Sports - General Knowledge Questions

Correct Answer :   Shammi Silva

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has named Shammi Silva, President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), as its new President following Jay Shah’s transition to the role of Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Silva’s appointment marks a new chapter for the ACC at a critical juncture for Asian cricket.

Jay Shah, who had served three terms as ACC President, vacated the position after assuming his ICC responsibilities. Under Shah’s leadership, the ACC achieved record-breaking commercial rights valuations for the Asia Cup tournaments spanning 2024–31, a milestone that solidified the ACC’s growing global presence.

The Asian Cricket Council proudly welcomes Mr. Shammi Silva, President of Sri Lanka Cricket, as he assumes presidency of the ACC. Mr. Silva is poised to lead ACC to new heights, taking forward the legacy of outgoing president, Mr. Jay Shah.

Silva, re-elected as SLC President for a third consecutive term in May 2023, brings extensive administrative experience to his new role. He previously served as Chairman of the ACC Finance & Marketing Committee and is also a member of the ICC Audit Committee. His longstanding contributions to cricket governance have earned him a respected reputation within the international cricketing community.

A former Colombo Cricket Club player and a manager and coach for Sri Lanka’s national squash team, Silva has deep roots in sports. His multifaceted experience reflects a commitment to fostering both cricket and broader sporting excellence in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Silva assumes the ACC presidency at a time when Asian cricket is poised for further growth and development. His appointment aligns with the ACC’s strategic objectives of strengthening regional tournaments, expanding the cricketing infrastructure, and nurturing emerging talent across member nations.

Recently, Silva represented Sri Lanka at the ICC Board and participated in discussions with global cricket administrators, including a meeting with Jay Shah in Dubai. These engagements underscore his active role in shaping cricket’s future at both regional and global levels.

As ACC President, Silva is expected to continue building on Shah’s successes while addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities within Asian cricket. His leadership comes as the ACC looks ahead to the next Asia Cup and works towards solidifying Asia’s dominance in the global cricketing landscape..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   India

* India secured its 5th Men’s Junior Asia Cup title by defeating Pakistan 5-3 in the final held in Muscat, Oman.

* This victory marks India's third consecutive win in the tournament, following successes in 2015 and 2023.

* Star player Araijeet Singh Hundal contributed significantly by scoring two penalty corner goals.

* Recognizing the team's outstanding performance, Hockey India announced cash rewards for the players and support staff.

* This achievement reinforces India's dominance in junior hockey on the Asian stage.

Correct Answer :   Arjun Erigaisi

Arjun Erigaisi has become the second Indian to reach the prestigious 2800 Elo rating in classical chess, joining Viswanathan Anand in this elite category.

Ranked world number four, Arjun is the 16th player in history to achieve this milestone, as recognized by FIDE.

Hailing from Warangal, Telangana, the 21-year-old made remarkable contributions at the Chess Olympiad, winning both individual and team gold medals for India.

Correct Answer :   Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has been reflecting on his emotions just days on from winning his fourth world championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the Dutchman admitting that it was nice to celebrate the achievement following a “very intense” season.

With his fifth-place finish in Nevada putting him ahead of remaining rival Lando Norris, Verstappen did all that he needed to seal the title ahead of the final two rounds of the campaign.

And while the racing continues at pace with the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend – marking the second stop of a season-concluding triple header – Verstappen took a moment during Thursday’s media day to take stock of his championship success.

Asked what his emotions were a few days on, the 27-year-old responded: “It was great, I was very happy with the season and then winning it in Vegas. For me, it was a very intense season so it was also very nice to celebrate it a little bit.”

In terms of whether this championship felt more special than the three that came before it, Verstappen acknowledged that it was a nice feeling to achieve the feat given the close competition that Red Bull have faced in 2024.

“[My titles have] all been very different but I do think that this one was very rewarding, at the end of the day,” he explained.

“It’s not always been the easiest for us as a team and to come away with that championship… I really felt it when I crossed the line in Vegas, I was like ‘it’s done’! It’s been challenging at times, but I’m very proud of how we handled everything.”

Now the focus will switch to the final two races of the season, with Verstappen keen to take learnings from the last events as he keeps one eye on 2025..

Source : Formula1

Correct Answer :   Divith Reddy

Eight-year-old Divith Reddy from Hyderabad, India, triumphed in the Under-8 World Cadets Chess Championship, securing the gold medal with 9/11 points.

Despite setbacks during the tournament, Divith showcased resilience, winning his last five matches against highly rated-players.

His victory on tie-break scores over compatriot Sattwik Swain highlights India’s emerging talent and growing dominance in junior chess globally.

Correct Answer :   Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old cricket prodigy, made history by becoming the youngest player to be signed in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He was signed by Rajasthan Royals for ?1.10 crore in the 2025 auction.

Vaibhav has already shown his impressive skills, scoring a 58-ball century in a Youth Test against Australia U-19 and debuting in Ranji for Bihar at just 12 years old.

Correct Answer :   Gangtok

* The 40th All India Governor’s Gold Cup International Football Tournament 2024 was held at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, Sikkim.

* Organized by the Sikkim Football Association, the tournament featured 16 teams, including four international clubs from Nepal, Bhutan, Dubai, and Malaysia.

* North East United FC emerged as the champion, highlighting the significance of the event in promoting football in the region and fostering international sports relations.

Correct Answer :   Anders Antonsen

* Anders Antonsen of Denmark made history by becoming the first Danish player to win the men’s singles title at the China Masters 2024.

* He defeated Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in straight games (21-15, 21-13) during the final in Shenzhen, China.

* This victory marked Antonsen’s fourth BWF Tour title of 2024 and solidified his position as the leader in the Race to Finals rankings.

* Christie, while losing the final, ensured his qualification for the BWF Tour Finals in Huangzhou.

Correct Answer :   Bihar

Bihar has been chosen to host the Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India Para Games in April 2025, highlighting the state's commitment to sports development.

This marks the first time Bihar will host these prestigious multi-sport events, featuring young and para-athletes from across the country.

The state has been improving its sports infrastructure, with initiatives like Khelo India Centres, a State Centre of Excellence, and Sports Authority of India Training Centres. Bihar's successful hosting of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy further demonstrates its readiness for major sporting events.

Correct Answer :   India

The Indian hockey team beat the People’s Republic of China 1-0 in the final to win the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar on Wednesday (20th Nov 2024).

Deepika (31’) scored the winning goal for the Indian women’s hockey team and finished as the tournament's top goal scorer with a tally of 11.

This was India’s third Women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey title, bringing them level with the Republic of Korea as the most successful nation in the competition’s history. The Indian women won their maiden title in 2016 before clinching the 2023 edition as well.

Fans were treated to some end-to-end hockey in the first-half as world No. 9 India and China, sixth in the latest rankings, virtually traded chances.

Both sides came close to scoring from penalty corners in the second quarter but the goalkeepers stood strong to keep the opening half goalless.

Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallists China, however, were caught napping after the restart as the home side went ahead.

Interestingly, it was a miss trapped penalty corner by India that caught the Chinese defensive line off guard as the ball eventually made its way to Deepika inside the circle through Navneet Kaur.

Allowed time to turn, the Indian forward managed to find her angle and scored her 11th goal of the tournament.

Deepika could have doubled her tally and India’s lead minutes later after winning a penalty stroke. She took it on herself only to watch Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting guess it right to pull off a brilliant save.

While a two-goal cushion would have made things easier for the home side in the third quarter, the Indian defence held on resolutely in the final quarter for their fifth clean sheet on the trot in the tournament and secured the record-equalling title.

Earlier in the day, Japan beat Malaysia 4-1 to finish third in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024..

Source : Olympics