1909 OFC). • Membership: 104 members PT POINTERS:

28 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Grandmaster P. Harikrishna joins world elite • India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in Chessable was named as the country’s ‘Most • The presence of Grandmaster P. Valuable Player’ (MVP) of the 21st Harikrishna is sure to see a major spike in century by Wisden. Indian interest in the million-dollar • He made his debut in 2009 and Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour that represented India in 49 test matches, 165 continues with the $150,000 Chessable ODIs and 49 T20Is as of 2020.  Jadeja’s Masters. MVP rating is around 97.3 which is • Hari, the first Indian on the Tour, is second only to Muttiah Muralitharan of part of a 12-player field that includes the Sri Lanka making him the second most world’s top six – Magnus Carlsen Valuable Test Player of the 21st Century. (Norway), (USA), Ling • Wisden used CricViz, a detailed Diren (China), Ian Nepomniachtchi analysis tool in cricket to analyse his (Russia), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave performance. (France) and Alexander Grishcuk (Russia) PT POINTERS: – on the classical format ranking list. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, or simply Former Germany footballer Mario Gomez Wisden, colloquially the Bible of Cricket, is a retires from sport cricket reference book published annually in the • Former Germany footballer Mario United Kingdom. The description "bible of Gomez has announced his retirement from cricket" was first used in the 1930s by Alec the sport. Waugh in a review for the London Mercury. • The german striker scored 31 goals • Editor: Lawrence Booth in 78 appearances for the national team. • Country: United Kingdom • He is considered as one of the best • First issue date: 1864 German forwards of his time. • Total circulation: 50,000 (2006) • Mario Gomez played for different • Category: Cricket clubs in his soccer career. • Based in: London, England • He won the Bundesliga title in Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry will launch 2007 while playing for Stuttgart, and two TOPS for Junior Athletes more titles while playing for Bayern • In order to groom young athletes in Munich. the country for the upcoming Olympics of • He also won the Champions 2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los Angeles), the League in Bayern’s treble-winning season Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and in 2013. Sports will launch- Target Olympic • He has 170 goals in 328 Podium Scheme (TOPS) for the junior Bundesliga games under his name. athletes. • This was informed on 3rd July 2020 by Kiren Rijiju (Union Minister of State I/C for Youth Affairs and Sports) during the launch of the ‘Fit Hai to Hit July 2020 – Important Sports Current Affairs India’ program. • The objective of the scheme will be to ensure that the efforts are being made Ravindra Jadeja named India’s ‘most valuable so that India finished in the top 10 of the player’ by Wisden overall medals tally at the 2028 Olympics. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)

29 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • This scheme was formulated in the Two-time Olympic badminton champion Lin month of July 2014. Dan retires • The aim of the scheme was to • Former world number one identify individuals with medal prospects badminton player and the two-times from across the country, further groom Olympic badminton champion from and prepare them for the upcoming China, Lin Dan has announced his Olympics and Paralympics. retirement from the sport. • For assisting the athletes selected • During his 20-year glorious under the TOPS, within the Sports national team career, he won the Olympics Authority of India (SAI), Mission singles titles in Beijing in 2008 and the Olympic Cell was constituted as a 2012 London Games. dedicated body. • Former world number one • Now, the TOPS will be badminton player and the two-times implemented for the Junior Athletes in the Olympic badminton champion from country, 10 to 12-year-old talents will be China, Lin Dan has announced his chosen under the scheme through various retirement from the sport. talent identification programs by the • During his 20-year glorious authorities. national team career, he won the Olympics • Further, the chosen individuals will singles titles in Beijing in 2008 and the be provided with all possible facilities 2012 London Games. such as top coaches in the world, Lt Col Bharat Pannu Secures Podium Position customized training, etc. At VRAAM 2020 • The National Programme for the • Lt Col Bharat Pannu, a serving development of sports from the grass-root Officer has created history level in the country- Khelo India will help by successfully securing a podium place at by providing a base for talent the first edition of the Virtual Race Across identification. America (vRAAM) 2020. PT POINTERS: • With this, he has become the first The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a Indian ever to win a podium place at an branch of the Government of India, which international ultra-cycling race. administers Department of youth affairs and • Pannu is an army officer posted Department of Sports in India. Kiren Rijiju is the with the Army’s Aviation Test Team. current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who Valtteri Bottas wins Austrian Grand Prix 2020 is in the capacity of Minister of State. • Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) • Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS has won the Austrian Grand Prix 2020. independent charge) • This was the first race of 2020 • Founded: 27 May 2000 Formula One season and was held on 5th • Jurisdiction: India July 2020. • Headquarters location: New Delhi • Charles Leclerc finished second for • Annual budget: 1,943.21 crores Ferrari while McLaren’s Lando Norris INR (2017-18 est., US$270 million) came third. Akash Become India’s 66th • Departments: Department of Grandmaster Children, Disability, Equality and • The 23 year-old G. Akash from Integration, Department of Youth and , Tamil Nadu becomes the Sports Development country’s 66th Grandmaster with rating of 2495.

30 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • The title was confirmed at the • The tournament was earlier recent meeting of International Chess scheduled to be held in September 2020. Federation (FIDE) Council • Originally Pakistan was to host the • M Pranesh, from Chennai, Tamil 2020, but due to security Nadu and Ameya Audi, from earned reasons amid coronavirus pandemic, the International Master Titles. tournament was later rescheduled to be Sumit Nagal wins PSD Bank Nord Open held in Sri Lanka, since it is the least tournament in Germany affected country in the region. • Rising tennis star Sumit Nagal has • Now Sri Lanka will host the Asia become the first Indian to win an Cup in 2021 while Pakistan have been international tournament in the Covid-19 awarded the hosting rights in 2022. era after he lifted the PSD Bank Nord PT POINTERS: Open trophy, a locally organised clay court tournament in Germany. • Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka • Nagal, , who is currently India’s • President: Nazmul Hassan Papon highest-ranked singles player at 127, • Membership: 24 associations recently defeated second seed German • Parent organization: International Daniel Masur 6-1, 6-3 in the final match at Cricket Council the tournament held at the Pinneberg • Founded: 19 September 1983 tennis club. Egyptian world squash champion Raneem al- Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam named as Welily announces retirement new Hockey India president • World’s top-ranked women’s • Manipur’s, Gyanendro squash player, Raneem El Welily from Ningombam named as the new Officiating Egypt has announced her retirement on 9 President of Hockey India.  He will July 2020. replace Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad. • The 31-year-old was the first Arab • This was following the resignation woman to be world No. 1 in any sport. letter of Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad • El Welily first took the top ranking received by Hockey India on 7 July 2020 in 2015 and after that again since due to his personal and family December 2018. commitments. • She was officially named world • Ningombam has been associated champion in Manchester in 2017. with Manipur Hockey and has impressed PT POINTERS: with his work at the grassroots level. Egypt (Capital/Currency): Cairo/ Egyptian • He also served as the editor of pound Meeyam, an evening daily in Manipur. • President: Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi • He had served as the Chief Amit Panghal, Manju Rani and Mary Kom Executive Officer of Manipur Hockey take top spot at latest AIBA rankings between 2009 to 2014. • Indian boxer and World Asia Cup Cricket tournament 2020 postponed Championship silver medallist Amit till June 2021 Panghal has climbed up the leaderboard to • The 2020 edition of the Asia Cup the first spot in the rankings released by Cricket tournament has been postponed Amateur International Boxing Association till June 2021 by the Asian Cricket (AIBA), after a gap of almost 18 months. Council (ACC) due to ongoing increase in COVID-19 cases in the region.

31 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • He competed in the 52 kg IOA: Indian Olympic Association categories and one of the finest boxers in • Founded: 1927 the Indian contingent. • President: Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra • Asian championship silver- • Secretary General: Rajeev Mehta medallist Kavinder Bisht ranked fourth in • Recognized: 1924 the 63 kg category. Deepak (49kg) and • Founders: Harry Buck, Arthur Worlds bronze medal winner Manish Noehren Kaushik (63kg) were placed ranked sixth Lewis Hamilton Wins Styrian Grand Prix 2020 in their respective category. • Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great • In the rankings, Mary Kom is Britain) has won the Styrian Grand Prix world no.3, behind North Korean Pang 2020, held on 12 July 2020 in Spielberg, Chol-mi (1st) and Turkey’s Busenaz Austria. Cakiroglu (2nd). • It was the second race of the 2020 • Also, World silver medallist Manju Formula One World Championship and Rani (48kg) is at second spot. PT the first running of the Styrian Grand Prix. POINTERS: • Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) AIBA: finished second while Max Verstappen ( • Headquarters location: Lausanne, Red Bull- Belgium) was third. Switzerland West Indies win first cricket test match against • President: Mohamed Moustahsane England by four wickets (Interim President) • West Indies won the first • Founded: 1946 international cricket match since the • Main organ: Congress sport's return after the coronavirus • Type of business: Sports governing outbreak by defeating England. body • Jermaine Blackwood top-scored IOA adopts new identity on its 100-year with 95 as West Indies overcame an early milestone at Olympic Games wobble to win by four wickets in the final • The Indian Olympic Association session of the 5th and final day of the (IOA) adopted a new branding and visual match. identity, including an institutional Former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak and a commercial logo, to celebrate a century of announced his retirement participation of the country’s athletes at the • Former Socceroos captain Mile Summer Olympics.  The IOA said the decision Jedinak has announced his retirement to adopt a new identity was taken “on the occasion from the sport. Socceroos is the official marking 100 years of participation of Indian nickname of the Australia national soccer athletes at the Olympic Games, the new identity team that represents Australia in celebrates a century of passionate work, and international men’s soccer. contribution of the athletes and officials from • He made his national team debut in across the nation in building Team India. 2008 and made 79 appearances for • The new logos have been approved Australia. by the International Olympic Committee • He also won the 2015 Asian Cup and the IOA is planning to have title for the team. a special launch event of the logo on this year’s • He has appeared for his national Independence Day on August 15. PT side in three World Cups. POINTERS: 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar

32 Olympics Venue UPPSC2020 Summer Olympics- CURRENT (2021) AFTokyo,JapanFAIRS SPECIAL 2024• SummerT Olympics Paris,France PT 2028h Summer Olympics Los Angeles, California, US PO 2022e Winter Olympics Beijing, China IN TE 2026 Winter Olympics Milan and Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy F RS: e Int d ern eration Internationale de Football ational Olympic Committee (IOC) Association announced that the 2022 • Headquarters: Lausanne, World Cup is to be held in Qatar. Switzerland • The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be • President: Thomas Bach the first world cup to be held in Arab • Honorary President: Jacques Rogge World and also the first in a • Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, muslimmajority country. France • NOTE: Indian National Team • Director General: Christophe De ranks 108 in the latest FIFA rankings that Kepper was released in 2019. PT POINTERS: • Founders: Pierre de Coubertin, FIFA Demetrios Vikelas • President: Gianni Infantino Real Madrid clinch record 34th title • Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland • Spanish professional football club, • Founded at: Paris, France Real Madrid has been crowned La Liga • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint- Champions for the 34th time after Honoré, Paris, France defeating Villarreal 2–1 at Estadio Alfredo • Senior Vice-President: Salman bin Di Stefano in Madrid, with one match Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) remaining. 2022 Dakar Youth Olympics postponed by IOC • Karim Benzema was the leading to 2026 scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal. • The in • Real Madrid, who are standing at Dakar will be celebrated in 2026 after the top spot with 26 wins from 37 matches, Senegal and the International Olympic will lock horns with Leganes in their last Committee (IOC) “mutually agreed” to game of the 2019-2020 La Liga season on postpone the Games from 2022. July 20. • Earlier, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Germany forward & World Cup winner Andre have been postponed to next year. Now the Schurrle retires event will be held from July 23 to August • The Germany forward player & 8, 2021. World Cup winner, Andre Schurrle has Details about Upcoming Olympics announced retirement from the sport. • He helped his country to win the Recent News related to International Olympic 2014 FIFA World Cup. He represented Committee (IOC) Germany in 57 matches, scoring 22 goals. • The IOC’s new headquarters in • He also played for Chelsea from Lausanne has been awarded the European 2013-15 and also won a Premier League 2020 US Green Building Council winners medal in 2015. (USGBC) Leadership Award. PT POINTERS: • The IOC joins global un dialogue, Germany (Capital/Currency): /Euro reiterates role of sport in post-covid world • President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier

33 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Chancellor: Angela Merkel • Bengal was named as the best Lewis Hamilton wins 2020 Hungarian Grand performing state by the All India Football Prix Federation under its performance • Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes’ – assessment system based on various ) won the 2020 Formula 1 criteria like grassroot development, Hungarian Grand Prix held on 19 July conduct of leagues and other competitions. 2020. • Maharashtra and Kerala were • This is his straight second win of declared second and third respectively the season. under the point-based assessment system • Hungarian Grand Prix 2020 was that indicates the performance of the states the third race of the 2020 Formula One on the various operational verticals. World Championship. Haryana to host 2021 Khelo India Youth • Max Verstappen (Dutch-Red Bull) Games was second, followed by Valtteri Bottas • Haryana will host the 4th edition of (Mercedes- Finland) at third spot. the Khelo India Youth Games after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup postponed to 2022 2021 Tokyo Olympics.  The • International Cricket Council’s announcement was made by the state’s (ICC’s) announced, the T20 Men’s World chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia in Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju via October-November 2020, has formally video conference. been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19. • The Games will be held in • Besides rescheduling the T20 Panchkula. World Cup to October-November, 2022 Sri Lankan Bowler Sripali Weerakkody retires the ICC Board also decided to push the from international cricket 2023 ODI World Cup in India to October- • Sri Lankan woman medium-pace November 2023 from its designated bowler, Sripali Weerakkody has window in February-March, 2023. announced to retire from international PT POINTERS: cricket with immediate effect. International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) • The 34-year-old Sripali • Chairperson: Shashank Manohar Weerakkody, represented Sri Lanka in 89 • CEO: Manu Sawhney Women’s One Day Internationals and 58 • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Women’s Internationals. Emirates  Founded: 15 June 1909  • Weerakkody was also a member of Motto: Cricket for good. the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal Sripali Weerakkody retires from International winning Sri Lankan team. Cricket PT POINTERS: • Sri Lankan allrounder, Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Sripali Weerakkody has announced her Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee retirement from International Cricket with • President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa immediate effect. • Prime Minister: Mahinda • She made her international debut in Rajapaksa 2006 and played 89 ODIs (One Day India won Silver medal at 2018 Asian Games International) and 58 T20Is (Twenty20 upgraded to Gold International) from Sri Lanka. • The silver medal which was won Bengal - Top Performer Under AIFF by the Indian 4×400 mixed relay quartet of Performance Assessment of States Mohammed Anas, M.R.

34 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv at the • He started his career with Tamil 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta has been upgraded Nadu in 1999-2000 but played most of his to gold. cricket for Delhi. • This decision was taken following • Bhatia has also been a regular in the disqualification of original winners the IPL having played for Delhi Bahrain on account of a four-year doping Daredevils, Royals, Kolkata ban handed to Kemi Adekoya by the Knight Riders and Rising Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a Supergiants. dope test. World Athletics approve new dates for • Now India has become the first postponed series due to COVID-19 pandemic winner of the 4x400m mixed relay event, • World Athletics has approved the which was introduced in the Asian Games new dates on July 30 for the World in 2018. Athletics Race Walking Team Microsoft partnered with NBA to put Virtual Championships Minsk 2020 and World Fans in Basketball Arenas U20 Championship Nairobi 2020. • Microsoft Corp and the NBA said New Dates: they have joined forces to put “virtual” • As per the World Athletics, the fans in the stands of each game using World U20 Championship Nairobi 2020 Microsoft’s Teams app and giant screens. will now be held from August 17 to 22, • The two will equip each game 2021, one week after the Tokyo Olympics court with 17-foot-tall (5.2 m) LED Games. screens that wrap three sides of the arena. • According to the competition’s • The virtual stands will be filled rules, athletes who will be aged between with fans who use the Teams app to log in 16-19 years as on December 31, 2021, will and sit alongside each other using a eligible to compete in the games. new feature of the app called “Together mode” • World Athletics Race Walking meant to simulate a group of people sitting in a Team Championships Minsk 2020 has room. been rescheduled for 23-24 April 2022 in PT POINTERS: Minsk, . Microsoft Corp • The World Athletics Half • CEO: Satya Nadella Marathon Championships Yangzhou 2022 • Founded: 4 April 1975, has also seen a small date change by Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States moving back one week from March 20, • Headquarters: Redmond, 2022, to March 27, 2022. Washington, United States PT POINTERS: • Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen World Athletics: NBA: • Headquarters: Monaco • Current champion: Toronto • President: Sebastian Coe Raptors • Founded: 17 July 1912, Stockholm, • Founded: 6 June 1946, New York, Sweden New York, United States • Membership: 214 member • Commissioner: Adam Silver federations Allrounder Rajat Bhatia announces retirement • Nominations: Shorty Industry • Veteran Indian domestic Award for Best Use of Emojis allrounder, Rajat Bhatia has announced his • Type of business: Sports governing retirement from all forms of cricket. body

35 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Stuart Broad becomes 7th bowler to take 500 • Vijay Sundar Prashanth & Divij Test wickets Sharan defeated Ryan Peniston & David • Stuart Broad joined one of cricket’s Stevenson in the final, the topseeded most exclusive clubs when he took his Indian duo won 4-2, 4-1 at the National 500th Test as England completed a Tennis Centre. series-clinching win over the West Indies Harikrishna ranked 2nd at Biel Chess Festival at Old Trafford. • Indian Grandmaster, P Harikrishna • The 34-year-old became fourth has finished second in the rapid section of pacemen to reach the landmark when he the 53rd Biel International Chess Festival had opener Kraigg Brathwaite plumb lbw in Switzerland. for 19 on the fifth day of the third Test. • The World No. 26 scored 10 points, two less than Radoslaw Wojtaszek August 2020 – Important Sports Current Affairs of Poland, who finished on top. • Earlier, the Indian GM had finished Babita Phogat, Kavita Devi appointed as on top in the ACCENTUS Chess960 Haryana sports deputy directors tournament, with 5.5 points. • medalist Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix 2020 Babita Phogat and Kabaddi player Kavita • Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Devi have been appointed as deputy Britain) has won the Formula One British directors in the Sports and Youth Affairs Grand Prix 2020 held on August 02, 2020. Department of Haryana. He came first, despite a puncture during • Babita Phogat and Kavita Devi will the last lap. have to join their department within a • Max Verstappen ended up second month. They had applied for these posts in this F1 race while Charles Leclerc came under the state government. third.  This is the third win for Hamilton • The two sportpersons have been in this season of F1 races. appointed as deputy director (Sports) under India withdraws from women’s world team the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons Squash championship (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) • India has withdrawn from the rules, 2018. women’s world team Squash • Babita Phogat and Kavita Devi will championship scheduled in Kuala Lumpur, have to join their department within a Malaysia from 15th to 20th December, due month. They had applied for these posts to lack of preparation, time and match- under the state government. readiness of its players.  Squash Rackets • The two sportpersons have been Federation of India (SRFI) has decided to appointed as deputy director (Sports) under withdraw from the championship. the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons PT POINTERS: (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) rules, 2018. • President: Debendranath Sarangi Divij Sharan-Vijay Sundar Prashanth win • Sport: Squash doubles title in Surrey • Regional affiliation: Asian Squash • Post the COVID-19 break, Divij Federation Sharan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won • Coach: Cyrus Poncha their first doubles title of the season at the • Secretary: K.Rajendiran ’s British Tour in • Location: Chennai Surrey. Benedikt Howedes retires from soccer

36 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • World Cup winner German • Following the draw for the premier footballer, Benedikt Howedes has retired team event made in Kuala Lumpur, India is from football. in Group ‘C’ with host Denmark, Germany • He was part of the 2014 world-cup and in the Thomas Cup.  In the winning Germany team. , the Indian women are in Group • He was one of the 3 players who ‘D’ in the company of China, France and had played every minute for the team in Germany. the tournament. Former Real Madrid & Spain goalkeeper • Benedikt Howedes has played 44 Casillas announces retirement at 39 times for German National Team from • The legendary Spanish footballer 2011-17. Iker Casillas, who played as goalkeeper for • In September 2007, German Real Madrid, has announced his retirement Football Association honoured him with from professional football. the Fritz Walter Medal, under-19 Gold • The 39-year-old Casillas made 725 Medal which is given to the best youth appearances for Real Madrid, during which players. he won three Champions League titles and IPL Cricket - 2020 to begin from Sept 19 in five La Liga titles. UAE • He also helped Spain to win the • PL 2020 will be played from 2010 World Cup and two successive September 19 to November 10 in the UAE European Championships in 2008 and this year. 2012. • The decision to this effect was Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju chaired 1st taken at a virtual meeting of IPL General Council meeting of Khelo India Governing Council last night. Scheme • The matches will be played in • Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi subject to chaired the first General Council meeting necessary clearances from the Government of the Khelo India Scheme on 4th July. of India. • The annual competitions like the • The final will be played on 10th Khelo India Youth Games and University November this year. Games, are being organized at the national • The 53-day tournament will level under the Khelo India Scheme. witness 10-afternoon matches starting at • This has helped to identify sporting 3:30 PM Indian time while the evening talent from all states. matches will start at 7:30 PM Highlights: PT POINTERS: • The meeting urged the states to UAE (Capital/Currency): Abu Dhabi/ United organize State-level Khelo India Games Arab Emirates dirham annually with an eff ort to identify a larger • President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al number of grassroots-level talents. Nahyan • The States that already conduct India holds good chance of reaching QFs of annual sporting competitions are directed Thomas Cup & Uber Cup in Badminton to align with the Khelo India Scheme. India holds a good chance of reaching the • The Government of India quarterfinals of the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup reaffirmed to support them in conducting team Badminton championship scheduled at these events. Aarhus, Denmark, from 3rd to 11th October. • It was decided to identify talent as young as 5 to 10 years old and groom them

37 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL to be future champions as it takes at least Zealand till February – March 2022 because of the eight years to groom an athlete for the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on cricket Olympics. globally. • Also, the states have been directed PT POINTERS: to organize competitions at the district, ICC: block, and panchayat-level to identify • CEO: Manu Sawhney young talent. • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab • The Sports Ministry announced its Emirates plan for the 5 zonal talent scouting • Chairman: Imran Khwaja (interim) committees for east, west, north, south, and • Founded: 15 June 1909 northeast India. • Membership: 104 members PT POINTERS: Indian men's, women's hockey teams for Tokyo Ministry of Sports: Olympics to join National camp in Bengaluru • Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS • Members of the Indian men's and independent charge) women's hockey teams bound for Tokyo • Founded: 27 May 2000 Olympics will join the National Camp at • Headquarters location: New Delhi National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in • Jurisdiction: India Bengaluru t. • Annual budget: 2,826.92 crores • The decision was taken by Sports INR (US$400 million, 2020–2021) Authority of India (SAI) after formal • Departments: Department of permission was received from the State Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Government to begin training in Youth and Sports Development Bengaluru. WTF Sports appoints Suresh Raina, • The athletes, coaches and support Harmanpreet Kaur as brand ambassadors staff, who were on a home break, will join • A sports gaming platform, WTF the camp and undergo the mandatory 14- Sports has appointed cricketers day quarantine inside the campus. Harmanpreet Kaur and Suresh Raina as its BCCI officially suspends title sponsorship deal global brand ambassadors. with Vivo for IPL 2020 • Raina is also joining the brand as a • The Board of Control for Cricket in Strategic Partner. India (BCCI) has suspended the title • The announcement was made sponsorship deal with Chinese mobile through a web conference. phone company Vivo for the upcoming India to host ICC Men’s T-20 World Cup next edition of the . year; Women's T-20 postponed till 2022 • VIVO had won the IPL title • International Cricket Council has sponsorship for five years from 2018 to confirmed that the ICC Men’s T20 World 2022 for a reported sum of 2190 crore Cup 2020 that was postponed due to rupees. Covid-19 will be held in Australia in 2022. PT POINTERS: • India will host the ICC Men’s T20 BCCI: World Cup 2021 as planned. • President: Sourav Ganguly • Cricket’s governing body has also • Secretary: Jay Shah decided to postpone the ICC Women’s • Headquarters: Mumbai 2021 in New • Vice president(s): vacant • Founded: December 1928

38 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Sponsors: BYJU'S, Paytm, Nike, Nitin Menon’s promotion to the elite Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, panel. Ambuja Cements • The former Kerala spinner joins VIVO fellow Indians C Shamshuddin, Anil • Parent organization: BBK Chaudhary and Virender Sharma in the Electronics international panel and is now eligible to • Founded: 2009, Dongguan, China officiate in the ODI and T20 internationals • Founders: Duan Yongping, Shen apart from umpiring in the junior World Wei Cup. Equitas SFB appointed as official retail • Ananthapadmanabhan,50, has banking partner for Chennai Super Kings officiated in all major domestic events • Equitas Small Finance Bank including the IPL.  He also was the announced that it has been appointed as the official in the final between official retail banking partner for Chennai Bengal. PT POINTERS: Super Kings (CSK) IPL team with effect ICC from August 1, 2020. • CEO: Manu Sawhney • The Chennai-based bank was the • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab principal sponsor of CSK in 2018. Emirates • Equitas then announced that it will • Chairman: Imran Khwaja (interim) be the banking partner of Team CSK for • Founded: 15 June 1909 three years. • Membership: 104 members PT POINTERS: FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Asia Equitas Small Finance Bank rescheduled to 2021 • Headquarters location: Chennai • FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers in • Founded: 2007 Asia have been rescheduled to 2021. • Key people: Shri Arun • FIFA and the Asian Confederation Ramanathan; (Part-time Chairman); (AFC) jointly decided to reschedule the • MD & CEO:Mr. Vasudevan P N upcoming qualifying matches for the FIFA • Parent organization: Equitas World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Holding Cup China 2023 due to COVID-19 Max Verstappen wins 70th Anniversary Grand pandemic. Prix • The qualification matches were • The Red Bull racer, Max originally scheduled to take place during Verstappen has won the 70th Anniversary the international match windows in Grand Prix. October and November 2020. • Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton • The decision has been taken to finished the race at second postion while protect the health and safety of all another Mercedes racer Valtteri Bottas participants. finished third. • The 22nd edition of the FIFA • This was Red Bull’s first victory at World Cup is scheduled to take place in Silverstone since 2012. Qatar in 2022. PT POINTERS: Indian umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan FIFA included in ICC’s panel • President: Gianni Infantino • India’s KN Ananthapadmanabhan • Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland has been included in ICC’s international • Founded at: Paris, France panel of umpires following compatriot

39 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint- World Twenty20 and the Champions Honoré, Paris, France Trophy. • Senior Vice-President: Salman bin • Since he has announced retirement Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC) from International cricket, he will continue Asian Confederation (AFC) to play for Indian Premier League (IPL). • Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Cricketer Suresh Raina announces retirement Malaysia • After M.S. Dhoni, Indian cricketer • President: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Suresh Raina has also announced Khalifa retirement from Cricket on August 15, • General Secretary: Windsor John 2020.  He shared a photo on Instagram • Membership: 47 member with other fellow cricketers including MS associations Dhoni with a caption, “It was nothing but • Subsidiary: ASEAN Football lovely playing with you, @mahi7781 . Federation With my heart full of pride, I choose to Sports Ministry to organise “Fit India Freedom join you in this journey. Thank you India. Run” Jai Hind!”. • “Fit India Freedom Run” would be • It must be noted that just before organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs this, M.S.Dhoni had also announced and Sports from 15th August to 02nd retirement from International cricket on October 2020. Instagram. • The ministry is organising “Fit Kevin de Bruyne named Premier League India Freedom Run” to mark the 74th Player of the Season 2019-20 Independence Day of India on August 15 • In Football, the Manchester City to 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been Gandhi on October 2. named as the Premier League Player of the • This would be the largest country- Season 2019-20. wide run, targeted to encourage fitness • He is the only third Belgian among the masses while following the footballer to win the award for the league’s COVID-19 protocols. top performer, after Eden Hazard (2014- • The participants can track the total 15) and Vincent Kompany (2011-12). distance covered by using a Global • The 29-year-old scored 20 goals in Positioning System (GPS) watch or the 2019-20 season. manually. Other awards include: Cricketer M.S. Dhoni announces retirement • Young Player of the Season – from all forms of international cricket Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) • Indian Cricketer Mahendra Singh • Manager of the Season – Juergen Dhoni has announced retirement from all Klopp (Liverpool) forms of international cricket. • Goal of the Season – Son Heung- • Dhoni shared this information on min (Tottenham Hotspur) Instagram on August 15, 2020 as- • Premier League 2 (PL2) Player of “Thanks. Thanks for ur love and support the Season – Curtis Jones (Liverpool) throughout. from 1929 hrs consider me as Harbhajan Singh becomes new Brand Retired” Ambassador of eBikeGO • Dhoni is the only Captain to win all • Amritsar based e-mobility start-up, three major International Cricket Council eBikeGO has appointed Indian cricketer (ICC) trophies — the World Cup, the Harbhajan Singh as its brand ambassador.

40 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • He will help the company to • President: Sourav Ganguly upgrade itself and will also have an active • Secretary: Jay Shah presence on the company’s website and • Headquarters: Mumbai campaigns across media. • Founded: December 1928 Lewis Hamilton wins F1 Spanish Grand Prix • Sponsors: BYJU'S, Paytm, Nike, 2020 Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, • Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Ambuja Cements AIFF, SAI launch E- Britain) has won the Formula One Spanish Pathshala to encourage kids to play Grand Prix 2020 held at Circuit de football Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain. • The All India Football Federation • This was his 4th win of the season and Sports Authority of India joined hands and the 88th win of his career. to launch E-Pathshala, a web platform to • Max Verstappen (Red Bull– recognise the creativity and “develop ) came second followed by interest in football. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) at • This platform of E-Pathshala will third. act to develop their interest in football England’s announces retirement through recognitive approaches like from all forms of cricket painting, skills, building blocks and many • England off-spinner Laura Marsh more. has announced her retirement from all PT POINTERS: forms of cricket. Marsh had decided to All India Football Federation (AIIF) retire from international cricket last • President: Praful Patel December. • Founded: 23 June 1937 • Marsh had made her debut in 2006 • Headquarters: Dwarka, Delhi in Tests as a fast bowler but switched to Sports Authority of India (SAI) spin bowling later in her career. • Headquarters location: New Delhi • She was part of the England squad • Founder: Ministry of Youth Affairs that won the Women’s World Cup in 2009 and Sports and in 2017.  She was also part of the • Founded: 1982 T20 World Cup title-winning side in 2009. • Agency executive: Sandip Pradhan • The 33-year-old played nine Tests, Indian Revenue Service, Sports Secretary- 103 ODIs and 67 T20Is for England, cum-Director General picking up 217 wickets across formats. • Parent agencies: Ministry of Youth Dream11 wins IPL 2020 title sponsorship Affairs and Sports, Government of India rights for Rs 222 crore Hockey India Board to provide financial • Dream11, a fantasy sports assistance to 61 unemployed athletes platform, has won the title sponsorship • Due to the ongoing COVID-19 rights for Indian Premier League (IPL) pandemic the Hockey India executive 2020. Dream11 has signed a Rs 222-crore board has announced immediate support to deal with BCCI for this. 61 athletes across the junior and senior • This comes after the previous men and women core who are not sponsor, Vivo backed out of IPL 2020. employed. • The IPL will be held from • The purpose behind providing September 19 to November 10, 2020. financial assistance is to help them in PT POINTERS: resuming their sports activities. BCCI

41 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Athletes who are not holding any cricketer Rohit Sharma, table tennis form of employment may face constraints champion Manika Batra, Paralympian that can impact their ability to be able to Mariappan Thangavelu and wrestler return to sports activities. Vinesh Phogat for the prestigious Rajiv PT POINTERS: Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Hockey India National Sports Awards 2020 announced • President: Mushtaque Ahmad • The Ministry of Youth Affairs and • Founded: 20 May 2009 Sports announced the National Sports • Headquarters location: New Delhi Awards 2020. • Sport: Field hockey RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD Cricketer Rohit Sharma appointed new brand • Shri Rohit Sharma - Cricket ambassador of sports eyewear brand Oakley in • Shri Mariyappan T. - Para India Athletics • Performance sports eyewear brand • Ms. Manika Batra - Table Tennis Oakley has appointed Indian cricketer • Ms. Vinesh - Wrestling Rohit Sharma as its brand ambassador in • Ms. Rani – Hockey India for a period of two years. DRONACHARYA AWARD • Under this partnership, Sharma will A) Life- Time Category sport the brand’s performance eyewear on • Shri Dharmendra Tiwary - Archery and off the . • Shri Purushotham Rai - Athletics • With this appointment, Sharma • Shri Shiv Singh - Boxing joins the likes of athletes such as Virat • Shri Romesh Pathania - Hockey Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Milind Soman • Shri Krishan Kumar Hooda - who have endorsed the brand before. Kabaddi • Shri Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar - Para Powerlifting England’s World Cup-winning off-spinner • Shri Naresh Kumar - Tennis Laura Marsh retires from all forms of cricket • Shri Om Parkash Dahiya - • Laura Marsh, England national Wrestling women cricket team off-spinner, has B) Regular Category announced her retirement from all forms of • Shri Jude Felix Sebastian - Hockey cricket. • Shri Yogesh Malviya - • The 33-year-old had announced her Mallakhamb retirement from international cricket in • Shri Jaspal Rana - Shooting December 2019. • Shri Kuldeep Kumar Handoo - • Marsh had played in 103 one-day Wushu internationals, 67 T20 and 9 Test matches • Shri Gaurav Khanna - Para during her career Badminton • She was also part of England teams that won the Women’s Cricket World Cup • Shri Atanu Das - Archery in 2009 and 2017. • Ms. Dutee Chand - Athletics Recommendation for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna • Shri Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy - Award: Rohit Sharma, Vinesh Phogat, Manika Badminton Batra, Mariappan Thangavelu • Shri Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty - • The National Sports Awards Badminton Committee has recommended the names of

42 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Shri Vishesh Bhriguvanshi - • Shri Satyaprakash Tiwari - Para Basketball Badminton • Subedar Manish Kaushik - Boxing • Shri Manjeet Singh - Rowing • Ms. Lovlina Borgohain - Boxing • Late Shri Sachin Nag -Swimming • Shri Ishant Sharma - Cricket • Shri P Bal - Tennis • Ms. Deepti Sharma - Cricket • Shri Netarpal Hooda - Wrestling • Shri Sawant Ajay Anant - TENZING NORGAY NATIONAL Equestrian ADVENTURE AWARDS 2019 • Shri Sandesh Jhingan - Football • Ms. Anita Devi - Land Adventure • Ms. Aditi Ashok - Golf • Col. Sarfraz Singh - Land • Shri Akashdeep Singh - Hockey Adventure • Ms. Deepika - Hockey • Shri Taka Tamut - Land Adventure • Shri Deepak - Kabaddi • Shri Narender Singh - Land • Shri Kale Sarika Sudhakar - Kho Adventure Kho • Shri Keval Hiren Kakka - Land • Shri Dattu Baban Bhokanal - Adventure Rowing • Shri Satendra Singh - Water • Ms. Manu Bhaker - Shooting Adventure • Shri Saurabh Chaudhary - Shooting • Shri Gajanand Yadava - Air • Ms. Madhurika Suhas Patkar - Adventure Table Tennis • Late Shri Magan Bissa - Life Time • Shri Divij Sharan - Tennis Achievement • Shri Shiva Keshavan - Winter MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD (MAKA) Sports TROPHY • Ms. Divya Kakran - Wrestling • Panjab University, Chandigarh • Shri Rahul Aware - Wrestling RASHTRIYA KHEL PROTSAHAN • Shri Suyash Narayan Jadhav - Para PURUSKAR Swimming • Identification and Nurturing of • Shri Sandeep - Para Athletics Budding and Young Talent - 1. Lakshya • Shri Manish Narwal - Para Institute, 2. Army Sports Institute Shooting • Encouragement to sports through DHYAN CHAND AWARD Corporate Social Responsibility - Oil and • Shri Kuldip Singh Bhullar - Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd. Athletics • Employment of sportspersons and • Ms. Jincy Philips - Athletics sports welfare measures - Air Force Sports • Shri Pradeep Shrikrishna Gandhe - Control Board Badminton • Sports for Development - • Ms. Trupti Murgunde - Badminton International Institute of Sports • Ms. N. Usha - Boxing Management (IISM) • Shri Lakha Singh - Boxing INOX Group to sponsor Indian team for Tokyo • Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu - Olympics Football The INOX group will be the official sponsor of • Shri Ajit Singh - Hockey the Indian team for the rescheduled Tokyo • Shri Manpreet Singh -Kabaddi Olympics. • Shri J. Ranjith Kumar - Para Athletics

43 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • The Tokyo Olympics was 2020 and his sixth overall World rescheduled to next year due to the Championship title. COVID-19 pandemic. • Nicknamed as ‘The Rocket’, • It will be held from July 23 to O’Sullivan claimed the Championship August 8 in 2021. crown with an emphatic 18-8 victory in • As part of the partnership the best-of-35-frame match against Wilson, a Group will also support the team's first-time finalist. promotions through its entertainment • This win has made him the oldest company INOX Leisure Limited, which world champion at the age of 44, ever owns a chain of multiplexes in the country. since Welsh legend Reardon lifted the Ronnie O’Sullivan wins World Snooker trophy in 1978 at the age of 45 years and Championship 2020 203 days. best-of-35-frame match against • Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated , a first-time finalist. Wilson with a score of 18-8 to win the Jacques Kallis, Zaheer Abbas & World Snooker Championship 2020. inducted into ICC Hall of Fame • He has claimed his sixth World • Legendary South African all- Championship title at Sheffield’s Crucible rounder Jaques Kallis, Pakistan batting Theatre. great Zaheer Abbas and Pune-born • Witch his victory, Ronnie former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar were O’Sullivan has also become the oldest inducted into the International Cricket Council’s winner of World Snooker Championship Hall of Fame in a virtual ceremony. since Reardon, who was 45 in 1978. First female golfer from Germany Sophia 5 Sportsperson to be awarded Khel Ratna 2020 Popov wins Women’s British Open • Five sportspersons will be awarded • World number 304 Sophia Popov the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020 became the first female golfer from this year. Germany to capture a major title after • These are: winning the Women's British Open by two • Rohit Sharma– Cricketer (4th strokes at Royal Troon in Scotland. cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar, MS Australian all-rounder Cameron White Dhoni, and Virat Kohli to win this) announces retirement from all professional • Vinesh Phogat– Wrestler cricket • Manika Batra– Table Tennis player • Australian all-rounder Cameron • Mariyappan Thangavelu– Para White has announced his retirement from Athlete  Rani Rampal– Hockey Player all forms of professional cricket. • They will receive the award on • The 37-year-old Australian player National Sports Day on August 29. This is will however, continue to play at the for the first time that 5 players have been Premier Cricket level as the captain of the selected for this award. Melbourne Cricket Club. • Apart from these 27 sportspersons • During his international career have been selected for the ARJUNA spanning nearly a decade, White played 91 AWARD 2020. ODIs scoring 2,072 runs. Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Kyren Wilson to win • In T20 Internationals, he scored his sixth World Snooker Championship 984 runs from 47 matches, while he played • Five-time champion Ronnie four Tests for Australia, scoring 146 runs. O’Sullivan beat world No 8 Kyren Wilson PT POINTERS: to win the World Snooker Championship

44 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Australia (Capital/Currency): Canberra • She made her Olympic debut at the /Australian dollar Olympic Games in Sydney when she was • Prime Minister: Scott Morrison just 16. Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to India plans to host BRICS Games in 2021 win UEFA Champions League 2019-20 • India is planning to host BRICS • In Football, German team Bayern Games 2021, which will be aligned with Munich defeated French side Paris Saint- the Khelo India Games scheduled for next Germain 1–0 to win the UEFA Champions year. League 2019-20. • This announcement came after • In doing so, Bayern Munich has Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju attended a become the first European Cup winners meeting of Sports Ministers of the BRICS who won all their matches during the nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and tournament. South Africa). • This is the sixth European • India will get the chairmanship of Champions League title for Bayern the five-nation independent international Munich. group in 2021. • The final was played in Lisbon, PT POINTERS: Portugal on 23 August 2020. BRICS James Anderson becomes first fast bowler to • Founded: June 2006 reach 600 wickets in • Formation: 2009 • James Anderson from England has • Official language: Portuguese, become the first-ever fast bowler to take Russian, Hindi, Chinese, English 600 wickets in a Test Match Cricket. • State Leaders: Jair Bolsonaro; • Overall, he is the 4th bowler to take Vladimir Putin; ; Xi 600 test wickets after 3 spinners Muttiah Jinping; Cyril Ramaphosa  Founders: Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil India, China, Brazil, Russia Kumble. Australian Cricketer Cameron White • He achieved this feat against announces Retirement from Professional Pakistan when he dismissed Azhar Ali. Cricket Seven-time National Table Tennis Champion • Australian All-Rounder Cameron Poulomi Ghatak announces retirement, to Leon White announced his retirement from focus on coaching Cricket at the age of 37. • Veteran Indian table tennis player • He has captained the Australian from , Poulomi Ghatak, has Team Seven Times including One Day announced her retirement from the game to International (ODI) & Twenty20 shift focus on coaching career. Internationals(T20I). • The Kolkata-born athlete is a PT POINTERS: seven-time national champion, winning Australia (Capital/Currency): Canberra/ between 1998 and 2016. Australian dollar • The 37-year-old had represented • Prime Minister: Scott Morrison India at the Commonwealth Games in AIFC and Football Coaches Australia Sign Melbourne in 2006 and the MoU for Development of Game Commonwealth Championships between • The Association of Indian Football 2000 and 2008. Coaches (AIFC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Football Coaches Australia (FCA) to

45 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL assist each other in development of • On the occasion of the National football in the two countries. Sports Day on 29 August 2020, the • The two bodies will look to Ministry of Sports has announced a hike in encourage the involvement of more female the award money for four of the seven coaches and increase access to football for categories of the National Sports and all participants. Adventure Awards. PT POINTERS: • Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju AIFC offically announced the new massive hike • Founded: 2018, Nur-Sultan, in the prize money. Award Enhanced Prize • Governor: Kairat Kelimbetov Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Rs 25 lakh • Headquarters: Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan Sri Lanka Cricketer Tharanga Paranavitana Arjuna Award Rs 15 lakh retires from International Cricket Dhronacharya (Lifetime) Rs 15 lakh • Sri Lankan Opening batsman Dhronacharya (Regular) Rs 10 lakh Nishad Tharanga Paranavitana announced Dhyanchand Award Rs 10 lakh retirement from all forms of International Cricket at the age of 38. Lewis Hamilton wins F1 Belgian Grand Prix • He has represented Sri Lanka in 32 2020 Test Matches scoring 1792 runs including • Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great two hundreds and 11 fifties. Britain) has won the Formula One Belgian PT POINTERS: Grand Prix 2020 held on August 30, 2020. Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri • This was his 5th win of the season. Jayawardenepura Kotte/ Sri Lankan rupee  • Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) came second followed by Max Verstappen Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa (Red Bull – Netherlands) at third place. Japan’s Olympic badminton gold medalist India, Russia announced joint winners of FIDE Ayaka Takahashi announces retirement Online Olympiad 2020 (Chess) • Japanese badminton player, Ayaka Takahashi, who is a doubles specialist has • India and Russia have been jointly announced the winner of first-ever FIDE announced her retirement with effect from Online Chess Olympiad 2020. This was 31 August 2020. the first time FIDE was holding the • The 30-year-old player is known as Olympiad in an online format. the partner of Misaki Matsutomo. • India were initially declared to • The pair, commonly known as have lost the final round against Russia. “Taka-Matsu,” claimed Japan’s first ever Two Indian players (Nihal Sarin and Divya Olympic badminton gold medal at the Deshmukh) were declared to have lost on 2016 Rio Olympics in the women’s time in the final round after an apparent doubles event. loss of internet connection for them. • Takahashi also captained Japan to After this, FIDE President Arkady its first women’s World Team • Dvorkovich had made a decision to give Championships, (Uber Cup), in 2018. gold medals of to both teams.

PT POINTERS: Government enhances prize money of Khel Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/Russian Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyanchand Rouble Awards

46 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Prime Minister: Mikhail • Para-swimmer Satyendra Singh Vladimirovich Mishustin Lohia of is the first • President: Vladimir Putin Divyanga Indian sportsperson of the FIDE country, who has been awarded today with • Headquarters: Lausanne, the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award. Switzerland • He is also the first Asian Divyang • Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, swimmer to cross -kilometer France Catalina Channel in the US in just 11 hours • President: Arkady Dvorkovich 34 minutes. • CEO: Geoffrey D. Borg • Para-swimmer Satyendra Singh • Membership: 195 national was also conferred with the Best associations Sportsperson National Award by Vice • Formation: July 20, 1924 President Venkaiah Naidu on World Arsenal beat Liverpool on penalties to win 2020 Divyanga Day. FA Community Shield • He has also been awarded the • Arsenal beat Premier League highest sports award of Madhya Pradesh as champions Liverpool by 5–4 on penalties well as many other national and to claim the 2020 FA Community Shield international honours. after a 1–1 draw. • The annual football match was September 2020 – Important Sports Current played between the winners of the previous Affairs season’s Premier League, Liverpool, and the previous season’s FA Cup, Sumit Nagal becomes 1st Indian to win grand Arsenal, on 29 August at the Wembley Stadium in slam singles main draw match in 7 years London.  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored • Sumit Nagal stormed into the the goal for Arsenal while Takumi Minamino second round of the ongoing US Open scored for Liverpool.  This is the 16th time that Tennis last night. Nagal defeated Bradley Arsenal is winning the Community Shield title. Klahn of USA 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the Dwayne Bravo becomes 1st bowler to scalp 500 first round of the US Open to progress wickets in T20 cricket further into the tournament. • West Indies All-Rounder, Dwayne • the 23-year-old Nagal has become John Bravo became the first bowler in the first Indian to win a singles main draw cricket to scalp 500 wickets in Twenty20 match at a in the last seven matches. years. • He achieved the feat in the Sports training camps in to start Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 from 1st October match between his team Trinbago Knight • In Uttar Pradesh, sports training Riders and St Lucia Zouks. camps will start from 1st October and will • Bravo took the wicket of Rahkeem continue till March next year. Cornwall (18) to register his 500th wicket. • The state Sports and Youth Affairs Dwayne Bravo achieved the feat in his Minister Upendra Tiwari said that sports 459th match in the shortest format. activities will be back on the track once Para swimmer Satyendra Singh first Divyang the situation normalises. sportsperson of country to get prestigious • Those who are interested in Adventure Award participating in these training camps

47 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL should register themselves on Khelo India Grand Prix 2020 held on September 06, application. 2020. PT POINTERS: • This is his first Grand Prix win. Uttar Pradesh: • Carlos Sainz Jr. (McLaren, Spain) • Statehood Day: January 26, 1950 came second followed by Lance Stroll • Capital: Lucknow (Racing Point, Canada) in third place. • Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath • Lewis Hamilton ended at 7th place • Governor: Anandiben Patel after he earned a 10-second stop and go • Literacy Rate: 67.68% penalty. Apart from this, Charles Leclerc • Nation Park: Dudhwa National crashed out on the exit of Parabolica. Park England cricketer Ian Bell announces Olympic Ski Racing Champion Viktoria retirement from professional cricket Rebensburg announces retirement at 30 • Cricketer Ian Bell from England • Olympic ski champion Viktoria has announced that he will retire from all Rebensburg of Germany has announced forms of cricket at the end of the 2020 her retirement due to injury caused during domestic season. a race in February 2020, which was • Ian Bell, 38, retired from ODIs in keeping her from performing at her best. 2015 to focus on Test cricket. • The 30-year-old German ski racer • He is a five-time Ashes winner and won the gold medal in the giant slalom at has spent his entire career with the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Warwickshire. India’s P Iniyan wins World Open Online US Open 2020: Indo-Canadian pair of Chess Tournament Bopanna-Shapovalov enter men’s doubles • Indian Grandmaster P Iniyan has quarterfinals won the prestigious 48th Annual World • The Indo-Canadian pair of Rohan Open online chess tournament. Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov have • He scored 7.5 points out of a reached the quarterfinals of the ongoing possible 9 with six victories and three US Open tennis. draws to finish on top. • They defeated the German pair • A total number of 120 players from Kevin Krawietz and Andrea Mies in the 16 countries participated in the event second-round clash that had lasted for an which included more than 30 hour and 47 minutes. Grandmasters. BCCI announces schedule for IPL 2020 to be Dwayne Bravo becomes cricket ambassador for held in UAE “SBOTOP” sportsbook brand • BCCI has announced the schedule • West Indies cricket icon Dwayne for IPL 2020 to be held in UAE. Bravo has become the first cricket • The evening matches of the ambassador for “SBOTOP” sportsbook tournament, which will be played in the brand. , will start at 7:30 • Isle of Man betting group Celton PM Indian time. Manx has appointed the West Indies • There will be 10 double-headers, cricketer as the cricket ambassador for its and the afternoon matches will begin at flagship sportsbook. 3:30 PM. Pierre Gasly wins F1 Italian Grand Prix 2020 • Dubai will host 24 games, 20 • Pierre Gasly (Scuderia AlphaTauri, matches will be played in Abu Dhabi France) has won the Formula One Italian

48 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL while the remaining 12 matches are Women’s 75 kg category but after scheduled to be played in Sharjah. Mariyam recently failed the dope test, the • The final of the tournament will be gold medal has been awarded to Poonam played on November 10. Venues for the Khatri. playoff and the final are yet to be • The information was clarified by announced. Secretary-General of the Indian Wushu PT POINTERS: Association, Suhel Ahmed. BCCI Lewis Hamilton wins F1 Tuscan Grand Prix • President: Sourav Ganguly 2020 • Secretary: Jay Shah • Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great • Headquarters: Mumbai Britain) has won the Formula One Tuscan • Founded: December 1928 Grand Prix 2020 held on September 13, • Sponsors: BYJU'S, Paytm, Nike, 2020. This was his 6th win of the season Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, and 90th F1 win of his career. Ambuja Cements • Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) T20 cricket tournament inaugurated at came second followed by Alexander Kungamdora Pattan in J&K Albon (Red Bull – Thailand) at third • Deputy Commissioner Baramulla place. Dr G N Itoo in presence of District Youth • The Tuscan Grand Prix (first Services and Sports Officer inaugurated edition) was the ninth race of the 2020 T20 cricket tournament at Kungamdora Formula One World Championship. Pattan with strict adherence of SOPs and guidelines. Japan’s Naomi Osaka beats World Cup host Qatar set to play in Gold Cup to win US Open Tennis Tournament next year in US • In Tennis, Japan’s Naomi Osaka • World Cup host Qatar is set to play defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 1- in the Gold Cup next year in the United 6, ,6-3, 6-3, to clinch the Women’s States after accepting an invitation from Singles title in the 2020 US Open Tennis soccer's governing body for North and tournament  This is the third Grand Slam Central America and the Caribbean. title for the fourth seed Osaka. • The Asian Cup champion will • The 22-year old Osaka previously participate in the 2021 and 2023 Gold Cup won the title at the 2018 US Open and tournaments as a guest under a 2019 . memorandum of understanding signed in • She is now the first Asian player to Bahrain in 2017. win three Grand Slam singles titles.  The Police Officer Poonam Khatri crowned Wushu victory has moved up Osaka to number 3 World Champion in the world rankings. Dominic Thiem • Indian Police Officer, Poonam wins US Open Men’s Tennis Khatri has claimed World Championship Tournament 2020 status after her silver medal at the • Austria’s Dominic Thiem defeated Wushu World Championship last year has been Alexander Zverev to win the men’s upgraded to a Gold medal. Poonam hails from singles title at the 2020 US Open Haryana’s tournament. Jhajjar district. • It was Thiem’s first Grand Slam • Poonam had lost the final to title, and he becomes the first player in the Iranian opponent Mariyam in the

49 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL Open Era to rally from two sets down in a • Formation: 1934 US Open final. • Type of business: Sports governing Kiren Rijiju to lay foundation stones for body various sports facilities in Leh Tata Motors’s Altroz named official partner of • Union Minister of Youth Affairs Dream11 IPL 2020 and Sports Kiren Rijiju is laying • Tata Motors’s Altroz named foundation stones for various sports official partner of Dream11 IPL 2020. facilities in Leh. • Tata Motors has announced that its • The Minister will lay foundation premium hatchback Altroz will be the for a Synthetic Track & Astro Turf for Official Partner for Dream11 Indian football in Leh at an open stadium and for Premier League (IPL) 2020. a Gymnasium hall in NDS indoor stadium • The IPL begins on September 19 in Leh. and will be played across 3 venues, • With a Special focus to tap the located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, natural talent in , the sports in the United Arab Emirates, for a total of ministry is developing infrastructure in 50 days. the region. • Tata Motors has been associated • The facilities to be created in Leh with the BCCI for the past 3 years. will be a step forward for sports PT POINTERS: Development in the Union Territory BCCI: Ladakh. • President: Sourav Ganguly BWF Postpones Thomas And Uber Cup Finals • Headquarters: Mumbai To 2021 • Founded: December 1928 • The Badminton World Federation Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat join online Fit (BWF) has announced that the Thomas India Freedom Run event at SAI Sonepat Cup and the Uber Cup, which were • The Sports Authority of India’s scheduled to be held from 3 to 11 October Northern Regional Centre in 2020 in Denmark, has been postponed for Sonepatorganised an online interaction 2021. earlier today with 391 participants on the • This decision has been taken Fit India Freedom Run. following the withdrawal of many • Star wrestlers and Khel Ratna participating countries from the winners in 2019 and 2020 respectively tournament due to the COVID-19 Bajrang Punia and VineshPhogat were pandemic. among the speakers at the event that lasted • The alternative dates to reschedule for one and a half hours. the World Men’s and Women’s Team • The event was inaugurated by Championships is yet to be decided by Lalita Sharma, Regional Director, SAI BWF. NRC Sonepat. PT POINTERS: • The event was also attended by BWF representatives from the print and • Founded: 5 July 1934 electronic media. • President: Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen • Pushpendra Garg, High • Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Performance Director, Sports Authority of Malaysia India and a Khel Ratna Awardee, spoke • Membership: 194 member on the benefits of fitness and the Fit India associations Freedom Run.

50 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL • Satish Sarhadi, CEO, SAI National • The task force consists of 7 Boxing Academy, Rohtak gave the members. closing remarks for the event. • The force aims to regulate football PT POINTERS: clubs in Asia and Australia. SAI & Novak Djokovic wins 2020 • Founder: Ministry of Youth Affairs Italian Open title and Sports • Novak Djokovic has defetaed • Founded: 1982 Argentine Diego Schwartzman, 7-6, 5-3, • Headquarters location: New Delhi to win 2020 Men’s Single Italian Open ITF Renames Fed Cup as Cup title and his fifth overall Rome title. • The International Tennis • In Women’s single, Simona Halep Federation (ITF) has renamed the Fed defeated champion Karolina Pliskova, 6-0, Cup, an annual team competition in 2-1, to win her first Italian Open title. women tennis, as the “Billie Jean King Winners List Cup.” • Men’s Single- Novak Djokovic • Billie Jean King was a pioneer in • Women’s Single- Simona Halep women’s tennis who helped the United • Men’s Double- Marcel Granollers States win the inaugural event.  The /Horacio Zeballos is the world’s largest • Women’s Double- Hsieh Su-wei / annual women’s international team sports Barbora Strýcová competition in terms of the number of Multi-talented Tennis world No. 1 and former nations that compete. cricketer Ash Barty wins Golf Club PT POINTERS: Championship International Tennis Federation (ITF) • , who is the top- • Headquarters: London, United ranked WTA player in the world, and a Kingdom former professional cricket player, has • President: David Haggerty now added another feat in her sporting list • Founded: 1 March 1913 by winning golf club championship. The 36th National Games allotted to Goa have • The 24-year-old, world number one been postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic Australian, has won the Brookwater Golf • The 36th National Games allotted Club women’s championship. to Goa, which was scheduled from • Ash Barty had withdrawn from October 20 to November 4, 2020, had participating in US Open and French been postponed due to outbreak of the Open due to coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19. Valtteri Bottas wins Russian Grand Prix 2020 • Central assistance of Rs.97.80 • Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) crore has been released to the Government has won the Formula One Russian Grand of Goa for creation / development of Prix 2020 held on 27 September 2020. sports infrastructure for 36th National • This is his second win of the Games. season. Colonel Dr Girija Mungali appointed in Asian • Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Football Confederation task-force Netherlands) came second followed by the • Retd. Colonel Dr. Girija Shanker 6-time world-champion Lewis Hamilton Mungali has been appointed a member of (Mercedes-Great Britain), who stood third the Asian Football Confederation's task because of penalties. force.

51 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL BCCI Appoints Neetu David as head of India India) women’s selection committee for 4 years • Headquarters: Mumbai • The Board of Control for Cricket in • Vice president(s): vacant India (BCCI) has appointed Neetu David, • Founded: December 1928 one of finest woman cricketers of India in • Sponsors: BYJU'S, Paytm, Nike, the late ’90s and early 2000, as the Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, Chairman of the 5 member women’s Ambuja Cements Gurpreet Sandhu & national selection panel. Sanju Yadav Declared Winners of • The other member of the newly- AIFF Player of The Year Awards elected panel includes Mithu Mukherjee, • In Football, the Indian men’s team Renu Margrate, Arati Vaidya and V Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has Kalpana. won the 2019-’20 AIFF Player of the year • The Neetu David-led panel has awards in men’s category. been appointed for a period of four years. • The women’s squad’s midfielder It replaces previous panel, led by Hemlata Sanju Yadav from Haryana has won the Kala, whose term ended in March 2020. 2019-’20 AIFF Player of the year awards • The first assignment of the David- in women’s category. led panel will be to pick three teams for Australia’s Alyssa Healy breaks MS Dhoni’s the Women’s T20 Challenge, to held in T20I record UAE in November 2020 alongside the IPL • Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa play-offs. Healy has broken MS Dhoni’s record for PT POINTERS: the most number of dismissals by a BCCI wicketkeeper in T20 internationals. • President: Sourav Ganguly (Term • She went past Dhoni’s tally of 91 ended, still holding the office until further during the 2nd T20I between Australia interference by Hon. Supreme court of women and New Zealand women at the India) Allan Border Field in Brisbane. • Secretary: Jay Shah (Term ended, still holding the office until further interference by Hon. Supreme court of

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52 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL

53 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL

54 UPPSC- CURRENT AFFAIRS SPECIAL

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