Current Affairs September 2017 - Sports

News 1 - Hockey India removed Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans

Hockey India, HI, has sacked national coach Roelant Oltmans with immediate effect and made High Performance Director David John in charge of the national men's team.

The HI arrived at the decision after a three-day review meeting of its High Performance and Development Committee. Oltmans had joined the Indian team as High Performance Director in January 2013 and took over as coach in July 2015 after the ouster of Paul Van Ass.

News 2 - Mahendra Singh Dhoni becomes first wicketkeeper to affect 100 stumpings in ODI Cricket

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper in world cricket to affect 100 stumpings in One Day Internationals. Dhoni achieved the feat in his 301^st ODI in Colombo when he whipped off the bails to remove Sri Lankan batsman Akila Dananjaya off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's bowling.

Dhoni has also taken 281 catches apart from scoring 9,657 runs so far. Dhoni played 90 Tests and 77 T20 Internationals as well.

News 3 - Konsam Ormila Devi bagged gold at Commonwealth Youth weightlifting Championship

India's Konsam Ormila Devi bagged a gold medal in 44 kg weight category on the opening day of the Commonwealth Youth (boys & girls) weightlifting championships, held at Gold Coast, Australia.

Ormila lifted 57 kg in snatch and 76 kg in clean and jerk for an overall effort of 133 kg, to finish on the top of the podium. With this effort, Ormila has registered her best lift so far.

News 4 - Star India bagged IPL Media rights for Rs 16,347.50 cr for next 5 years

Star India has won the coveted Indian Premier League, IPL, media rights for a whopping 16,347.50 crore rupees for the next five years. The staggering deal, will run from 2018 to 2022.

The previous 10-year bid for TV rights only was bought by Sony at 8200 crore rupees in 2008. BCCI now stands to earn Rs 3270 crore from IPL media rights per year. The BCCI will now earn 55 crore rupees approximately from an IPL match. The media rights include broadcast (TV) and digital (mobile and internet) for various segments namely India, Middle East, Africa, Europe and America.

News 5 - Amritpal Singh became first Indian to be signed by Australian basketball team

Amritpal Singh, captain of the Indian basketball team, created history by becoming the first Indian-born player to be picked up by an Australian NBL team.

Australia’s Sydney Kings has signed Amritpal to play professional basketball in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Sydney Kings begin their NBL season on October 7 against the Adelaide 36ers. Amritpal, who represented India at the ‘2016 Asia Challenge’ in Tehran averaged 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds.

News 6 - FIFA U-17 World Cup Song officially launched

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) formally launched the official song of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, 'Kar Ke Dikhla De Goal'.

The song is written by lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya and composed by Pritam. The music video for the song celebrates diversity, showcases how the nation is waiting in anticipation for the U-17 World Cup and features stars like Bhaichung Bhutia, woman footballer Bala Devi, singers Shaan, Papon and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar amongst others.

News 7 - 2019 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships to be conducted in India

2019 edition of the Commonwealth (Youth, Junior and Senior) Weightlifting Championships will be conducted by India. The decision was taken at Gold Coast, Australia during current edition of the tournament.

During the current Commonwealth (Youth, Junior and Senior) Weightlifting Championships, India's Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and K Sanjita Chanu bagged a gold medal each at their respective weight categories.

The Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation comprise of Commonwealth nations from the five continents and recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The CWF secretariat is located in Noumea, New Caledonia together with the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.

News 8 - Hockey Coach Appointed

The Joint Committee Meeting of SAI and HI has appointed Shri Harendra Singh, Dronacharya Awardee, Hockey Coach as High Performance Specialist Coach for Indian Senior Women Hockey Team. He was also the Chief Coach of the Senior Men Hockey team from 2008 to 2009 and National coach from 2009 to 2010. He is a Level III certified Coach.

It has also been decided in the meeting that, the present Chief Coach of India senior women Hockey Team, Mr. Waltherus Norbertus Maria Marijne will take over as Chief Coach of Indian Senior Men Hockey Team.

News 9 - BAI to confer first Lifetime Achievement award on Prakash Padukone

The renowned Indian Badminton legend Prakash Padukone has been selected for the first life time award by Badminton Association of India for his contributions to Badminton. The award carries cash prize of 10 lakh rupees with a citation.

Padukone had won the 1980 All England, besides bagging a bronze at the 1983 World Championship in Copenhagen. He also won a gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He was bestowed with the Arjuna award in 1972 and the Padma Shri in 1982.

News 10 - Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza lead in WTA ranking in their respective categories

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal retained the number one spot in the men's Association of Tennis Professionals world singles rankings. Nadal, 16-time Grand Slam champion, won his third US Open title. Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic ranked in the top six respectively.

In Women's category, Garbine Muguruza topped the rankings. Simona Halep of Romania came in second, followed by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova held the fourth place. United States Venus Williams jumped four places to occupy the fifth position.

News 11 - PV Sindhu won Korea Open title 2017

India's P V Sindhu won the women's singles title at the Korea Open Super Series badminton tournament after she defeated Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. Sindhu became the first Indian to win the Korea Super Series crown. It is also the third super series title of her career and second this year.

Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia won the men's singles. Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark won the men's doubles. China's Huang Yaqiong and China Yu Xiaohan won the women's doubles while the mixed double winners were Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto.

News 12 - Hamilton won the Singapore GP

Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix. In the process, Hamilton extended his championship lead to 28 points with rival Sebastian vettel who is sitting at 235 points. Valtteri Bottas of the Mercedes is at third place in the standings with 212 points.

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo stood second in the race followed by teammate Valtteri Bottas at third position. The Singapore Grand Prix takes place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

News 13 - Official Slogan and Emblem of FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 launched

The Official Emblem and Slogan of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 was launched in Paris. The emblem features the competition trophy wrapped in blue and white, with eight shards of light around football at the top of the trophy symbolising the eighth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The slogan of the tournament "Dare To Shine" reflects the changing nature of football and the evolution of the women’s competition. The competition will take place from 7 June to 7 July 2019.

News 14 - ICC launched anti-corruption investigation in Sri Lanka

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched an anti-corruption investigation in Sri Lanka. Officials of its Anti-Corruption Unit had visited the country recently as part of the probe. The probe was triggered after allegations made by former player and selector, Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

Sri Lanka had lost a home ODI series against Zimbabwe before suffering a whitewash at the hands of India in all the three formats.

News 15 - Vaishnavi Jakka Reddy clinched Belgian Junior badminton title

Indian shuttler Vaishnavi Reddy has clinched the women's singles Under-19 title at the Belgian Junior Open badminton tournament. She defeated top seed Vivien Sandorhazi in the final at Herstal, Belgium.

At Ethiopia International, Indian duo of Arjun MR and Ramchandran Shlok won men's doubles title after they defeated Jordanian pair of Bahaedeen Ahmad Alshannik and Mohd Naser Mansour in the final. However, at the Polish International at Bierun, Poland, Indian women's doubles combination of Maneesha K and Arathi Sara Sunil lost to English pair of Jenny Moore and Victoria Williams in the finals to settle for Silver medal.

News 16 - MC Mary Kom to be International Boxing Association's representative at IOC athletes’ forum

Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist MC Mary Kom has become the first Indian to be picked as the International Boxing Association's representative for the IOC Athletes' Forum scheduled in November.

Mary Kom has been invited to attend the 8^th International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Forum in Lausanne from November 11^th to 13^th. The bi-annual forum brings together athlete representatives from across the Olympic Movement and provides an in-person community where athletes can exchange and discuss their viewpoint.

News 17 - PV Sindhu recommended for Padma Bhushan by Sports Ministry

Olympic silver medallist shuttler P V Sindhu has been recommended for the prestigious Padma Bhushan, country's third highest civilian award, by the Sports Ministry, for her contribution to the game.

Sindhu won the 2016 China Open Super Series Premier, India Open Super Series, bagged a historic silver at the Glasgow World Championship before laying claim to her third Super Series title at Korea Open this month. In March 2015, Sindhu was awarded India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri.

News 18 - WFI suspends coach Kripa Shanker Patel over objectionable social media post

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has suspended coach Kripa Shanker Patel, an Arjuna awardee, for an objectionable social media post. He will remain suspended till the disciplinary committee takes the final call on the write-up.

In the September 12 post, Patel had expressed his ire at the WFI only partially endorsing tweaks made in wrestling rules by the international body governing it.

News 19 - Lakshmanan completes double at National Open Athletics C'ship

G Lakshmanan of Services completed a double by cruising to victory in the men's 10,000 metres on the final day of the 57^th National Open Athletics Championship at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

Lakshmanan also had won the 5,000 metres gold. L Surya too achieved a double by coasting to victory in the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres event in the female category.

Railways finished with 16 gold medals followed by the Services with 12. Tamil Nadu athlete Santhosh Kumar and Chintha Yadav of Railways were named the 'best male and female athlete' respectively.

News 20 - India won nine gold medals at 5^th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games

The 5^th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games concluded at Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. With 9 gold, 12 silver and 19 bronze, India finished at 11^th position in the Games. Hosts Turkmenistan topped the medals tally with 89 gold, 70 silver and 86 bronze, followed by China and Iran.

On the concluding day Indians grabbed four medals, including a gold through tennis player Sumit Nagal, to end at 11^th place.

News 21 - US Open Tennis Tournament 2017

The 2017 US Open was the 137^th edition of tennis' US Open and the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year.

List of Winners:

News 22 - India finished 5^th at Moscow Shotgun World Championships

India finished fifth at the Moscow Shotgun World Championship. India won one gold and two silver medals.

Italy topped the tally with 17 medals that included 9 gold medals. USA was the second in the list with total 12 medals that included 5 gold medals. Hosts Russia were third in the overall tally with two golds for a total of eight.

Olympic skeet champions Gabrielle Rossetti and Diana Bacosi of Italy were also crowned world champions in the tournament.

News 23 - Sloane Stephens wins Women's Singles Title of the US Open 2017

Sloane Stephens of the United States won the Women's Singles title of the US Open 2017 after she defeated Madison Keys of the USA 6-3, 6-0 in the finals.

Angelique Kerber was the defending champion, but lost in the first round to Naomi Osaka. Stephens became the second unseeded woman in the Open era to win the US Open after Kim Clijsters in 2009. Garbiñe Muguruza became the new WTA no. 1 player at the end of the tournament.