Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down as captain of the Indian team in limited overs cricket.
- A BCCI press-release stated, “Mahendra Singh Dhoni has informed the BCCI, that he wishes to step down as the captain of the Indian Cricket Team from the One Day Internationals and the T20 Internationals formats of the game.
- He will be available for the selection for the Paytm One Day Trophy and Paytm T20I Trophy against England and the same has been conveyed to the Senior Selection Committee.
Lionel Messi World’s Best Playmaker for the year 2016
- The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in the last week of December 2016 named Lionel Messi as the World’s Best Playmaker for the year 2016 for his overall contribution to club and country.
- Messi beat Andres Iniesta and Toni Kroos to win the prestigious honour for the second consecutive time in his career.
Top 5 rankings for the year 2016
|
Player
|
Points
|
|
Lionel Messi
|
172 points
|
|
Andres Iniesta
|
66 points
|
|
Tony Kroos
|
45 points
|
|
Mesut Ozil
|
39 points
|
|
Riyad Mahrez
|
36 points
|
- The International Federation of Football History & Statistics is an organization that documents the history and records of association football was founded on 27 March 1984 in Leipzig by Dr Alfredo Poge.
- It was based at Al-Muroor Street 147, Abu Dhabi for some time. However, it was relocated to Bonn, Germany in 2010.
Somdev Devvarman Announces Retirement
- India’s star singles player Somdev Devvarman announced his retirement from professional tennis.
- Somdev touched a career-high rank of number 62 in 2011 and has two runners-up finishes on the ATP World Tour as his best performances on the Tour.
- Somdev also won Singles and Doubles medals in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Supreme Court Removes BCCI President Anurag Thakur
- The Supreme Court removed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Anurag Thakur for allegedly lying on oath (Failing to comply with its order on implementing administrative reforms in BCCI as recommended by the Lodha panel)
- The court also issued a show cause notice to Thakur asking why perjury and contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for misleading the court.
- The Court said that senior most vice-president of BCCI will act as President while Joint Secretary will act as Secretary.
Kush Creates History in UAE Tourney
- Mumbai prodigy Kush Bhagat has won all three gold medals on offer in the 1st Western Asia Youth Chess Championships that was held at Al Ain Chess Club in UAE.
- The second standard student reigned supreme in all the three categories – rapid, blitz and standard as he overcame the challenges from 158 participants from 20 countries across the world.
Former TT Int. Pappu Haldankar Dies
- Former international table tennis player and a former India number one, Prafulla ‘Pappu’ Haldankar passed away.
- He started playing table tennis for Deccan Gymkhana, Pune and represented India for 5 years from 1961 to 1965 and was ranked first in India in 1961-62 season
- He also represented the country in two Asian Championships and two World Championships.
Sports Ministry Suspends IOA
- Government has de-recognised the Indian Olympic Association(IOA) on the issue of nominating Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Chautala as its life presidents who were jailed in connection with the CWG scam while Chautala is facing charges in disproportionate assets case
- Kalmadi & Chautala were elevated to the honorary position.
Meghalaya to Host 2022 National Games
- 2017 National games is schedule to start at Goa but for 2022 bid to find the host is completed.
- Meghalaya will host the 2022 National Games as Indian Olympic Association has accepted Meghalaya’s bid to host the National Games.
- Meghalaya won the race overshadowing four other bidders Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgargh and Uttarakhand.
- Meghalaya will be the third northeastern state after Manipur and Assam to host the National Games.
Pakistan's first Sikh cricketer Mohinder Pal Singh to join national cricket academy
- Pakistan cricket has seen Christians and Hindus represent the country at home and abroad, but for the first time a Sikh has secured a place in the National Cricket Academy.
- Mohinder Pal Singh, who hails from Nankana Sahib (Lahore), is among the list of top 30 emerging cricketers in the country.
Jeje wins best footballer of the year award by AIFF
- 25-year-old Indian footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua has named 2016's All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year, an award given to the best footballer in India.
- footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua belongs from Mizoram and awarded a prize of 2.5 lakh.
