Sports

Manika Batra makes history at Asian Games table tennis QFs

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Manika Batra triumphed over Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut in the round of 16 with a 4-2 victory (11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6). After an intense start that leveled the score at 2-2, Batra clinched the next two sets, sealing the win

Updated On – 01:03 PM, Fri – 29 September 23


Manika Batra makes history at Asian Games table tennis QFs



Hangzhou: Ace Indian paddler Manika Batra moved to the quarterfinals of the women’s table tennis competition at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday.

She beat Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut by 4-2 (11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6) in her round of 16 match-up. After the first four thrilling sets which made the scoreline level at 2-2, Batra beat Suthasini in the next two sets to secure the win.

As per the Olympics.com, she has become the first-ever Indian singles player to make it to the QFs of the Asian Games in table tennis. She will be playing Wang Yidi for a spot in the final four and an assured medal.

On the other hand, in the men’s competition, veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal-Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Manav Vikash Thakkar had contrasting results in their round of 16 matches.

While Achanta-Sathiya lost to Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin of China by 0-3 (5-11, 4-11, 7-11), Manush and Manav secured a tight fought 3-2 (3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8) over Singapore’s Yew En Koen Pang and Izaac Quek Yong. Their next battle will be against top seeds Woojin Jang and Jonghoon Lim in quarters.

Sreeja Akula-Diya Chitale and Suthirtha Mukherjee-Ayhika Mukherjee will play their respective round of 16 women’s doubles matches later today. Sathiyan and Achanta will also play their respective round of 16 matches in the men’s singles competition.

The 10-member Indian table tennis squad, led by Sharat Kamal and Manika Batra, started its Hangzhou campaign from September 22 and table tennis competitions will conclude on October 2.

Indian table tennis squad:

-Men’s team
Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah

-Women’s team
Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Sutirtha Murkherjee, Ayhika Mukherjee, Diya Chitale

-Men’s singles
Sharath Kamal, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran

-Women singles
Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula

-Men’s doubles
Sharath Kamal/Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manav Thakkar/Manush Shah

-Women’s doubles
Sutirtha Mukherjee/Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula/Diya Chitale

-Mixed doubles
Manika Batra/Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sreeja Akula/Harmeet Desai

-Men’s reserves
SFR Snehit, Sanil Shetty

-Women’s reserves
Archana Kamath, Reeth Rishya.

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Cop Offers To Sponsor Education Of Ujjain Rape Survivor

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Inspector Ajay Verma was moved to tears when he heard the girl’s screams at the hospital.

Bhopal:

Horrifying visuals from Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, which show a 15-year-old girl, semi-naked and bleeding after rape, going door-to-door for help, sparked outrage across the country. But the incident also showcased how some policemen went out of their way to help the girl. Two cops donated blood to the girl when she was being treated at a hospital. Another cop has said that he wants to sponsor the girl’s education and healthcare expenses.

Inspector Ajay Verma of Mahakal police station in Ujjain said that he would have adopted the girl if they weren’t able to find her family.

He said that he was moved to tears when he heard the girl’s screams at the hospital.

“When she was being treated for her injuries I was listening to her screams, my eyes were filled with tears. I thought why is god giving her so much trouble,” Inspector Verma said.

“We have found the family and I can now help them without getting involved in legal complications. I can take care of her financial needs, education, and health. If I couldn’t find her parents, I would have adopted her legally,” he added.

An autorickshaw driver was questioned after the police scanned CCTV footage of the locality where the teenager was seen seeking help. The police said they found blood stains in the three-wheeler. The police zeroed in on the autorickshaw driver and arrested him yesterday.

Hyderabad

Six people killed during Ganesh idol immersion procession in Hyderabad

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Separate cases were booked and are being investigated by the Hyderabad city police.

Published Date – 01:51 PM, Fri – 29 September 23


Six people killed during Ganesh idol immersion procession in Hyderabad



Hyderabad: Atleast six persons were killed in separate incidents related to the Ganesh idol immersion procession in Hyderabad on Thursday and Friday.

According to reports, a boy died on the spot near Sanjeevaiah Park after falling off a moving truck transporting an idol for immersion. The deceased was identified as Praneet Kumar, a resident of Kishan Bagh area.

In another incident, a four-year-old boy died after falling from a two-wheeler driven by his father and came under the wheels of a trailer near Basheerbagh flyover. The incident occurred when his parents, residents of Bellampally were heading to Hussain Sagar for idol immersion.

In the third incident, Snehanath (14), from Cherlapatelguda died in Pocharam in Ibrahimpatnam mandal after he was mowed down by a tractor trolley during the Ganesh idol immersion procession.

In the fourth incident, Narasimhulu (50), from Shankarpally accidentally drowned in a lake while participating in the idol immersion. His body was retrieved on Friday.

On Thursday night, two youngsters identified as Nandu Kumar (24) and Dhruva Kumar (22) both friends from New Bowenpally who were proceeding to Hussain Sagar to watch the immersion procession died after their bike was hit by a truck near Mahankali temple road in Secunderabad.

Separate cases were booked and being investigated.

World

At least 34 killed, over 100 injured in explosion in Pakistan

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Local Pakistani media said that a powerful bomb was detonated at a rally celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in southwest Pakistan, killing at least 34 people and wounding dozens of others, local Pakistani officials and media reports say.

Accoridng to local English-language newspaper Dawn said that Dr Saeed Mirwani, chief executive officer of Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital confirmed the casualties, while City Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Javed Lehri said a police official was among the dead.

CEO Dr Mirwani confirmed that 28 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far, while six were taken to the Mastung district hospital.

He said dozens were being treated at the hospital while more than 20 injured people have been referred to Quetta for medical assistance. “The process of moving bodies and injured persons continues even now,” the hospital CEO said.

Earlier, Mastung Assistant Commissioner (AC) Attahul Munim said 15 people were killed due to the explosion while more than 50 were injured.

MNA

Sports

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to miss opening match of World Cup against England

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The New Zealand skipper will play the role of specialist batter in a warm-up match against Pakistan on Friday in Hyderabad with the aim of batting and fielding in their second and last warm-up against South Africa in Trivandrum on Monday.

Published Date – 01:32 PM, Fri – 29 September 23


New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to miss opening match of World Cup against England



Hyderabad: New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will miss the opening match of his team in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 against England as he continues to recover from knee surgery, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced the batter’s availability update on Friday.

Williamson was named in Blackcap’s 15-member squad for the World Cup after returning from a six-month layoff. The New Zealand skipper will play the role of specialist batter in a warm-up match against Pakistan on Friday in Hyderabad with the aim of batting and fielding in their second and last warm-up against South Africa in Trivandrum on Monday.

“Williamson will play as a batsman-only in today’s first warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad, with the aim of batting and fielding in Monday’s second and final warm-up against South Africa in Trivandrum,” NZC said in an official statement.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead said making sure Williamson had enough time to progress in his return to match fitness was their top concern. “Right from the start we’ve taken a long-term view on Kane’s return to play. His recovery is tracking well and it’s now a matter of making sure he can cope with the rigours and intensity of international cricket. We’ll continue to take a day-by-day approach to Kane’s rehabilitation and certainly won’t be putting any pressure on him to return before he is ready,” Stead stated in an official statement by NZC.

Meanwhile, Tom Latham will captain the side in Friday’s first warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Will Young.

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It Doesn't Get Any More Casual Classic Than Deepika Padukone's Denim-On-Denim Shirt And Jeans

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It Doesn't Get Any More Casual Classic Than Deepika Padukone's Denim-On-Denim Shirt And Jeans

Deepika Padukone in denim chic

Denim is an ageless classic that has been the driving force in the fashion world for a very long time. Whether age-old jeans, trucker jackets or the more recent denim jumpsuits, dresses, and even sarees, we have thoroughly loved the comfort of denim. Deepika Padukone‘s latest denim-on-denim look just proves our point. The actress looked absolutely chic with a sporty twist when she wore a full-sleeved denim shirt with a pair of flared denim pants, both in light blue from the brand Levis, of which the actress is an ambassador. For accessories, Deepika picked a pair of golden hoops, a gold band, and a pair of all-white sneakers. Open tresses, minimal makeup, and a cool casual style complemented her look.

Also Read: “Once Upon A Time” Deepika Padukone Showcased Her Toned Physique And Looked Spellbinding In A Black And White Swimsuit

Deepika Padukone’s denim-on-denim looks have been our favourites. She picked a classic blue full-sleeved denim jacket and paired it with a plain white basic T-shirt. She wore a pair of blue flared pants to match the shade of the jacket. The outfit was from Levis and took the denim trend to an all-new level. Tying her tresses in a sleek high ponytail, the diva opted for a bold red lip colour, dewy makeup, and subtly kohled eyes.

Also Read: All-White Is Just Right For Deepika Padukone’s Stylish Sporty Day Out

While talking about Deepika Padukone’s uber-cool denim-on-denim fashion, we cannot skip her chic athleisure look from Gehraiyaan promotions. The actress picked a strap corset top with a fitted bodice and teamed it with a pair of relaxed-fit denim pants. A sleek hairdo, minimal hairdo, and a lot of charisma complemented Deepika’s look.

Which is your favourite denim look of Deepika Padukone’s?

Also Read: Deepika Padukone, Just Like Us, Binges On This Famous Indian Reality Show

World

97pc of Asian American voters prioritize policy over race/ethnicity, says survey

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The findings gain significance as the 2024 US presidential election draws near, featuring two Republican candidates of Indian descent, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Published Date – 10:30 AM, Fri – 29 September 23


97pc of Asian American voters prioritize policy over race/ethnicity, says survey



New Delhi: Nearly all registered Asian American voters — 97 per cent — say a candidate’s policy positions are more important than their race or ethnicity when deciding whom to vote for, says a new survey.

At the same time, a 68 per cent majority of Asian registered voters say it is extremely or very important to have a national leader who can advance the concerns of the US Asian community, according to the Pew Research Center survey conducted from July 5, 2022 to January 27, 2023.

The findings assume relevance as the 2024 US presidential election approaches with two candidates of Indian ancestry, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, running for the Republican nomination.

The survey — conducted among 7,006 Asian adults living in the US — said Asian Americans continue to be underrepresented among elected officials in the country compared with their share of the country’s population.

As of the beginning of the 118th Congress, 16 House members and two senators claim Asian ancestry.

Asian registered voters tend to prefer the Democratic Party — 62 per cent are Democrats or lean Democratic, while 34 per cent are Republicans leaners.

Issues Asian American voters care most about

About four in 10 registered Asian American voters, or 41 per cent, say inflation is the most important issue facing their local community — by far the most common issue cited during this extended survey period, which ended in January.

Economic inequality (16 per cent) is the second-most mentioned issue, followed by violent crime (11 per cent) and racism (9 per cent).

These concerns follow reports of violence against Asian Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japanese registered voters (28 per cent) are more likely than Chinese (15 per cent) and Indian (13 per cent) voters to view economic inequality as the biggest issue facing their community.

Among Indian registered voters, 15 per cent say climate change is the most important issue facing their community. This is higher than the share saying the same among Filipino (7 per cent), Chinese (6 per cent), Japanese (6 per cent) and Vietnamese (5 per cent) voters.

Asian American voters’ views differ by political party

The survey noted that Asian Republican voters are more likely than their Democratic counterparts to view inflation as the most important issue facing the community they live in.

Even so, it is the most cited top issue for both groups.

Asian Democratic voters are more than twice as likely as Republicans to say economic inequality is the biggest issue facing their community.

Economic inequality is the second-most cited issue among Asian Democratic voters.

Among Asian Republican voters, violent crime is the second-most cited issue.

In addition, Asian registered voters born in the US are slightly more likely than immigrants to view economic inequality as the most important issue facing their community.

However, the importance of issues varies less by nativity than by party among Asian Americans.

Sports

Asian Games: Bopanna-Bhosale reach mixed doubles final, assured of medal

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Indian ace 43 year old Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale secure their spot in the mixed doubles final event and also assured a medal

Published Date – 01:37 PM, Fri – 29 September 23


Asian Games: Bopanna-Bhosale reach mixed doubles final, assured of medal



Hangzhou: The Indian ace 43 year old Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale secure their spot in the mixed doubles final event and also assured a medal with a 6-1, 3-6, [10-4] victory over Chinese Taipei in the semifinal at the ongoing 19th Asian Games on Friday.

The dynamic pair of Bopanna and Bhosale won the first set 6-1 against Chinese Taipei’s Yu-hsiou Hsu and Hao-ching Chang.

However, in the second set India pair lost control and faced some stiff competition as the Taipei duo took the second set to send the semifinal contest into a winner-takes-all super-tiebreaker, which meant that the first pair to score 10 points will advance to the summit clash match.

The Indian pair prevailed in the tie breaker winning 10-4 to storm into the final and assuring themselves of a medal. The veteran Rohan Bopanna making up for his disappointing first-round exit in the men’s doubles event.

The 43-year-old Bopanna and Bhosale, who advanced into the gold medal match, will take on another Taipei pair in the form of Tsung-hao Huang and En-shuo Liang in the final on Saturday.

In the quarterfinals, the Indian duo had defeated Grigoriy Lomakin and Zhibek Kulambayeva of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday.

Earlier in the men’s doubles gold medal match, the Indian pair of Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan won silver after suffering a 4-6 4-6 defeat against the Chinese Taipei duo of Yu-hsiou Hsu and Jason Jung.

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"AAP Committed To INDIA": Arvind Kejriwal Amid Row With Congress In Punjab

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'AAP Committed To INDIA': Arvind Kejriwal Amid Row With Congress In Punjab

New Delhi:
The AAP is “fully committed to the INDIA” opposition bloc, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Friday, even as leaders from his party and the Congress are locked in a bitter row in Punjab over the arrest of MLA Sukhpal Khaira on drugs charges.

Here are the top 10 points in this big story:

  1. Arvind Kejriwal – who this month played down talk of infighting in INDIA – sought once again to calm troubled waters. “AAP is committed to INDIA… AAP will not separate from INDIA alliance,” he told reporters.

  2. However, he also said his party remains committed to the war on drugs. “I have come to know Punjab Police arrested some Congress leader yesterday. I do not have details… you can get from the police. We have waged a war against drugs… I will not comment on any individual case but we are committed to ending addiction.”

  3. Mr Khaira’s arrest over a 2015 drugs case has spawned a rapidly escalating AAP vs Congress fight. Both are part of the INDIA bloc that hopes to work together to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP in this year’s state polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha election. For the latter they were expected to hold talks to share seats.

  4. Earlier today, sources said Punjab Congress leaders told their high command the AAP is “targeting” senior figures, and cited the arrests of ex-ministers Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and ex-Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni. All three were arrested before Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who is now in police custody.

  5. Amarinder Raja Warring, the Congress’ Punjab chief, claimed he was stopped from meeting Mr Khaira and attacked both Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the police, and said Governor Banwari Lal Purohit had been briefed about the “false case” against Mr Khaira. “We can’t be silent. We will fight till the end…” he declared.

  6. The AAP has dismissed claims of a “political vendetta” and has insisted that Sukhpal Khaira’s arrest is part of its “zero tolerance policy” against drugs. An AAP Punjab spokesperson said “sufficient admissible evidence” had been found. He blamed the earlier Akali Dal-led government for not arresting Mr Khaira at the time. 

  7. As part of INDIA’s plans, the AAP and Congress were to divide seats in three states – Punjab and Delhi (where the AAP is in power) and BJP-ruled Gujarat – but, at least in the former, regional rivalries spurred by tension over Mr Khaira’s arrest, have left any deal on the brink.

  8. Mr Khaira’s arrest was significant because he is one of those most vocal against any alliance with the AAP in the state. He is also Chairman (at national level) of the Congress’ Kisan Cell and is therefore both a party office-bearer and lawmaker.

  9. In his first comments on the row, Congress national boss Mallikarjun Kharge has said that “if anyone does injustice to us, then we are not the ones who will tolerate it”. “I will take its details… but whatever may be the case, if someone does injustice, they don’t survive for long,” he said.

  10. And it isn’t just the Congress’ state leaders refusing to play ball; Minister Anmol Gagan Mann has claimed “directions” from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to insist the AAP will contest all 13 seats.

With input from agencies

World

At least 15 killed, over 50 injured in explosion in Pakistan

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Local Pakistani media said that a powerful bomb was detonated at a rally celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in southwest Pakistan, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens of others, local Pakistani officials and media reports say.

Mastung Assistant Commissioner (AC) Attahul Munim confirmed the casualties to the local English newspaper Dawn, while City Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Javed Lehri said a police official was among the dead.

The bombing occurred in Mastung, a district in Balochistan province on Friday, said government administrator Atta Ullah, according to Dawn.

City Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Javed Lehri said the explosion was a “suicide blast” and that the bomber exploded himself near the car of DSP Gishkori who was to remain on the sidelines of the procession.

Muslims in Pakistan and around the world celebrate the birthday of Islam’s prophet by holding public gatherings.

Earlier this month, at least 11 people, including a prominent religious leader, were injured in a blast in the same district, the Dawn newspaper said.

MNA