Sports Current Affairs MCQs

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The 2nd Khelo India Beach Games officially began on 5th January 2026 at Ghoghla Beach in Diu. More than 2,100 athletes are participating across eight different sports in the event. The games are being organised by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations. The event will be held from 5th to 10th January 2026. There are six medal sports: Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat, and Open Water Swimming. Two events, Mallakhamb and Tug of War, are included as non-medal events.

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The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) launched the National Olympic Education and Development Programme (NOEDP) and reactivated the National Olympic Academy (NOA) to strengthen India’s Olympic movement. The decisions were approved in January meetings held in Ahmedabad. NOEDP is a national framework for structured Olympic education and development across all levels of sport. It will be implemented with National Sports Federations (NSFs) and State Olympic Associations (SOAs). The NOA will serve as the central institution for Olympic education, research, and athlete development. It will support athletes in education, leadership, values, and career transition.

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Vidarbha cricket team won their first Vijay Hazare Trophy by defeating two-time champions Saurashtra by 38 runs. The final was held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru in a 50-over List A format. Vijay Hazare Trophy is India’s premier domestic one-day tournament; Vidarbha had previously won the Ranji Trophy but not this title.

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The All India Football Federation appointed Amelia Valverde as head coach of the senior Indian women’s football team. Amelia Valverde is 39 years old and hails from Costa Rica. She has joined the Indian team camp in Antalya, Türkiye. The team is preparing for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026. The tournament is scheduled to be held in March 2026. Her appointment aims to strengthen the performance of the Indian women’s team, also known as the Blue Tigresses.

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Former Australian hockey player Michael Nobbs has passed away today after a prolonged illness at the age of 72. He earned 76 international caps for Australia between 1979 and 1985. Nobbs played in the 1981 Hockey World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He coached the Indian men’s hockey team at the 2012 London Olympics, taking over in 2011 after India failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games. Apart from India, he also coached the Japanese national hockey team.

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The sixth edition of Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 was inaugurated on 20 January 2026 by Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta. It was concluded on 26 January. Indian Army team won the men’s ice hockey final, defeating Chandigarh with a last-minute goal. The Army retained its title in men’s ice hockey. Haryana won the overall team championship of the Ladakh phase by securing four gold medals with 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals. Ladakh finished second with 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals. Maharashtra secured third place with 2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals.

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India will host the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championship 2027 in Delhi, a historic first for Indian shooting. The championship will offer eight Olympic quota places for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. These eight quotas will be in addition to 12 quota places from the World Cup Shooting event. The World Cup (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun) will be held in Delhi from 21 to 30 April 2027. Hosting rights were confirmed by the Asian Shooting Confederation to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

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India defeated Bangladesh 4–0 to win the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Women’s Championship. The final was played at Pokhara Rangasala Stadium in Nepal. Captain Julan Nongmaithem scored the opening goal for India. Elizabeth Lakra, Pearl Fernandes, and substitute Anwita Raghuraman added the remaining goals. India fielded its Under-17 women’s national team to prepare for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup later this year.

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Services won the 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy. The final was played at Dhakuakhana Stadium in Assam. Services defeated Kerala by 1–0 in a closely fought match. The winning goal was scored in the 109th minute of extra time. Striker Abhishek Pawar scored from a cross delivered by Shubham Rana. This victory marked Services’ eighth Santosh Trophy title. Services had also defeated Kerala in the 2023–24 season final.

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India emerged as the overall champion at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026 held in New Delhi, topping the medal tally with a total of 94 medals, including 51 gold, 23 silver, and 20 bronze. On the final day of the championship, Indian shooters added 6 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals, further strengthening their dominant position in the continent. The overall performance highlighted India’s dominance in both individual and team events, with shooters excelling in precision, consistency, and competitive endurance across multiple disciplines.