Explore a comprehensive collection of UPSC Prelims Topic Wise Questions focused on General Knowledge – Sports. Delve into a diverse range of sports-related queries designed to enhance your understanding and preparation for the UPSC Preliminary examination. Covering various aspects of sports, this resource offers a structured approach to mastering key concepts and facts necessary for success. With a strategic emphasis on topic-wise questions, aspirants can refine their knowledge base and sharpen their analytical skills in the realm of sports. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned candidate, these meticulously curated questions provide valuable insights and practice opportunities to excel in the competitive UPSC environment. Prepare effectively, grasp essential insights, and boost your confidence to ace the UPSC Prelims with proficiency in sports-related topics.
Q1. Consider the following statements. (1996)
Towards the close of 1995, the fortunes of Indian Hockey were believed to be on the upswing because
1. India had won the Azlan Shah Cup 95
2. India beat Pakistan in the South Asian Federation Games Final
3. India had by then qualified for the Atlanta Olympics
Of these statements
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
(b) 1 and 2 are correct
(c) 1 and 3 are correct
(d) 2 and 3 are correct
Ans. (a)
Statements (1), (2), and (3) are accurate.
India emerged victorious in the 1995 Azlan Shah Cup, an annual international men’s field hockey competition hosted in Malaysia. This tournament is named in honor of Sultan Azlan Shah, the 9th King of Malaysia and a prominent figure in Malaysian Hockey. India has claimed victory in the Azlan Shah Cup four times: in 1985, 1991, 1995, and 2004, and shared the title with South Korea in 2010. Notably, India secured the South Asian Federation Games final by defeating Pakistan.
The South Asian Games, previously known as the South Asian Federation Games (SAFG or SAF Games), is a multi-sport event held every four years, bringing together athletes from South Asia.
At present, the South Asian Unified Cricket (SAUC) tournament includes seven member nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. By that time, India had secured qualification for the Atlanta Olympics.
Q2. In order to win the Grand Slam in Tennis, a player must win which one of the following groups of tournaments? (1999)
(a) Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open, U. S. Open
(b) Wimbledon, French Open, U.S. Open
(c) Wimbledon, French Open, Paegas Czech Open, U.S. Open
(d) Davis Cup, Wimbledon, French Open
Ans. (a)
To achieve the Grand Slam in tennis, a player must triumph in four major tournaments within a single calendar year. These premier events are commonly referred to as Grand Slams or Majors.
The Australian Open, the initial Grand Slam of the year, occurs annually in late January and early February on hardcourt. Its inaugural edition took place in November 1905 on the grass courts of the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia.
The Wimbledon Open, also recognized as Roland Garros, stands as the second Grand Slam event of the year and unfolds on clay courts in late May and early June. Its inception dates back to 1891 when it was contested on sand courts in France.
The French Open, the oldest among these tournaments, was established in 1877 and is played on grass courts in late June and early July. Its inaugural matches were held in 1877 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. This tournament occupies the third spot in the Grand Slam calendar.
Concluding the Grand Slam circuit is the US Open, the fourth and final tournament of the year, which transpires in late August and early September on grass courts. It commenced in August 1881 at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
Q3. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer. (2003)
| List I (Cricketers) | List II (Countries) |
| A. Barry Richards | 1. England |
| B. Tex Dexter | 2. West Indies |
| C. Alan Davidson | 3. South Africa |
| D. Charlie Griffith | 4. New Zealand |
| 5. Australia |
Codes
A B C D
(a) 3 2 5 1
(b) 5 1 4 2
(c) 3 1 5 2
(d) 5 2 4 1
Ans. (c)
The correct matching is as follows:
A-3, B-1, C-5, D-2.
Barry Richards, a celebrated batsman from South Africa, participated in only four matches, all against Australia, before South Africa’s exclusion from international cricket in 1970.
Tex Dexter, a powerful batsman representing England, was affectionately known by the nickname Lord Ted. In 2021, he was honored with induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Alan Davidson, a distinguished cricketer from Australia, excelled as a wicketkeeper and an all-rounder. He was recognized for his prowess as a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman and a left-arm fast-medium opening bowler. His remarkable ability to take close-range catches earned him the moniker “The Claw.”
Charlie Griffith made a name for himself as a fast bowler.
Q4. Which one of the following countries was not a participating team in the Football World Cup-2006? (2005)
(a) Russia
(b) Togo
(c) Ivory Coast
(d) Switzerland
Ans. (a)
Russia did not compete in the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany in July. This tournament marked the 18th edition of the FIFA World Cup. Italy emerged victorious, securing their fourth World Cup title.
The 2021 FIFA World Cup took place in the United Arab Emirates from February 3rd to 12th, 2022. The final match was contested between England, who emerged as the winners, and Brazil.
Q5. Which one of the following cities has been the venue of the Asian Games for the maximum number of times from the year 1951 to the year 2006? (2007)
(a) Delhi
(b) Bangkok
(c) Tokyo
(d) Beijing
Ans. (b)
Bangkok hosted the Asian Games the most times, from 1951 to 2006. The Asian Games, also referred to as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years, bringing together athletes from across Asia.
Q6. Who among the following bowlers have taken more than 500 wickets in Test Cricket? (2007)
1. Wasim Akram
2. Richard Hadlee
3. Glen McGrath
4. Courtney Walsh
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 1,2 and 3
(d) All of these
Ans. (b)
In the options provided, both Glen McGrath and Courtney Walsh have each taken over 500 wickets in Test cricket (as of 2020). The data is as follows:
| Player | Test | Wickets |
| M Murlitharan (SL) | 133 | 800 |
| Shane Warne (Aus) | 145 | 708 |
| JM Anderson | 169 | 640 |
| Anil Kumble (India) | 132 | 619 |
| Glen McGrath (Aus) | 124 | 563 |
| SCJ Broad | 152 | 537 |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 132 | 519 |
Q7. Starting with the Australian Open Lawn Tennis Tournament, which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the other three major Lawn Tennis Tournaments? (2008)
(a) French Open – US Open – Wimbledon
(b) French Open – Wimbledon – US Open
(c) Wimbledon – US Open – French Open
(d) Wimbledon – French Open – US Open
Ans. (b)
The correct chronological order of the major Lawn Tennis Tournaments is as follows:
(i) Australian Open – January (month of every year)
(ii) French Open – May/June
(iii) Wimbledon – June/July
(iv) US Open – August/September
Q8. Rajiv Gandhi National Flying Institute is being established in which State? (2008)
(a) Karnataka
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Kerala
(d) Odisha
Ans. (b)
The Rajiv Gandhi National Flying Institute (RGNFI) is set to be established in Gondia, Maharashtra. As the newest flight training academy, RGNFI is a collaborative effort between the Airport Authorities of India (AAI) and CAE, a prominent global organization specializing in simulation and training with over six decades of expertise in the aviation sector.
Q9. When Leander Paes won the ‘mixed doubles’ at the US Open in the year 2008, who of the following was his partner? (2009)
(a) Ana Ivanovic
(b) Cara Black
(c) Dinara Safina
(d) Jelena Jankovic
Ans. (b)
In 2008, Leander Paes clinched the ‘mixed doubles’ title at the US Open with Cara Black as his partner. They defeated Liezel Huber and Jamie Murray in the final with a score of 7-6, 6-4. Leander Paes made consecutive appearances in the Olympics from 1992 to 2016, marking him as the first and only Indian tennis player to compete in seven Olympic Games. Additionally, he secured eight men’s doubles and ten mixed doubles victories in the Davis Cup. Paes retired from professional tennis thereafter.
Q10. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? (2009)
| Players | Games |
| (a) Barbora Spotakova | Javelin throw |
| (b) Pamela Jelimo | Weight-lifting |
| (c) Sanya Richards | Sprint |
| (d) Yelena Isinbayeva | Pole vault |
Ans. (b)
Pair (b) is indeed incorrectly matched. Pamela Jelimo is a Kenyan middle-distance runner renowned for her specialization in the 800 meters. She achieved remarkable success at the age of 18 by securing a gold medal in this event at the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing.
Q11. Who of the following is a football player? (2009)
(a) Fernando Alonso
(b) Kimi Raikkonen
(c) Lewis Hamilton
(d) Nicolas Anelka
Ans. (d)
Nicolas Anelka is a French footballer known for his career representing France. He has also played for Mumbai City in the Indian Super League.
Q12. Among the following, which one is not a football club? (2009)
(a) Arsenal
(b) Aston Villa
(c) Chelsea
(d) Monte Carlo
Ans. (d)
Monte Carlo is not a football club; rather, it is one of Monaco’s administrative areas and is considered the wealthiest region of Monaco. Additionally, it hosts a prestigious tennis competition annually.
Q13. Consider the following pairs. (2009)
| Persons | Games |
| 1. Anand Pawar | Chess |
| 2. Akhil Kumar | Boxing |
| 3. Shiv Shankar Prasad Chaurasia | Golf |
Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) Only 3
(d) All of these
Ans. (b)
Pairs (2) and (3) are indeed correctly matched.
Pair (1) is incorrectly matched. Akhil Kumar is a boxer known for his “open guarded” boxing style. He was awarded the Arjuna Award and in 2017, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports appointed him, along with Mary Kom, as national observers for boxing.
Shiv Shankar Prasad Chaurasia is not a golf player. Anand Pawar is not a badminton player. Instead, Chaurasia is a badminton player who has represented India in the Men’s World Team Championships and won a Bronze Medal in the India Super Series 2013. He also emerged victorious in the Scottish Open in 2010 and 2012, as well as the French International in 2012.
Q14. Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000. (2021)
1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
2. The award was received mostly by Formula One’ players so far.
3. Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (c)
Statements (1) and (3) are indeed correct. The inaugural winner of the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year was the American golfer Tiger Woods, who had an outstanding 1999 season with eight victories, a feat not matched since 1974, including winning the PGA Championship. Woods continued his dominance, earning a second Laureus Award the following year and receiving five further nominations between 2002 and 2008.
The Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year is an annual accolade celebrating the achievements of individual men in the realm of sports. Established in 2000, it has been awarded to just nine individuals to date. Roger Federer holds the record for the most wins in this category, having received the award five times.
Q15. Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics. (2021)
1. The official motto for this Olympics is ‘A New World’.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (b)
In the given statements, (2) is indeed correct. The Tokyo Olympics introduced six new sports that were not featured in the Rio Olympics of 2016. These included Baseball and Softball, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate, and Sports Climbing, expanding the Olympic roster in Tokyo.
However, statement (1) is incorrect. The Tokyo Olympic motto was “United by Emotion,” not “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”
Q16. Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test championship. (2021)
1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (d)
Both statements (1) and (2) are indeed incorrect. The finalist was determined based on the percentage of points earned by teams during the championship, not solely through the maximum number of matches won.
New Zealand secured the second spot with 70 percent of points, comprising 7 wins and 4 losses, while England was positioned fourth with 61 percent of points, which included 11 wins and 7 losses.
Q17. Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022: (2023)
1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India.
2. The official mascot was named ‘Thambi’.
3. The trophy for the winning team in the Open section is the Vera Menchik Cup.
4. The trophy for the winning team in the women’s section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
How many of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans. (b)
Only statement (2) is correct about the 4th Chess Olympiad 2022. The official mascot was indeed named ‘Thambi,’ portrayed as a chess knight adorned in the traditional Tamil male attire, Vetti, with a white shirt. He was depicted with folded hands, extending the Tamil greeting ‘Vanakkam.’
Statement (1) is incorrect. The 4th Chess Olympiad did not take place in Asia after 30 years; it could have been hosted anywhere in the world.
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