Question 1

Olympics (India): Total number of Olympic gold medals won by India (all-time count). Include team and individual events up to the present tally. Choose the correct total.

Accepted Answer

Topic: India's Olympic gold medal tally (all-time) Given data Count all Olympic gold medals won by India, including team sports. Concept/Approach List historically recognized Indian Olympic golds and sum them. Step-by-step tally Hockey (Men): 8 golds — 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980. Shooting: 1 gold — Abhinav Bindra, 10 m air rifle, Beijing 2008. Athletics: 1 gold — Neeraj Chopra, men's javelin throw, Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021). Total = 8 + 1 + 1 = 10. Verification/Note No additional Indian golds were added at Paris 2024, so the cumulative total remains 10. Common pitfalls Confusing overall medals with golds. Forgetting that many of the early golds were team hockey titles. Final Answer 10

Question 2

Cricket history (India): Venue of the first One Day International (ODI) played on Indian soil. Identify the city and ground where India hosted its first home ODI in November 1981. Choose the correct venue.

Accepted Answer

Topic: First ODI hosted by India — venue Given data India's first home ODI was played in November 1981. Concept/Approach Recall the historical match details: India vs England, 25 November 1981, at Sardar Patel Stadium (Navrangpura), Ahmedabad. Step-by-step reasoning Event: First ODI in India. Date: 25 November 1981. City/Ground: Sardar Patel Stadium (Navrangpura), Ahmedabad. Common pitfalls Confusing the old Sardar Patel Stadium (Navrangpura) with the newer Motera/Narendra Modi Stadium. Guessing iconic venues like Eden Gardens due to their fame. Final Answer Sardar Patel Stadium (Navrangpura), Ahmedabad

Question 3

Indian cricket administration: Identify the first President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Focus on the founding leadership at the BCCI's inception in 1928. Choose the correct name.

Accepted Answer

Topic: BCCI leadership — origin Given data Identify the first person to serve as BCCI President in 1928. Concept/Approach Early BCCI history notes that businessman R. E. Grant Govan became the first President, while Sir Anthony de Mello served as the first Secretary. Step-by-step reasoning Year of formation: 1928. Office: President. Incumbent: R. E. Grant Govan. Common pitfalls Confusing the roles of President and Secretary (Sir Anthony de Mello was the first Secretary). Final Answer R. E. Grant Govan

Question 4

Indian cricket captains: First ODI captain for India. Consider India's debut One Day International and identify who led the side. Choose the correct captain.

Accepted Answer

Topic: India's first ODI captain Given data India played its first ODI in 1974 (tour of England). Concept/Approach Recall captaincy records for India's earliest ODI appearances. Step-by-step reasoning First ODI: 1974 vs England. Captain then: Ajit Wadekar. Common pitfalls Confusing with India's first Test or World Cup captains. Selecting later-era captains such as Kapil Dev. Final Answer Ajit Wadekar

Question 5

NBA moment: Name the player who famously scored 8 points in the closing seconds to snatch victory. Identify the star associated with the remarkable late-game flurry against the Knicks in the mid-1990s. Choose the correct player.

Accepted Answer

Topic: Iconic NBA clutch performance Given data A player scored 8 points in mere seconds at the end of a game to complete a comeback win. Concept/Approach The famous play-off moment is Reggie Miller's burst — commonly cited as “8 points in 9 seconds” — for the Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks in May 1995. Step-by-step recollection Match-up: Pacers vs Knicks (1995 Playoffs). Sequence: 3-pointer, steal, quick 3-pointer, clutch free throws. Player: Reggie Miller. Common pitfalls Mixing with Tracy McGrady's different feat (13 points in 35 seconds in 2004). Final Answer Reggie Miller

Question 6

Pro wrestling (WWE): Opponent defeated by Shawn Michaels to win his first Intercontinental Championship. Focus on HBK's initial IC title win in late 1992. Choose the correct opponent.

Accepted Answer

Topic: WWE Intercontinental Championship history Given data Identify whom Shawn Michaels beat for his first IC title. Concept/Approach HBK won his first Intercontinental Championship on a 1992 TV taping (aired later) by defeating Davey Boy Smith, a.k.a. The British Bulldog. Step-by-step reasoning Year: 1992. Title: Intercontinental Championship. Opponent defeated: The British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith). Common pitfalls Choosing Marty Jannetty — he and Michaels traded the IC title later. Confusing with HBK's classic ladder matches vs Razor Ramon in 1994–95. Final Answer The British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith)

Question 7

Cricket World Cup history: First non–Test-playing nation to defeat India in an international match. Consider India's early World Cup campaigns before the opponent gained Test status. Choose the correct country.

Accepted Answer

Topic: India vs non–Test nations — early upset Given data Identify the first non–Test-playing country to defeat India in an official international (ODI) match. Concept/Approach At the 1979 Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka (then a non–Test nation; Test status came in 1981–82) beat India by 47 runs, marking India's first such defeat to a non–Test side. Step-by-step reasoning Tournament: 1979 Cricket World Cup. Opponent status at the time: Non–Test. Result: Sri Lanka defeated India (by 47 runs). Common pitfalls Picking Zimbabwe or Bangladesh — both produced notable upsets in later eras (and later gained Test status), but the first such defeat was by Sri Lanka in 1979. Final Answer Sri Lanka

Question 8

County cricket (overseas stints): English county represented by Javagal Srinath in 1995. Identify the team he joined during his formative overseas season. Choose the correct county.

Accepted Answer

Topic: Indian cricketers in English county cricket Given data Year in question: 1995. Concept/Approach Javagal Srinath's first county stint was with Gloucestershire in 1995 (Bristol-based), a season he has often credited with sharpening his skills in English conditions. Step-by-step reasoning Target year: 1995 → County: Gloucestershire. Later stints: Leicestershire (2002) and Durham (2003), but not in 1995. Common pitfalls Choosing Leicestershire or Durham (those were later seasons). Final Answer Gloucestershire

Question 9

County cricket (classics): English county for which Bishan Singh Bedi played many seasons. Select the county side most associated with Bedi's prolific wicket-taking in the 1970s. Choose the correct county.

Accepted Answer

Topic: Bishan Singh Bedi's county career Given data Identify the English county team with which Bedi is most closely associated. Concept/Approach The celebrated Indian left-arm spinner played multiple seasons for Northamptonshire, taking hundreds of wickets and becoming a fan favorite. Step-by-step reasoning County career highlight: Northamptonshire in the 1970s. Output: 400+ wickets for the county across seasons. Common pitfalls Confusing with other Midlands or southern counties (e.g., Warwickshire or Sussex) owing to similar-sounding names. Final Answer Northamptonshire

Question 10

Cricket nicknames: Alternate moniker of former Australia captain Allan Border  Allan Border was popularly called 'Captain Grumpy'; identify his other widely used nickname from Australian cricket culture. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Concept/Approach Many cricketers are known by short nicknames. Allan Border, Australia's long-serving captain, was often called Captain Grumpy for his stern on-field demeanor. His initials gave him another common nickname: AB. Why the other options are wrong Punter is Ricky Ponting's nickname. Mr. Cricket refers to Mike Hussey. Tubby is Mark Taylor. Boony is David Boon. Final Answer AB.

Question 11

Test cricket records: Most runs by a player in a single Test innings  Identify the cricketer who holds the highest individual score in a Test match innings, along with the landmark score. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Ask for the highest individual score in a single Test innings. Concept/Approach The record is the maximum runs by an individual in one completed Test innings. Step-by-Step Brian Lara scored an unbeaten 400 (400*) for West Indies vs England at St John's, Antigua, in April 2004. Verification Other large scores exist (Hayden 380; Jayawardene 374; Hutton 364; Bradman 334) but none exceed 400. Common Pitfall Confusing Lara's earlier 375 (1994) with the later record 400* (2004). Final Answer Brian Lara — 400*.

Question 12

Indian cue sports milestone: First Indian World Amateur Billiards champion  Name the first Indian player to win the World Amateur Billiards title since the championship's inception. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Identify the first Indian to become World Amateur Billiards champion. Concept/Approach Recall chronology of India's world champions in English billiards. Answer & Reason Wilson Jones won the World Amateur Billiards Championship in 1958 (and again in 1964), becoming the first Indian to do so. Why others are incorrect Michael Ferreira won later (multiple titles starting 1977) and is not the first. Geet Sethi and Pankaj Advani are later-era champions. Yasin Merchant is noted more in snooker at Asian levels. Final Answer Wilson Jones.

Question 13

Indian hockey at the Olympics: Year of the first gold medal  State the year and host city in which India won its first Olympic gold medal in men's field hockey. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given India's first Olympic hockey gold: identify the year and host city. Concept/Approach Recall India's golden era in Olympic hockey. Answer & Reason India won its first Olympic men's hockey gold in 1928 at Amsterdam, beginning a historic run of titles. Common Pitfall Confusing 1932 or 1936 (which were subsequent golds) with the first one. Final Answer 1928 (Amsterdam).

Question 14

Cricket nicknames: Mark Taylor's monikers — identify the one that is NOT his  Former Australian captain Mark Taylor was known by several nicknames during his playing career (e.g., Tubby, Tubs). From the list below, pick the nickname that was NOT ass…

Accepted Answer

Given Determine which listed nickname did not belong to Mark Taylor. Concept/Approach Cross-check well-known sobriquets of Mark Taylor. Answer & Reason Tubby and Tubs were Mark Taylor's famous nicknames.Stodge was also used in the press for Taylor's attritional batting style.Helium Bat was a light-hearted team-room moniker referring to his habit of leaving balls outside off-stump.By contrast, Stumpy is not recognised as his nickname. Final Answer Stumpy.

Question 15

Indian sports trophies: The sport associated with the Choudhury Trophy  Identify the sport for which the Choudhury Trophy is awarded in India. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Match the Indian trophy name with its sport. Concept/Approach Several Indian trophies are sport-specific (e.g., Santosh Trophy – football, Rangaswamy Cup – hockey). The Choudhury Trophy is tied to motorsport. Answer & Reason The Choudhury Trophy is historically connected with long-distance car rallying (circumnavigation of India/earth challenges) and motorsport awards, not with stick-and-ball games. Why others are incorrect Hockey: Associated with Beighton Cup, Rangaswamy Cup, etc. Badminton: Linked with Thomas/Uber Cup (international), national events use other names. Football: Santosh Trophy, Durand Cup, IFA Shield, etc. Table tennis: National championships have different trophies. Final Answer Car rallying (motor sport).

Question 16

Cricket nicknames: Identify the Australian player known as 'Dizzy'  Within Australian cricket, the nickname 'Dizzy' refers to which international cricketer? Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Choose the Australian cricketer whose nickname is 'Dizzy'. Concept/Approach Match common Australian cricket nicknames to players. Answer & Reason Jason Gillespie, right-arm fast bowler, is widely known as Dizzy (play on the name of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie). Why others are incorrect Darren Lehmann is 'Boof'. Glenn McGrath is 'Pigeon'. Adam Gilchrist is 'Gilly'. Brad Hogg is 'Hoggy'. Final Answer Jason Gillespie.

Question 17

ODI cricket (1997): Winner of the triangular series final played in Durban (February 1997)  From the participating nations, identify which team won the Standard Bank triangular ODI series final at Durban in February 1997. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Find the winner of the ODI triangular series final held at Durban in February 1997. Concept/Approach Recall the Standard Bank International One-Day Series (1996–97) hosted by South Africa with India and Zimbabwe. Answer & Reason South Africa defeated India in the final at Kingsmead, Durban, to clinch the series. Common Pitfall Assuming India won because they reached the final; however, South Africa prevailed. Final Answer South Africa.

Question 18

Aviation history: The first hang gliders to take flight — place and period  Earliest successful hang-glider flights were carried out by which pioneer and in which country/period? Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Identify where and when the first hang-glider flights occurred. Concept/Approach Earliest practical, controllable gliding flights are credited to Otto Lilienthal, who conducted numerous glides off artificial hills. Answer & Reason Lilienthal flew weight-shift hang gliders in Germany during the 1890s, laying foundations for modern gliding and hang-gliding. Why others are incorrect Wright brothers were USA, early 1900s, and built powered aircraft after 1903. UK 1910s gliding came later than Lilienthal. Australia 1960s saw modern designs but not the first-ever flights. Montgolfier were hot-air balloon pioneers, not hang gliders. Final Answer Germany in the 1890s (Otto Lilienthal).

Question 19

Indian cricket history: First captain of the Indian Test team  Name the cricketer who captained India in its debut Test match and served as the first Test captain. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Identify India's first Test captain. Concept/Approach India played its first Test vs England at Lord's in 1932; the appointed captain leads the debut side. Answer & Reason C. K. Nayudu captained India in 1932, becoming the country's first Test captain. Why others are incorrect Lala Amarnath was the first Indian to score a Test century but not the first captain. Vijay Merchant and Vijay Hazare captained later. Nawab of Pataudi Sr. also captained later. Final Answer C. K. Nayudu.

Question 20

Track and field history: Identify the sprinter who overcame childhood polio to become a legendary Olympic champion. Which track-and-field star triumphed over polio in her youth and rose to become one of the greatest athletes of her era?

Accepted Answer

Topic: Olympic sprint legends and personal adversity Given data A female track-and-field great who overcame childhood polio. Concept/Approach Among iconic sprinters, Wilma Rudolph is renowned for battling polio as a child and later winning three gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Reasoning steps Identify athletes linked with polio recovery → Wilma Rudolph fits uniquely. Cross-check others: Joyner-Kersee (heptathlon/long jump), Griffith Joyner (100/200 m records), Blankers-Koen (1948 pioneer), Didrikson (multi-sport) → none linked to childhood polio recovery. Common pitfalls Confusing overall greatness with the specific polio story. Final Answer Wilma Rudolph

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