Sports Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Hockey India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Telangana to host the Women’s 2026 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14, 2026. The event underscores India’s growing prominence in international hockey and Telangana’s emergence as a major destination for hosting global sporting events. The tournament will feature eight teams, namely India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria. The top three teams from the qualifiers will earn direct qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, scheduled from August 15 to 30, 2026.

Notes:
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 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.

Notes:
Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai reunited at the Australian Open to win the women’s doubles tennis title. The Belgian–Chinese pair defeated Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(4), 6-4. This was their ninth Grand Slam doubles title together in just their seventh event as a pair. Mertens now has six Grand Slam titles, including three Australian Opens, while Zhang has three. Mertens secured her 40th week as World Number One in doubles. In mixed doubles, Olivia Gadecki and John Peers defended the Australian Open title, ending a 37-year gap.

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The 7th Para Archers National Championship 2026 was inaugurated at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, Punjab. It is a national-level para sports event showcasing top talent in para archery. The championship is hosted by the Punjab Archery Association under the Archery Association of India. It is supported by the Sports Authority of India. The championship is being held from 30 January to 3 February 2026.

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The Asian Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championships 2026 started on 2 February at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, New Delhi. The event will last two weeks with elite athletes from across Asia. Events cover 10m, 25m, and 50m rifle and pistol disciplines. Seventeen countries are participating in the championship.

Notes:
Union Budget 2026–27 launched a new Khelo India Mission to transform India’s sports sector over the next decade. The focus areas are talent development, sports infrastructure creation, and manufacturing-led employment generation. Mission builds on the earlier Khelo India programme with a mission-mode approach to nurture talent and strengthen the sports ecosystem. ₹500 crore allocated for promotion of sports goods manufacturing, research, and innovation to boost domestic capability and global competitiveness. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ budget increased by ₹1,133 crore, from ₹3,346 crore to ₹4,479.88 crore, supporting athlete development, coaching, sports science, and infrastructure.

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The 6th Badminton Asia Team Championships began on 3 February 2026 in Qingdao, China, with men’s and women’s national teams from Asia. India’s women are defending their title without two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who withdrew from the tournament. Women’s team is in Group Y with fourth seeds Thailand and Myanmar, featuring Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod, and doubles pair Treesa Jolly–Gayatri Gopichand. Men’s team is in Group C with fourth seeds Japan and Singapore, comprising Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, and doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty.

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The Winter Olympics 2026, officially the 25th Winter Olympic Games, are known as Milano Cortina 2026. The Games will be held under the supervision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Italy will host the Olympics, marking its fourth time hosting the Olympic Games. Events will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, famous winter sports cities in northern Italy. The Games aim to promote sportsmanship, global unity, and cultural exchange. The official logo reflects modern design, creativity, and unity between the two host cities. The official motto is “IT’s Your Vibe,” highlighting Italy and inviting global participation in the Olympic spirit.

Notes:
India’s Arjun Babuta and Elavenil Valarivan won gold in the 10 metre air rifle mixed team event at the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championship 2026 in New Delhi. The Indian pair set a new world record and championship record by scoring 505 points in the final. They successfully defended their Asian title with this performance. Republic of Korea’s Kim Woorim and Kwon Eunji won silver with 501 points. Japan’s Naoya Okada and Misaki Nobata secured bronze with 437.9 points. The previous world record of 502.7 was set by a German pair at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Grand Prix in Slovenia.