Welcome to UPRO ACADEMY - Unlocking the Power of Education!
+91 7899920309
25 Aug, 2026
Upro Academy is dedicated to helping students prepare for national and state-level entrance exams with structured courses, practice tests, and current affairs. Our focus is on clear concepts, repeated practice, and exam-ready confidence.
Learn More
Explore Sports Current Affairs from 13 to 25 August 2026 covering cricket, badminton, football, hockey, chess, athletics, basketball, esports, national sports awards, major tournaments, winners, records and important Indian and international sports developments. Useful for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence, State PSC and other competitive exams.
The FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 began on 13 August 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The tournament marked the return of the competition to India after 22 years and featured 16 teams divided into four groups.
Tournament: FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026
Host city: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Dates: 13–23 August 2026
Teams: 16
Opening match: Australia vs Thailand
Australia entered the tournament as the defending champions and faced Thailand in the opening match on 13 August.
The competition included group-stage matches followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and final on 23 August 2026.
Hosting the FIBA U18 Asia Cup was significant for Indian basketball because the continental youth championship returned to the country after more than two decades.
The event also provided India's young basketball players with an opportunity to compete against leading Asian teams on home soil.
The 65th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament began on 18 August 2026 in New Delhi.
The prestigious school-level football tournament brought together teams from India and abroad, continuing its long-standing role in identifying young football talent.
Tournament: Subroto Cup International Football Tournament
Edition: 65th
Start date: 18 August 2026
Venue: New Delhi
The 2026 Subroto Cup featured 108 teams, making it one of the major youth football competitions held in India during the period.
The tournament is named after Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, one of the pioneers of the Indian Air Force.
The BWF World Championships 2026 were held from 17 to 23 August 2026 at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi.
This was the 30th edition of the prestigious badminton championship and marked its return to India after the country last hosted it in 2009.
Tournament: BWF World Championships 2026
Edition: 30th
Dates: 17–23 August 2026
Venue: Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi
Previous India hosting: 2009
Indian badminton player Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships by defeating China's Shi Yuqi, the world No. 1 and defending champion, in the opening round.
Shetty won the three-game contest 21-14, 13-21, 21-19.
Winner: Ayush Shetty
Opponent: Shi Yuqi
Country: China
Score: 21-14, 13-21, 21-19
The victory was particularly significant because it was Ayush Shetty's first win over Shi Yuqi after three previous defeats against the Chinese star.
Shetty was also making his BWF World Championships debut, making the upset one of the notable Indian performances of the tournament.
Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi.
Their run ended in the semifinals against China's world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, who won 18-21, 21-13, 21-8.
Indian medallists: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand
Event: Women's doubles
Medal: Bronze
The bronze medal won by Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand ensured that India's medal-winning run at the World Championships continued.
Their performance was particularly important for Indian women's doubles badminton and added another major international achievement for the pair.
France's Alex Lanier created history at the BWF World Championships 2026 by winning the men's singles world title.
His victory made him the first French player to win a BWF World Championships title, marking a major milestone for French badminton.
Men's singles champion: Alex Lanier
Country: France
South Korea's An Se-young successfully defended her women's singles title at the BWF World Championships 2026.
Her victory further strengthened her position among the leading players in international women's badminton.
Women's singles champion: An Se-young
Country: South Korea
China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang captured the men's doubles title at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
Champions: Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang
Country: China
Event: Men's doubles
South Korean pair Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee won the women's doubles world championship.
Their victory ended a 31-year wait for South Korea for the women's doubles world title.
Champions: Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee
Country: South Korea
Event: Women's doubles
French pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won the mixed doubles title at the BWF World Championships.
The victory provided France with another historic world title during a highly successful championship for the country.
Champions: Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue
Country: France
Event: Mixed doubles
The BWF World Championships returned to India after a 17-year gap, with New Delhi hosting the competition from 17–23 August.
BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul praised India's organisation and hospitality following the championship.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the recipients of the National Sports Awards 2025 during the period.
A total of 17 sportspersons were selected for the Arjuna Award, while another sportsperson was selected in the Arjuna Award Lifetime category.
Awards: National Sports Awards 2025
Arjuna Award recipients: 17
Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Indian athlete Tejaswin Shankar was among the sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award 2025.
Shankar is known primarily for the high jump and decathlon and has represented India at major international competitions.
Indian chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi was selected for the Arjuna Award as part of the National Sports Awards 2025.
His selection recognised his achievements and contribution to Indian chess.
Chess star Divya Deshmukh was also named among the recipients of the Arjuna Award.
Her recognition further highlighted the remarkable growth of India's young chess players on the international stage.
A total of five coaches were selected for the Dronacharya Award across the regular and lifetime categories.
The Dronacharya Award recognises outstanding coaches who have helped athletes achieve excellence in national and international competitions.
The Army Paralympic Node in Pune was selected for the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar.
The award recognises organisations and institutions that make significant contributions to sports development and promotion.
Organisation: Army Paralympic Node
Location: Pune
Award: Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
The 2026 Men's and Women's FIH Hockey World Cups were held jointly in the Netherlands and Belgium during August.
Both Indian men's and women's teams participated in the major international hockey competition.
Tournament: FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
Hosts: Netherlands and Belgium
Events: Men's and Women's World Cups
India's men's hockey team failed to reach the semifinals of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.
The result generated significant discussion about India's performance and preparations at the highest level of international hockey.
The Indian women's team also missed qualification for the World Cup semifinals.
Despite failing to enter the last four, the team's overall performance showed progress following a difficult period involving injuries and changes within the squad.
Former Indian goalkeeper and two-time Olympic bronze medallist P. R. Sreejesh publicly criticised the management of Indian hockey following the men's and women's World Cup exits.
He raised concerns over accountability and the need for stronger planning to improve India's international performances.
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa advanced to the final of the concluding leg of the Grand Chess Tour after defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer.
Praggnanandhaa registered a dominant 19-9 victory, strengthening his position among the world's leading young chess players.
Player: R. Praggnanandhaa
Opponent: Vincent Keymer
Score: 19-9
Tournament: Grand Chess Tour
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) confirmed revised dates for the Senior National Chess Championship 2026.
The championship will be held from 29 November to 9 December 2026 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Tournament: Senior National Chess Championship
Dates: 29 November–9 December 2026
Venue: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Organiser: AICF
The Esports World Cup 2026 concluded after a seven-week competition featuring more than 2,000 players, 200 clubs and 25 tournaments across 24 games.
The scale of the tournament demonstrated the continuing growth of competitive esports as a global sporting industry.
AG.AL emerged as the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Champion and secured a top prize of US$7 million.
Champion: AG.AL
Tournament: Esports World Cup 2026
Club championship prize: US$7 million
East Bengal FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in the Durand Cup 2026 final on 23 August at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
The victory gave East Bengal their 17th Durand Cup title, equalling Mohun Bagan's record for the most titles in the tournament's history.
Champion: East Bengal FC
Runner-up: Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Final score: 4-1
Titles: 17
Venue: Kolkata
East Bengal's triumph was also their first Durand Cup title in 22 years.
The club produced a dominant performance in the Kolkata derby final to return to the top of one of Asia's oldest football tournaments.
Edmund Lalrindika was the standout performer in East Bengal's 4-1 victory, scoring a first-half hat-trick.
Bipin Singh scored East Bengal's other goal as the club secured its record-equalling 17th Durand Cup crown.
Hat-trick scorer: Edmund Lalrindika
Other East Bengal scorer: Bipin Singh
Edmund Lalrindika's performance was particularly significant because it was the first hat-trick in a Durand Cup Kolkata derby.
The achievement placed him among a select group of players to score three goals in matches between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports cleared a 492-athlete Indian contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
India will participate across 35 sports, with athletics accounting for the largest number of athletes.
Indian athletes: 492
Sports: 35
Asian Games host: Japan
Host region: Aichi-Nagoya
Athletics received the largest representation in India's Asian Games contingent with 73 athletes.
Both the Indian men's and women's T20 cricket teams were also cleared to participate in the Games.
Largest Indian contingent: Athletics
Athletes: 73
Cricket format: T20
India hosted the BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting 2026 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 23 August.
The meeting was held under India's BRICS Chairship 2026 and brought together sports ministers and senior representatives from member countries.
Meeting: BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting 2026
Venue: Visakhapatnam
State: Andhra Pradesh
Chairship: India
The BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting concluded with the consensus adoption of a BRICS Sports Joint Declaration.
The declaration reaffirmed the members' commitment to strengthening international sporting cooperation through dialogue, inclusiveness and mutual respect.
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya called for a BRICS sporting partnership that moves beyond declarations and creates practical platforms for cooperation.
The initiative forms part of India's effort to strengthen international collaboration in sports development.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Raksha Khadse led a BRICS Friendship Cycling Event in Visakhapatnam on 23 August.
The event accompanied the BRICS sports engagement and promoted friendship, fitness and cooperation among participating countries.
The Sports Ministry highlighted the need to accelerate talent identification to build India's prospective athlete pool for the 2036 Olympic Games.
The initiative reflects India's long-term strategy of identifying promising athletes at younger ages and providing structured training and high-performance support.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav won the men's javelin title at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Bhubaneswar.
He produced a personal-best throw of 87.68 metres to take first place.
Athlete: Rohit Yadav
Event: Men's javelin throw
Result: Gold
Best throw: 87.68 m
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
Rohit Yadav's 87.68 m performance placed him second on India's all-time list by best javelin throw, behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra.
The result represented a major personal breakthrough for Yadav ahead of future international competitions.
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar won the men's long jump title at the same World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Bhubaneswar.
Athlete: Murali Sreeshankar
Event: Men's long jump
Result: Gold
Indian athlete Pooja, associated with SAI Bhopal, also secured gold at the World Athletics Continental Tour meet.
Her performance added to India's successful showing at the international athletics competition in Bhubaneswar.
Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A title in Nagykanizsa, Hungary.
The 19-year-old defeated Germany's Vadim Petrovskiy with the white pieces in the ninth and final round.
Champion: Pranesh M
Country: India
Tournament: Kanizsa Open 2026
Venue: Nagykanizsa, Hungary
Pranesh finished the nine-round tournament with 7 points.
The Kanizsa Open was conducted from 15 to 23 August 2026 under a nine-round Swiss-system format.
Score: 7/9
Rounds: 9
Dates: 15–23 August 2026
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant surpassed MS Dhoni to become India's highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Test matches.
Pant reached the milestone during India's second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. At the time of the milestone, he had 2,501 runs, moving past Dhoni's 2,496.
New record-holder: Rishabh Pant
Previous record: MS Dhoni
Pant: 2,501 runs at the milestone
Dhoni: 2,496 runs
Pant also moved past Australia's Adam Gilchrist in the Test six-hitting charts during the Colombo Test.
The milestone further strengthened Pant's reputation as one of the most aggressive wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel scored an unbeaten 115 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
It was his second Test century and first Test hundred outside India.
Player: Dhruv Jurel
Score: 115*
Opponent: Sri Lanka
Venue: Colombo
Milestone: First overseas Test century
Jurel became only the second Indian batter to score a Test century batting at No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka.
The previous Indian to achieve the feat was Hardik Pandya, who scored 108 at Pallekele in 2017.
Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal scored his second century of the India-Sri Lanka Test series in Colombo.
He had scored his maiden Test century in the opening Test at Galle, making the Colombo hundred his second consecutive Test century.
Former India leg-spinner Karn Sharma announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
During his international career, he represented India in one Test, two ODIs and one T20I, while also playing more than 90 IPL matches.
Player: Karn Sharma
Sport: Cricket
Decision: Retirement from all formats
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced nationwide activities ahead of National Sports Day, observed annually on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
A nationwide “Khelo India Dialogue – Khel Ki Baat, PM Modi Ke Saath” was scheduled for 27 August as part of the 2026 celebrations.
Ahmedabad was announced as the host of the 2nd Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026, scheduled for October at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
The competition is expected to feature athletes representing 45 countries across five cue-sport disciplines.
Host: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Edition: 2nd
Countries: 45
Venue: Veer Savarkar Sports Complex
The five disciplines announced for the championship are:
10-Ball
Heyball
Blackball
Snooker
English Billiards
The programme will feature 10 medal events across men's and women's categories.
FIBA U18 Asia Cup host: Ahmedabad
FIBA U18 Asia Cup teams: 16
65th Subroto Cup: New Delhi
BWF World Championships 2026: New Delhi
BWF edition: 30th
Indian women's doubles bronze: Treesa Jolly & Gayatri Gopichand
Men's singles world champion: Alex Lanier
Women's singles world champion: An Se-young
Men's doubles champions: Liang Weikeng & Wang Chang
Women's doubles champions: Baek Ha-na & Lee So-hee
Mixed doubles champions: Thom Gicquel & Delphine Delrue
National Sports Awards Arjuna recipients: 17
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: Army Paralympic Node, Pune
Durand Cup 2026 champion: East Bengal FC
Durand Cup runner-up: Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Final score: 4-1
East Bengal titles: 17
Durand Cup final hat-trick: Edmund Lalrindika
Indian Asian Games contingent: 492 athletes
Sports represented: 35
Largest contingent: Athletics – 73 athletes
BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting: Visakhapatnam
Major outcome: BRICS Sports Joint Declaration
Rohit Yadav javelin: 87.68 m
Murali Sreeshankar: Long jump winner
Kanizsa Open champion: Pranesh M
Kanizsa Open host: Nagykanizsa, Hungary
Pranesh's score: 7/9
Rishabh Pant away-Test wicketkeeper record: Surpassed MS Dhoni
Dhruv Jurel: 115* vs Sri Lanka
Jurel milestone: First overseas Test century
Devdutt Padikkal: Back-to-back Test centuries
Karn Sharma: Retired from all forms of cricket
National Sports Day: 29 August
Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026: Ahmedabad
Cue-sport participating countries: 45
Disciplines: 10-Ball, Heyball, Blackball, Snooker and English Billiards
