Sports Quiz

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Sharath Kamal announced retirement from professional table tennis. Achanta Sharath Kamal transformed Indian table tennis, making India a global presence in the sport. He was the first Indian paddler to train abroad, play for a club, and win international medals. He won 7 Commonwealth Games golds and 2 Asian Games bronzes, inspiring a generation of Indian paddlers.

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Ayush Mhatre is a first-class cricketer who represents Mumbai. He made his debut at the age of 17 in the 2024-25 Irani Cup and later scored his maiden first-class century in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy.

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Divya Deshmukh, a native of Nagpur, Maharashtra, showcased her skills in Chess, as evidenced by her significant role in India’s historic win at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The Maharashtra government recognized her achievement by awarding her with Rs. 1 crore.

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The Memorandum of Understanding signed between SAI and the Government of Maharashtra in October 2024 identified Mumbai as the location for the development of the National Centre of Sports Excellence. The project includes modern sports infrastructure of international standards at a 37-acre SAI Sports complex in Kandivali, a suburb of Mumbai.

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Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky, the 10th World Chess Champion, has passed away at 88. Spassky was known for his strategic brilliance, sportsmanship, and deep understanding of chess. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), he became an International Grandmaster in 1955. In 1969, he defeated Tigran Petrosian to become the World Chess Champion. Spassky was famous for his versatile playing style, excelling in both positional and attacking games.

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Manu Bhaker won the 2024 BBC Indian Sportwomen of the Year award. She is a double Olympic medalist shooter. In 2020, she won the BBC Emerging Athlete of the Year award. The BBC Indian Sportwomen of the Year award was started in 2019 to honor top Indian sportswomen. Nominees are chosen by Indian sports journalists and experts, and winners are selected through public voting.

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The first Olympic Esports Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. This is part of a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia signed last year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) aims to engage a younger audience through Esports, as its traditional fanbase ages. In 2021, the Olympic Virtual Series was launched as a pilot for Esports. A six-member committee will decide which games will be included in the first Olympic Esports Games. Saudi Arabia has invested billions in sports, facing criticism for “sportswashing” due to human rights concerns.

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Wriddhiman Saha, India wicketkeeper-batter, retired from all forms of cricket after playing his final Ranji Trophy match for Bengal. He made his international debut in 2010, playing 49 matches for India across formats. Saha represented Bengal and Tripura in domestic cricket and played 142 First-Class and 116 List A matches. His last international appearance was in 2021; he lost his place to Rishabh Pant. Saha also had a successful IPL career, playing for multiple franchises, including Gujarat Titans.

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Romanian Tennis player Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1, announced her retirement at 33. Her comeback attempt was hampered by injuries after serving a doping ban. She retired after a first-round loss to Lucia Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open in Romania. Halep won Wimbledon 2019 and the French Open 2018. She secured 24 WTA singles titles and earned over $40 million in prize money.

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Greg Bell was an American long jumper who won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 7, 1930 and died on January 25, 2025. Bell was the world’s top men’s long jumper in the 1950s.  He jumped 8.10 meters in 1957, which was only 3 centimeters off the world record set by Jesse Owens in 1935.  Bell was inducted into the Indiana University Hall of Fame and the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1988.