Sports Quiz

Notes:
The correct answer is [B] Only two. In India, national sports awards are conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize excellence in various fields of athletics and coaching.

• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Pair 1 – Correct): This is the highest sporting honor in India. It is awarded for the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over a period of the previous four years.
• Arjuna Award (Pair 2 – Incorrect): The Arjuna Award is given for “good performance over a period of the previous four years” combined with qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and a sense of discipline. The “Lifetime Achievement” award is actually the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games.
• Dronacharya Award (Pair 3 – Correct): Established in 1985, this award is presented to coaches who have shown outstanding merit in training sportspersons or teams and enabling them to achieve excellence in international events.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar (Pair 4 – Incorrect): This award is given to corporate entities (both private and public sector), Sports Control Boards, and NGOs that have played a visible role in the promotion and development of sports. It is not specifically for retired sportspersons.

Notes:
The correct answer is [C] 1 and 3 only. The Laureus World Sports Awards are often referred to as the “Oscars of Sports,” recognizing individuals and teams for their achievements throughout the year.

• Statement 1 (Correct): American golfer Tiger Woods was indeed the first winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2000. He also won it again the following year in 2001.
• Statement 2 (Incorrect): While Formula One drivers like Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have won the award, it has not been received “mostly” by them. Historically, the award has been dominated by Tennis players. Winners from the tennis world include Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, who collectively hold more titles than any other single sport.
• Statement 3 (Correct): Roger Federer holds the record for the most Laureus World Sports Awards won by an individual. He has won a total of six awards—five for Sportsman of the Year and one for Comeback of the Year. Novak Djokovic has since tied him for the most “Sportsman of the Year” wins (5), but Federer remains a primary record-holder in the history of the awards.

The awards are unique because the winners are selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a jury made up of living sporting legends, rather than a general vote or a panel of journalists.

Notes:
Karnataka’s Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 44,054 crore to Education, Sports, Arts, and Culture, an 11% increase over 2025-26’s Rs 39,642 crore. This funding includes Rs 15,693 crore for government primary schools, Rs 5,556 crore for high schools, Rs 2,230 crore for Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, Rs 3,900 crore for new Karnataka Public Schools, Rs 2,500 crore for Higher Education Transformation, and Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade minority schools. The allocation represents 10.7% of the total state expenditure, below the average state allocation of 14.5% and below the 15% demand by educationists.

Notes:
Indian men’s hockey team forward Gurjant Singh announced his retirement from international hockey at the Hockey India Awards in New Delhi. Gurjant Singh is 31 years old and has had a career spanning nearly a decade, earning 130 international caps and scoring 33 goals. He was part of the Indian teams that won Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Gurjant also contributed to India winning gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, 2017 Asia Cup, and multiple Asian Champions Trophy titles. In 2021, he was awarded the Arjuna Award, one of India’s highest sporting honours.

Notes:
India and New Zealand launched the Centenary Sports Cooperation Programme to celebrate 100 years of bilateral sporting relations. The centenary commemorates the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand, one of the earliest major sports engagements between the two countries. The programme focuses on six priority sports for collaborative development: rugby, rowing, canoeing, sailing, athletics, and cycling. New Zealand’s coach development framework will be integrated into the curriculum of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. A Sports and Culture Week is proposed to showcase athletes, coaches, and indigenous sporting traditions from both nations.

Notes:
In March 2026, Union Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced a special nationwide Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action League to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. The league started in 2021 and has conducted over 2,600 events in 34 sports across 550 districts and 700 cities, involving more than 3 lakh women athletes. It is part of the Khelo India Mission to promote gender equality and identify grassroots talent. It is supported by Sports Authority of India, State and District Sports Associations, Khelo India Centres, My Bharat, and National Centres of Excellence.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated National Divyangjan Cricket Sports Festival 2026 in Bhopal. Theme is “Not Out @ 100” and 350 Divyang players from 25 states will play cricket continuously for 100 hours to create record. It is first event of its kind in the world with non-stop 100-hour cricket. Event is dedicated to birth centenary of social reformer Kushabhau Thakre. Festival will run day and night till 26 February. Divyang term reflects inner strength and willpower as highlighted by Prime Minister.

Notes:
KASA Stadium is located in Diphu, Karbi Anglong district of Assam. It has a 9,000 spectator capacity and hosts football and athletics events including the CEM Gold Cup. The stadium also includes facilities for indoor badminton, a gym, guest rooms, and a swimming pool.

Notes:
The National Sports Council of Assam Ground in Jorhat hosted first-class cricket matches from 1953 to 1974. It mainly served as a venue for Ranji Trophy games during this period. Notable performances there include Paul Gibb’s 154 runs and Premangsu Chatterjee’s 10 wickets for 20 runs. Jorhat is also where Assam’s only century by S.K. Girdhari was recorded in first-class cricket.

Notes:
Jorhat District Sports Association Ground was established in 1915 in Assam. It serves as a multi-purpose sports venue hosting cricket, football, volleyball, and athletics activities and originally had a capacity of 1,000 spectators.