Sports - January 2025 | General Test Preparation for CUET UG - CUET Commerce PDF Download

Cricket

Martin Guptill, the renowned cricketer from New Zealand, has officially announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 38. Over his impressive 14-year career, Guptill participated in 367 matches for New Zealand, amassing a remarkable total of 13,463 runs. He etched his name in history by becoming the first New Zealand player to score a double century in One Day Internationals (ODIs). This feat was achieved during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 quarter-final, where he played an unbeaten innings of 237 runs against the West Indies at Wellington Stadium, New Zealand.

Bangladesh Batsman Tamim Iqbal Khan Retires from International Cricket

On January 10, 2025, Tamim Iqbal Khan, a 35-year-old left-handed batsman from Bangladesh, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. He made history as the first Bangladeshi player to achieve 50 half-centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Karnataka Wins Record 5th Vijay Hazare Trophy Title

In January 2025, the Karnataka Cricket Team claimed their 5th Vijay Hazare Trophy title by defeating the Vidarbha Cricket Team by 36 runs in the final held at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Karnataka was led by captain Mayank Anurag Agarwal, while Vidarbha was captained by Karun Kaladharan Nair. The 23rd edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy took place from December 21, 2024, to January 18, 2025, featuring 38 teams competing in 135 matches.

This victory adds to Karnataka's previous titles won in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, and 2019-20.

Denmark's Anders Antonsen Triumphs in the Inaugural King Cup International Badminton Open 2024

• Anders Antonsen's Victory: Danish badminton player Anders Antonsen, ranked World No. 2, won the first-ever King Cup International Badminton Open 2024. He defeated China's Hu Zhe'an in a closely contested final, with scores of 21-18, 11-21, and 21-18.
• Prize Money: Antonsen received a cash prize of 1.1 million Renminbi (RMB) for his victory. Hu Zhe'an, the runner-up, was awarded 500,000 RMB.
• Lakshya Sen's Performance: Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen, ranked World No. 12, secured third place in the tournament. He defeated France's Alex Lanier in the third-place match and earned a prize of approximately 36 lakhs.

India Open 2025: Viktor Axelsen and An Se-Young Claim Singles Titles

• Event Details: The India Open Super 750 badminton tournament 2025 took place on January 19, 2025, at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Men's Singles Champion: Viktor Axelsen from Denmark, the Paris Olympic gold medalist, won the Men's Singles title.
• Women's Singles Champion: An Se-young from South Korea, also a Paris Olympic gold medalist, secured the Women's Singles title.
• Men's Doubles Winners: Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin from Malaysia claimed the Men's Doubles title.
• Women's Doubles Winners: Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto from Japan won the Women's Doubles title.
• Mixed Doubles Winners: Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin from China secured the Mixed Doubles title.

Jannik Sinner and Iga Natalia Świątek Named ITF World Champions for 2024

On January 21, 2025, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced Jannik Sinner from Italy as the 'Men's ITF World Champion 2024' and Iga Natalia Świątek from Poland as the 'Women's ITF World Champion 2024'. They were recognized for their outstanding performances in major tournaments, including Grand Slams, the Davis Cup, the Billie Jean King Cup, the Olympic Games, and other prestigious events.

Winners of ITF World Champion Awards 2024:

• Men's Singles Champion: Jannik Sinner (Italy)
• Men's Doubles: Marcelo Arévalo González (El Salvador) & Mate Pavic (Croatia)
• Women's Doubles: Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini (Italy)

Australian Open 2025

Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys Claim Singles Titles

Jannik Sinner from Italy emerged victorious in the Men’s Singles category, while Madison Keys from the United States secured the Women’s Singles title at the Australian Open (AO) 2025 held at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.

This marked the 113th edition of the Australian Open, the 57th in the Open Era, and the first Grand Slam of 2025. The tournament took place from January 12 to January 26, 2025.

Australian Open 2025 Winners

• Men’s Singles: Jannik Sinner (Italy)
• Women’s Singles: Madison Keys (USA)
• Men’s Doubles: Harri Heliovaara (Finland) and Henry Patten (Britain)
• Women’s Doubles: Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) and Taylor Townsend (USA)
• Mixed Doubles: Olivia Gadecki (Australia) and John Peers (Australia)

Runners-Up

• Men’s Singles: Alexander Zverev (Germany)
• Women’s Singles: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
• Men’s Doubles: Simone Bolelli (Italy) and Andrea Vavassori (Italy)
• Women’s Doubles: Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) and Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)
• Mixed Doubles: Kimberly Birrell (Australia) and John-Patrick Smith (Australia)

Boxing, Wrestling & Weightlifting

World Boxing Establishes New Asian Body: India Takes Center Stage with Ajay Singh on Board

In December 2024, World Boxing, previously known as the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA), welcomed Asia as the newest member of its global framework. This led to the formation of a new Asian Confederation aimed at enhancing the development, representation, and promotion of boxing across Asia.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has been awarded seven crucial positions in the interim Asian Boxing body, with Ajay Singh, President of the BFI, appointed as a board member.

Athletic & Football

Spanish Super Cup: FC Barcelona triumphs over Real Madrid to secure 15th title

In January 2025, FC Barcelona emerged victorious against Real Madrid with a score of 5-2 in the 41st edition of the Spanish Super Cup (Supercopa de España) Clasico final. The match took place at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Supercopa de España 2025 featured a prize money pool of USD 20.7 million. With this win, Barcelona claimed the Spanish Cup for the 15th time, surpassing Real Madrid, who has won it 13 times.

Other Sports News

Haryana Steelers Claim Their First PKL Title with 32-23 Victory Over Patna Pirates

On December 29, 2024, the Haryana Steelers, a professional kabaddi team from Haryana, secured their first-ever Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) title by defeating the Patna Pirates, a team from Bihar, with a score of 32-23. The final took place at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, Maharashtra.

Prize Money

• The Haryana Steelers were awarded a prize of Rs 3 crore for their victory, while the Patna Pirates received Rs 1.8 crore as runners-up.

Individual Awards

• Mohammadreza Shadloui, an Iranian player for the Haryana Steelers, was named the “Most Valuable Player of Season 11” and “Best Defender of Season 11.”
• Manpreet Singh, the coach of the Haryana Steelers, was recognized as the “Super Coach of Season 11.”

2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship

The 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships took place from December 26 to December 31, 2024, in Wall Street, New York, USA. During this tournament, five world champions emerged in various categories.

• Women’s World Rapid Championship: India’s Koneru Humpy secured the women’s championship title with 8.5 points, defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in the finals.
• World Rapid Championship: In the open section, 18-year-old Russian Volodar Murzin claimed the World Rapid Championship.
• Blitz Championship: Norway’s Magnus Carlsen and Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Blitz title after three tie-breaking matches.
• Women’s Blitz Championship: China’s Ju Wenjun won the Blitz title, defeating fellow Chinese player Lei Tingjie in the finals, while Vaishali Rameshbabu from India secured a bronze medal with 2.5 points.

West Bengal Triumphs in 78th Santosh Trophy Final

Date: December 31, 2024

West Bengal (WB) emerged victorious in the 78th Santosh Trophy, defeating Kerala in the final held at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana. This win marked WB's 33rd title in the history of the tournament, setting a new record.

Kho Kho Federation of India Launches Trophies and Mascots for Upcoming World Cup

Date: January 3, 2024

The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) introduced the trophies and mascots for the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place from January 13 to 19, 2025. The event, supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

The mascots, named 'Tejas' and 'Tara,' are depicted as energetic gazelles embodying the tournament's spirit. Tejas represents brilliance and energy, while Tara symbolizes guidance and aspiration. Both mascots are showcased in vibrant blue and orange attire featuring traditional Indian motifs.

Kho Kho World Cup 2025: India Dominates with Victories in Both Men’s and Women’s Team Events

The Indian men’s and women’s teams emerged victorious in the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, clinching titles in their respective finals during the inaugural edition of the tournament held from January 13 to 19, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.

In the men’s final, the Indian team defeated Nepal with a score of 54-36. Similarly, the women’s team showcased an impressive performance, beating the Nepalese team 78-40 in their final match.

TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025: Berhane Tesfay & Joyce Chepkemoi Tele Triumph in Men’s & Women’s Elite Races

In January 2025, the TATA Mumbai Marathon witnessed remarkable performances by Berhane Tesfay from Eritrea and Joyce Chepkemoi Tele from Kenya, who emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s elite races, respectively, held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Berhane Tesfay topped the overall Elite Men Category, while Joyce Chepkemoi Tele secured the win in the overall Elite Women Category. The marathon also featured Sir Mo Farah, a celebrated British athlete and multiple Olympic and World Champion, serving as the International Event Ambassador for its 20th edition.

Indian GM Iniyan Panneerselvam clinches 9th Johor International Chess title

In January 2025, 22-year-old Grandmaster (GM) Iniyan Panneerselvam from Erode, Tamil Nadu, achieved a remarkable victory by winning the 9th Johor International Open Chess Tournament. The tournament, organized by the Johor Chess Association, took place at Fairview International School in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Panneerselvam showcased his exceptional skills by defeating Vietnamese GM Nguyen Van Huy in the final round.

Odisha Warriors secure inaugural Women's Hockey India League Title 2025

In January 2025, the Odisha Warriors made history by winning the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League Title 2025. They claimed the title by defeating the JSW (Jindal South West) Soorma Hockey Club, representing Punjab and Haryana.

Jyothi Yarraji Breaks National Record in 60m Hurdles

In January 2025, Jyothi Yarraji, a talented track and field athlete from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, made headlines by winning the Gold medal in the women’s 60 meter hurdles at the Elite Indoor Meeting in Nantes, France.

What’s remarkable is that Jyothi not only broke her own National Record twice in a single day but also set a new benchmark for India. She clocked an impressive 8.07 seconds in the heats and then improved her time to 8.04 seconds in the final, establishing a new National Record for the country.