Correct Answer :   Uruguay

The U-20 FIFA World Cup 2023 came to a close with Uruguay lifting the coveted trophy after a narrow 1-0 win against Italy, powered by an 86th-minute goal from Luciano Rodriguez, on Monday (12th June 2023) in Argentina.

* One of the key figures in Uruguay’s defensive setup, Randall Rodriguez featured in all seven matches for his nation and conceded just three goals.

* Uruguay recorded clean sheets in all of its knockout matches, including the final, and went on to lift the trophy by beating Italy 1-0 in the final.

* According to the FIFA U-20 World Cup website, Rodriguez has prevented a whopping 68 goal attempts, the most by any goalkeeper in this edition.

* The custodian, who currently plays for Uruguay club Penarol, was called up to the senior Uruguay national team for the first time by new national team manager Marcelo Bielsa..

Source : Thehindu

Correct Answer :   India

* In Hockey, India beat Argentina 2-1 in its final FIH Pro League 2022-23 match in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 11 June 2023.

* Akashdeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored goals for India while Lucas Toscani netted the only goal for Argentina.

* With this victory, India consolidated their position atop the FIH Pro League standings with 30 points from 16 matches. Argentina are fifth with 13 points from 14 matches.

* India now holds a four-point advantage over second-placed Great Britain in the FIH Pro League 2022-23 standings but the European team has four games to go.

* The Indian men’s hockey team finished in fourth place in their debut FIH Pro League campaign back in 2020-21. Their best finish in the competition, third, came in the 2021-22 season..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Australia

* Australia clinched the title of 2023 World Test Champions in a commanding fashion, securing a resounding 209-run victory over India in the thrilling WTC Final at The Oval. Travis Head and Steve Smith’s remarkable centuries in the first innings laid the foundation for Australia’s early control of the Test.

* Despite India’s valiant response, the match extended to a fifth day, but they fell short of an extraordinary record chase, ultimately being bowled out for 234. Australia scripted history on Sunday, June 11 as they became the first men’s team in world cricket to win an International Cricket Council (ICC) world title in all three formats.

* Player of the Match : Travis Head (163 off 174 balls in 1st innings, 18 off 27 balls in 2nd innings). Australia won the ICC Test Championship mace for the first time, and were also awarded the cash prize of US$1.6 million, while India won US$800,000.

AUSTRALIA’S ICC TITLE’S (MEN’S CRICKET) :

* 50-over World Cups: 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015
* Champions Trophy: 2006, 2009
* T20 World Cup – 2021
* World Test Championship – 2021-23

World Test Championship 2023, Scott Boland and Lyon Lead Australia’s Bowling Charge :

* Australia’s triumph in the World Test Championship final was fueled by an exceptional bowling performance led by Scott Boland. Boland made early breakthroughs with two crucial dismissals on the final day, setting the tone for an impressive display.

* Accompanied by the contributions of Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, Australia systematically dismantled India’s batting lineup, ultimately clinching the title. Nathan Lyon’s stellar performance throughout the Test Championship made him the highest wicket-taker in the world.


Australian Batsmen Shine Bright in ICC World Test Championship Cycle :

* Australia’s dominance in the WTC cycle was bolstered by their formidable batting lineup, with four of their top six run-scorers featuring prominently in the rankings.

* Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne showcased their prowess, accumulating an impressive tally of runs, with only Joe Root surpassing them in scoring.

* Furthermore, Travis Head and Steve Smith, the heroes of the first innings in the WTC Final, displayed their consistency throughout the Championship, contributing significantly with 1407 and 1389 runs respectively.

Correct Answer :   India

The Indian hockey team clinched the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 title in Kakamigahara, Japan, with a 2-1 win over the Republic of Korea in the final on Sunday (11th June 2023).

This is the first time India have won the Women's Junior Asia Cup. India had already secured a spot in the FIH Women's Junior World Cup 2023 in Chile.

Japan beat China 2-1 to become the third team to qualify for the World Cup scheduled this year (2023).

For India, Annu (21') and Neelam (40’) were on target while Seoyeon Park (24’) scored the solitary goal for Korea.

India started the game on an attacking note by winning a penalty corner in the opening minute of the game but they failed to capitalise on it. However, Korea resorted to counter-attacks and controlled the possession. Despite both teams playing attacking hockey, the first quarter ended goalless.

Korea stuck to their approach in the second quarter and pushed India on the back foot. However, India took the lead through Annu who converted via a penalty stroke.

India’s lead, however, didn’t last long as Seoyeon Park scored an equaliser for Korea via a field goal. The second quarter didn’t witness any more goals as both teams went into the half-time break with the scores levelled at 1-1.

Earlier this month, India also won the Men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament after beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final..

Source : Olympics

Correct Answer :   Murali Sreeshankar

Ace Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured a creditable third place in the 2023 Diamond League meet at Paris, France.

* With a jump of 8.09m, in his maiden podium finish in the prestigious one-day meeting series in Paris.

* Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sreeshankar achieved his best jump of the day in his third attempt.

* Sreeshankar also became the only third Indian to finish in the top three of a Diamond League after Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and former discus thrower Vikas Gowda.

* Olympic Champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece and Simon Ehammer of Switzerland finished ahead of Sreeshankar with jumps of 8.13m and 8.11m respectively.

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur have congratulated Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar for his rare feat..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic won his men’s-record 23rd Grand Slam title with a victory over Casper Ruud in French Open 2023 Final.

Djokovic broke a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most major singles trophies in the history of men’s tennis. The Serb moves into the outright lead of men’s majors ahead of Rafael Nadal. He also becomes the first man to win all four majors at least three times.

By winning his 23rd Slam title at the French Open beating Norwegian world No. 4 Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in the final. Djokovic broke away from Rafael Nadal in the men’s pecking order. Joining Serena Williams on the most Slam count by any player in the Open Era, he also became the first man to win all the Majors at least thrice.

This year, the Roland Garros tournament or French open has seen a significant increase in the total prize money, reaching an impressive €43.9 million. This reflects a notable rise of 13.76 percent compared to the previous year. As a result of his outstanding performance at the tournament, Djokovic will be awarded a prize money of €2,300,000 ($2,496,039), which is a 4.55 percent increase from the amount given twelve months ago.

The runner-up, Casper Ruud, will receive €1,150,000 ($1,248,019) as a recognition of his commendable efforts in the competition.

Correct Answer :   Tokito Oda

Japan's Tokito Oda (17) has defeated top-ranked Alfie Hewett from Britain 6-1, 6-4 to win the 2023 French Open wheelchair Men's singles title.

* With this win, he also become the sport's youngest Grand Slam champion.

* While Diede de Groot from Netherlands has secured the 2023 French Open – Wheelchair women's singles.

* Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid (Britain) won the Men's Double title, and Yui Kamiji and Kgothatso Montjane won the Women's Double title..

Source : Itftennis

Correct Answer :   Sunil Kumar

19-year-old Indian player Sunil Kumar won the gold medal in the men's decathlon event at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships 2023 being held in Yecheon city of South Korea.

* Sunil secured the first position by scoring 7003 points in 10 events decathlon.

* He got first place in 100 meters hurdles, discus throw and javelin.


Asian U20 Athletics Championships: Indian medal winners :

* Rezoana Mallick Heena (women’s 400m) - gold medal

* Laxita Vinod Sandila (women’s 1500m) - gold medal

* Rezoana Mallick Heena/Anushka Dattaray Kumbhar/ Riya Nitin Patil/ Kanista Teena (women’s 4x400m relay) - gold medal

* Siddharth Choudhary (men’s shot put) - gold medal

* Bharatpreet Singh (men’s discus throw) - gold medal

* Sunil Kumar (men's decathlon) - gold medal

* Susmita (women’s long jump) - silver medal

* Shivam Lohakare (men’s javelin throw) - silver medal

* Sharuk Khan (men's 3000m steeplechase) - silver medal

* Bushra Khan Gauri (Women's 3000m) - silver medal

* Pooja (women's high jump) - silver medal

* Shivaji Parashu Madappagoudra (men's 5000m race) - silver medal

* Deepak Singh/Sharan Megavarnam/Rihan Choudhary/Navpreet Singh (men’s 4x400m relay) - silver medal

* Antima Pal (women’s 5000m) - bronze medal

* Shakeel (men’s 800m) - bronze medal

* Rezoana Mallick Heena/Navpreet Singh/Anushka Dattaray Kumbhar/Deepak Singh (mixed 4x400m relay) - bronze medal

* Abinaya Rajarajan/Akshaya/Tamanna/Nayana Kokare (women's 4x100 relay) - bronze medal

* Vallip Hima Teja/Arijit Rana/Mohammad Reyan Basha/ Dondapati Mrutyam Jayaram (men's 4×100m relay) - bronze medal

* Mehdi Hasan (men’s 1500m event) - bronze medal.

Correct Answer :   Dhanush Srikanth

* Dhanush Srikanth won the gold medal in the Men’s 10m air rifle event in the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, 5th June 2023.

* Dhanush Srikanth’s triumph marked India’s third gold medal in the ISSF WC so far. Dhanush defeated Pontus Kallin of Sweden.

* India also picked up a bronze in the skeet mixed team competition, when Harmehar Lally and Sanjana Sood defeated their Swedish opponents David Jonsson and Felicia Ros in a shoot-off.

* With these achievements, India currently leads the medal table, having secured three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Siddharth Choudhary

* India showcased its dominance on the second day of the Under 20 Asian Athletics Championships in Yecheon, South Korea. India’s Siddharth Choudhary clinched gold in men’s shot put with a personal best throw of 19.52 metres.

* Further three other players Sharuk Khan (3000 metre steeplechase), Shivam Lohakare (Javelin), and Susmita (Long Jump) claimed silver medals in their respective events.

* Shakeel (800 metre) and the mixed relay team concluded the day by winning the bronze medal. With this India won six medals on day 2 with the overall tally accounting to nine..

Source : AIR