Current Affairs November 2016 - Sports

News 1 - Lewis Hamilton bagged 2016 Mexican Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton defeated Nico Rosberg by 19 points to win the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo scored 3^rd position followed by Max Verstappen at 4^th and Sebastian Vettel at 5^th spot.

With this win, Hamilton has cut Nico Rosberg's championship lead to 19 points. It gave him his 51^st victory, equaling the great Alain Prost in second on the all-time list. Only Michael Schumacher has tasted more victories in Formula One's long history.

News 2 - India defeated Pakistan to win Asian Champions Trophy

Men’s Asian Champions Trophy was bagged by India defeating Pakistan by 3-2 in the final in Malaysia. It is India’s second title of this tournament as first time it was in 2011 when India won.

Goals from Rupinder Pal Singh (18^th minute), Yousuf Affan (23^rd) and Nikkin Thimmaiah (51^st) helped India win the challenge from Pakistan.

This was the first time the teams clashed in the finals of a continental tournament since India displaced Pakistan as the Asian Games champions held in Incheon, South Korea in 2014.

News 3 - Women’s national team cricketer Jhulan Goswami became world number 1 bowler, after 7 years again

Seven years after reaching the pinnacle of the sport, the 33-year old Jhulan Goswami, has regained the world number 1 bowler position. She replaced England pacer Katherine Brunt. Jhulan is affectionately known as the ‘Chakdaha Express’ back home in Bengal.

The Australian team retained its topmost spot. India is currently holding sixth position out of eight teams.

News 4 - Sania Mirza retained topmost position in Women's Doubles for 2^nd consecutive year

Women’s doubles topmost position is retained by Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, for the second consecutive year. She has gone on to hold the No.1 ranking for 81 consecutive weeks. Sania has won Australian Open with Hingis, Cincinnati Masters with Barbora Strycova in 2016.

Sania played 7 Women's Tennis Association, WTA titles, a Grand Slam and a semi-final finish in the year ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

News 5 - NSFs to get grant only after registering with NGO-PS Portal

The Sports Ministry has made it mandatory for all the National Sports Federation to register themselves with NGO-PS Portal to receive grants. NITI Aayog has made it mandatory for all non-government organisations to register with 'NGO-PS (Partnership System) Portal' for seeking grants from any Department/ Ministry of Government of India.

The requirement for registration on the NGOPS Portal is in the interest of transparency and urged NSFs to get themselves registered.

News 6 - NSFs advised to Identify Medal Prospects for 2020 Olympics by November-End

Department of Sports has advised NSFs to identify medal prospects and their support staff for the 2020 Olympic Games by 30^th November 2016. This is to ensure that the core probable get support of dedicated world class support staff on a continuing basis to be able to work as a coherent team and deliver.

The Department has further advised NSFs to prepare the programme of training and exposures of the medal prospects for the year 2017. In respect of the sports discipline(s) in which NSFs are suspended, this exercise is to be undertaken by Sports Authority of India.

News 7 - Special Certificate Course in Sports Coaching for J&K Sportspersons Started at NIS Patiala

The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel inaugurated Special Certificate Course in Sports Coaching for Jammu and Kashmir sportspersons at Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) Patiala.

Each batch consists of 60 sportspersons, coaches and physical education teachers. National Sports University is being planned in Manipur and a Paralympics Centre at Hyderabad. The Minister distributed sports kit to all the participants of the course and the copies of Syllabus in Hindi in 26 sports disciplines were released.

News 8 - Indian shuttler Pratul won maiden title at Bahrain International Challenge

Young Indian shuttler Pratul Joshi clinched his maiden international title by notching up a hardfought win over Aditya Joshi in the finals of the Bahrain International Challenge badminton tournament at Segayya in Bahrain. Pratul won USD 17,500 as prize money.

Other Indians to reach the finals in men's doubles was the pair of Vighnesh Devlekar and Rohan Kapoor. Farha Mather and Ashna Roy reached women's doubles finals.

News 9 - Indian won 8 gold medals in Commonwealth Championship

India won eight gold medals and as many silver in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship held in New Delhi.

Results:

News 10 - Andy Murray achieved world number one ranking in Tennis

In Tennis, Briton Andy Murray attained the world number one ranking for the first time replacing Novak Djokovic. Murray is now the first Briton to hold the top ranking.

Murray became is the 26^th man to hold the spot since computerized rankings began in 1973. Djokovic would have retained the top spot had he entered the Final.

Murray needed to enter the Final of the ongoing Paris Masters to go at the ATP rankings and he did so after Milos Raonic pulled out before their semi-final due to injury.

News 11 - Pacquiao reclaimed WBO welterweight title for third time

Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao reclaimed the World Boxing Organization welterweight title for the third time in Las Vegas, USA. He was given a unanimous decision victory over former champion Jesse Vargas in his comeback fight.

The 37-year-old Pacquiao systematically dismantled the former welterweight champion despite Vargas' size and reach advantage. Pacquiao won the WBO title for the first time in 2010 when he beat Miguel Cotto.

News 12 - Indian Women's hockey team won Asian Champions Trophy 2016

Indian Women's hockey team lifted the Asian Champions Trophy 2016 in Singapore and defeated China 2-1. The first goal for India was scored by Deep Grace Ekka in the 13^th minute which was equalized by Zhong Mengling in the 44^th minute.

This is for the first time that Indian eves won the Asian Champions Trophy competition. Top five women's teams of Asia took part in this tournament. This was also the qualifying round for the 2017 Asia Cup.

News 13 - Air Force Club Iraq lifted Asian Federation Cup by defeating Bengaluru FC

Air Force Club, Iraq lifted the Asian Federation Cup by defeating Bengaluru Football Club 1-0 at Doha. After a scrappy first half, that left the two sides in a deadlock at 0-0, top scorer in the Cup, Hammadi Ahmed tapped in a goal in the 70 minute to seal the fate of the match in favour for Air Force Club Iraq.

Bengaluru FC became the first Indian club to qualify for the final. No Indian team in the sport has ever won an Asian level title since the national side bagged the Asian Games Gold at Jakarta in 1962.

News 14 - Indian Wushu team won 5 medals in 8^th Sanda World Cup

India Wushu team bagged an impressive five medals, including four silver and one bronze, in the eighth Sanda World Cup held at Xian, China. Arjuna Awardee and world silver medalist Y Sanathoi Devi won the silver for India in 52kg category after losing to China's Luan Zhang.

The other silver medalists for India were Uchit Sharma in the 52kg, Suraya Bhanu Pratap Singh in 60kg and Monika in 56kg categories. Pooja Kadian in 75kg category secured the lone bronze medal.

News 15 - 2016 BNP Paribas Masters Doubles title bagged by Henri Kontinen and John Peers

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 team title 2016 BNP Paribas Masters held in Paris was bagged by Henri Kontinen and John Peers defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. With this win, they have attained No. 5 spot in the Emirates ATP Doubles Race to London.

Herbert/Mahut were trying to clinch their fourth Masters 1000 crown of the season after securing back-to-back-to-back Masters 1000 titles. Herbert/Mahut will receive 600 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and get €108,750 in prize money.

News 16 - Petra Kvitova clinched 2016 WTA Elite Singles Trophy

2016 WTA Elite Singles Trophy held at Zhuhai, China, was bagged by two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova defeating Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. Venus Williams was the defending champion for the title but she chose to withdraw her participation despite qualifying for the edition.

With this win, Petra is ranked world no. 13 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Zhuhai, China, hosts the Elite Trophy for the first five years until 2019. The WTA Elite Trophy is the secondary year-end professional women’s tennis tournament on the WTA Tour.

News 17 - Narinder Batra elected as new president of International Hockey Federation

Narinder Batra became the first Indian to be elected the President of the International Hockey Federation. He was voted to the top post during the penultimate day of the 45^th FIH Congress in Dubai.

Batra, who is the president of Hockey India, defeated David Balbirnie of Ireland and Australia's Ken Read to become the 12^th FIH President and also the first Asian to grab the post. Batra got 68 votes in his favor.

News 18 - Roger Federer honored with Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award

Roger Federer was honored with Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for a 12^th time. Selection was made by fans via ATPWorldTour.com. He received 56 per cent of all votes cast by fans followed by Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori. He has been winner of the award six straight years from 2004-09.

Federer has won a record total of 33 ATP World Tour Awards. The Bryan brothers also extend their reign in the doubles category for ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favorite presented by Moët & Chandon to a record 12^th straight year.

News 19 - Padmini Rout won National Women Premier Championship for third time

International Master Padmini Rout won the National Women Premier Chess Championship for the third time after she played out a draw with her Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB ) teammate Eesha Karavade. The latter won the bronze while S Vijayalakshmi of Air India won silver medal.

She will be a part of the Indian women team in the next World team chess championship along with Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and D Harika. Padmini Rout was honored with the Ekalavya Award by Odisha Government in 2009.

News 20 - SP Chawrasia won first Asian Tour title outside India

India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia won his maiden Asian Tour title outside India to win the US$1 million Resorts World Manila Masters. Nicholas FUNG of Malaysia and Sam CHIEN of USA stood second and third respectively. This was Chawrasia's second Asian Tour title of the season, having won the Hero Indian Open in March, and fifth overall.

The Resorts World Manila Masters is a golf tournament on the Asian Tour. It was played for the first time in November 2013.

News 21 - Aditi Ashok won Women's Indian Open

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok became the first Indian woman to win a Ladies European Tour title by clinching the Hero Women's Indian Open.

She shot an even par-72 in the final round to win the title. Brittany Lincicome of the US and Belen Mozo of Spain finished tied second.

Aditi won a prize money of USD 60,000. The win propelling her to the top spot in the Rookie of the Year rankings.

News 22 - Lewis Hamilton won Brazilian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix 2016 in Interlagos circuit, Sao Paulo. Hamilton was followed by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in second position and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third position.

This was Hamilton’s third straight race. It was also his first Brazilian Grand Prix win in 10 attempts. It was the 52^nd of his career, taking him ahead of Alain Prost in the all-time list, with only Michael Schumacher (91) ahead of him now.

News 23 - International Olympic Committee stripped 10 athletes of their medals from 2008 Olympics

Since banned steroids were found during retests of samples from the games, IOC announced to strip medals from 2008 Olympics athletes. No gold medalists were among the 10, nine of whom belong to former Soviet nations. 6 athletes who did not win medals in 2008 were also disqualified.

Three silver medalists whose medals were stripped were Vitaly Rahimov, Khasan Baroev and Irina Nekrasova. Canadian weightlifter Christine Girard has chances to move up to the bronze spot because of Nekrasova's disqualification.

News 24 - Super Series Premier title bagged by PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu bagged Super Series Premier title defeating Sun Yu of China in the USD 700,000 China Open badminton tournament. Recently, she became first Indian women to win a silver at Rio Games.

Prior to this win, the same title has been bagged by Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo in 2007 and India’s Saina Nehwal in 2014.

Winners in other categories were Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen in Men’s singles and Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon in Men’s doubles category.

News 25 - Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa and Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge bagged Delhi Half Marathon

Delhi Half Marathon race winners were Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa in women’s category and Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge in Men’s category. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge finished off race in his style in 59 minute and 44 seconds and covered the 21.097km distance whereas Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa finished her race in one hour, seven minutes and 42 seconds.

Winners were honored with USD 27,000 for their historic win. Kipchoge won a silver in 5000m race in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Around 34000 people participated in the marathon in different categories.

News 26 - Argentina won their first ever Davis cup

Argentina have won their first Davis Cup title after defeating Croatia in the final. Argentina was playing in its fifth final. Federico Delbonis swept past Ivo Karlovic in straight sets to complete a stirring 3-2 comeback win over hosts Croatia.

Argentina became only the third team to come back from 2-1 down in the final since the World Group Davis Cup format was introduced in 1981. At present, Argentina is Number 1 on the Davis Cup ranking by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

News 27 - Mariamma Koshy takes over as new Hockey India President

Hockey India announced Ms. Mariamma Koshy as its new President with effect from 25 November 2016. She has replaced Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra.

Mohd. Mushtaque Ahmad, HI Secretary General, has taken over as the Chairman of the Hockey India League Governing Board. Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra made history after he became the first non-European candidate to be elected as the President of the International Hockey Federation. It is also the first time an Indian has headed an international Olympic sports governing body.

News 28 - Gaganjeet Bhullar won 2016 Indonesia Open

Gaganjeet Bhullar won the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta for the second time in his career after closing with a four-under-par 68. He had earlier won the event in 2013. It was his seventh Asian Tour victory and a second title this season.

Jeev Milkha Singh came second. Bhullar became the fifth player to win the event twice. In October 2016, Bhullar won the 2016 Shinhan Donghae Open in South Korea.He was awarded Arjuna Award in 2013.

News 29 - Karen Rolton inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

Former Australia women’s captain Karen Rolton was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson.

Rolton became the 81^st player to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and the sixth woman to receive the accolade. She played in 14 Tests and 141 One-Day Internationals. She is the first recipient of the ICC Women’s Player of the Year award in 2006.

News 30 - Sachin Singh won gold at the AIBA Youth World Championships

Sachin Singh became the third Indian boxer ever to bag gold at the AIBA Youth World Championships.

In the 49 kg weight class, Sachin recorded a stunning unanimous victory over Cuban national champion Jorge Grinan in the summit clash at St Peterburg, Russia. India finished the tournament with one gold and a bronze, a marked improvement from the solitary bronze won in the 2014 edition. Naman Tanwar in the 91 kg had settled for a bronze after losing in the semifinal.