Sports Quiz

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.

Notes:
The Esports World Cup Foundation included chess among 16 titles at the first Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2–29 November 2026. The chess event will run from 2–8 November 2026 with 128 players representing nations, maximum two per country. The tournament starts with 16 round-robin groups of eight players, with top four advancing to knockouts.

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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Uttarakhand grants 5% horizontal reservation to ex-servicemen and 4% to skilled sportspersons under acts passed in 2024 and amended in 2025.