Mairaj Ahmad Khan, a 50-year-old Indian skeet shooter, is set to compete in his fourth Asian Games, showcasing remarkable longevity. The article traces his unique journey from a promising cricketer, who even played with Virender Sehwag, to becoming a decorated shooter with Olympic appearances and World Cup medals. Despite past disappointments, Khan approaches the upcoming games with renewed spirit, embodying wisdom gained over decades in sport.
Holding-company discounts and losses at key unlisted ventures could weigh on Tata Sons' IPO valuation, though its diversified portfolio may still command a premium.
The Supreme Court has granted the Centre a final opportunity to present measures taken to prevent the circulation of child sexual exploitation and abuse material on social media platforms, following a petition highlighting inconsistent compliance by intermediaries.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav visited Lovely Professional University (LPU) after student protests erupted over an alleged rape and vandalism. He stated that police used maximum restraint but would take strict action against those involved in violence. An FIR has been registered and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the rape allegation, while police also facilitated dialogue between students and university authorities to resolve administrative grievances.
India's teenage squash sensation Anahat Singh staged a remarkable comeback from two games down to defeat Japan's Satomi Watanabe and reach the Asian Games women's singles final. Her victory puts her one step closer to securing a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Olympics, a thought that motivated her throughout the challenging semifinal match.
Long-distance runner Abhishek Pal, selected for the Asian Games, has received a notice from NADA for an alleged doping violation. While not yet provisionally suspended, a banned substance, possibly a female fertility drug, was found in his sample, raising concerns about his participation in the upcoming games.
Murali Sreeshankar clinched a silver medal in the men's long jump at the Asian Games, contributing to India's growing athletics medal tally. Despite an ankle injury, Sreeshankar achieved a best jump of 8.07m. The day also saw other Indian athletes, including Parul Chaudhary, Gulveer Singh, and Vithya Ramraj, secure additional medals in various track and field events.
Indian shooting contingent members, including Elavenil Valarivan, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anantjit Singh Naruka, and Raiza Dhillon, received a warm welcome upon their return to Delhi after winning medals at the Asian Games. Elavenil expressed confidence despite missing gold, highlighting her win against world and Olympic champions.
Indian archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru defeated compatriot Sahil Jadhav in a close 149-148 contest at the Asian Games men's compound event, securing his spot in the quarterfinals. Both archers had previously overcome their initial opponents, with Thirumuru now set to face Chinese Taipei's Chieh-lun Chen.
Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her independent entry into politics, starting her journey in Uttar Pradesh. She aims to create a platform to voice public grievances and challenge systemic issues, focusing on intent and justice rather than party politics.
George Russell secured a hard-fought victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off a late charge from Max Verstappen after two safety car periods disrupted his comfortable lead. The win marks Russell's third of the season and significantly narrows the championship gap to teammate Kimi Antonelli. Isack Hadjar also celebrated a podium finish, while several other drivers faced incidents.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly supported India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He stated that any reform of the UNSC should not grant additional seats to Western countries like Germany and Japan, citing their "militarism and revanchism." Instead, Russia advocates for increased representation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, specifically backing India and Brazil, while also emphasizing the need to address African interests.
Vozinha went from 56,000 to 28 million Instagram followers after Cape Verde's World Cup run. Now the goalkeeper says he wants his old life back.
Heavy rainfall has severely impacted Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand, leading to casualties, widespread flooding, and significant disruptions. The Char Dham Yatra was suspended, flights were cancelled, and standing crops were damaged. Other regions like Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Delhi also experienced varied weather conditions, including snowfall and light rains.
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha met the Indian men's cricket team in Nagoya, expressing her pride and wishing them well for their Asian Games campaign.
A 32-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner in Jaipur, who then buried her body in the garden of their rented house and fled. The crime was discovered by the landlord when he found a hand protruding from freshly dug soil. Police are investigating and searching for the accused.
UK counter-terror police are leading an investigation after five men were arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of terror offences and under the Explosives Act, following a call about three suspicious vehicles. The incident prompted a major response, including the Army's Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit and the evacuation of 85 households.
Students at a private university in Patiala protested and allegedly damaged a police vehicle following unverified claims of two female students' suicides on campus. University authorities have denied the claims, calling them rumours, while police have launched an inquiry into the matter.
Pakistan volleyball captain Murad Jehan expressed frustration over logistical mismanagement at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after his team was taken to the wrong venue, leaving them short on warm-up time and forcing players to change on the bus.
India added significantly to its Asian Games medal tally with strong performances across athletics, squash, and boxing. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare secured silver medals in long jump and high jump respectively, while Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra earned bronzes. Despite high hopes, Indian squash players missed out on Olympic berths, settling for silvers. Boxing saw three athletes advance to semifinals, assuring more medals, though individual badminton campaigns concluded without a medal.
Indian men's doubles badminton player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy discusses the reasons behind his and Chirag Shetty's unexpected first-round exit from the Asian Games. He highlights the need to improve their mental game and acknowledges their opponents' strong comeback, while Chirag Shetty admits they could have played smarter.
India's men's and women's Kabaddi teams successfully defended their gold medals at the Asian Games, both defeating Iran in their respective finals. The men's team secured their ninth gold with a 40-34 victory, while the women's team clinched their fourth gold with a 37-34 win, showcasing strategic play and composure under pressure.
Indian badminton doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, world No. 5, suffered a surprising first-round exit at the Asian Games, losing to Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun. The duo cited a demanding schedule, lack of recovery, and mental struggles as factors, while also acknowledging their opponents' strong performance.
George Russell secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a dominant performance, setting a lap time significantly faster than his rivals. His Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli crashed out during qualifying, paving the way for Russell's 12th career pole. Other top contenders like Max Verstappen faced issues, while several drivers incurred grid penalties, setting the stage for a potentially unpredictable race on the challenging Baku street circuit.
Erling Haaland's double against Denmark took his Norway tally to 64 goals in 56 games, surpassing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo while sealing Norway's first competitive win over Denmark.
Shailesh Chandra, MD and CEO of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV), stated that the uncertainty surrounding how long commodity costs will remain elevated is a greater concern for the company than the actual price increases. He noted that commodity prices have risen significantly over the past five to six months, impacting margins and necessitating faster cost-reduction efforts, though no major production or supply-side issues are currently foreseen.
Thailand's Puripol Boonson made history by winning the 200 metres gold, completing an Asian Games sprint double and matching the Asian record, while China's 18-year-old javelin sensation Yan Ziyi defeated an Olympic champion for her first gold.
Leading appliance and consumer electronics manufacturers are set to increase prices of air conditioners, LED TVs, washing machines, and other products by 5 to 8 per cent from October 1, citing rising input costs for metals like copper and steel, crude derivatives, and currency exchange volatility due to the West Asia crisis.
Indian table tennis players Manush Shah and Yashaswini Ghorpade were defeated in their singles pre-quarterfinals at the Asian Games, concluding India's table tennis campaign.
India continued its strong performance at the Asian Games, securing more medals across various disciplines. Shooter Esha Singh won a hard-fought silver in the women's 25m pistol, while Gulveer Singh added another silver in the men's 1500m. Other notable achievements include Kurash player Picky Balhara's bronze, Vithya Ramraj breaking a national record for bronze in hurdles, and several boxers, the men's cricket team, and squash teams advancing. However, some defending champions faced early exits.
Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, engaged in violent protests, vandalising property and clashing with police over unverified claims of a female student being raped on campus. The unrest led to the suspension of classes and postponement of exams, while police registered a rape case and formed an SIT, despite the university denying the allegations as 'rumours'.
Mamata Banerjee, former West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo, alleged that her party leaders were kept under "house arrest" and prevented from attending a rally in Serampore. She accused BJP workers of blocking routes and the police of inaction, comparing the situation to "atrocities" seen in African countries.
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Saturday demanded punishment for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid an ongoing political row over the SIR exercise, declaring that "Kala Pani" is the appropriate punishment for Kumar based on the magnitude of his position and the alleged gravity of his misconduct.
The INDIA bloc is set to convene on September 30 in New Delhi to formulate a unified strategy regarding the Election Commission, focusing on the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The meeting will also address coordinated protests and the CEC selection process, bringing together diverse opposition parties.
Sawan Barwal secured an unexpected silver medal in the Asian Games marathon, shattering his own national record with a time of 2:11:37.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated several Indian athletes for their medal-winning performances at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. He specifically lauded silver medallists Ancy Sojan (long jump), Anahat Singh (squash), Abhay Singh (squash), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), and bronze medallists Harita Bhadra (200m), Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon), and Parul Chaudhary (steeplechase), highlighting their dedication and achievements.
'There is a long set of decisions that have to be made along the way for anything to actually get actuated in the real world.'
The Indian Coast Guard successfully rescued a Belize-flagged vessel, MT Seagull 9, with 23 crew members off the coast of Paradip, Odisha. The vessel, carrying palm oil, suffered engine failure and rapid ballast tank flooding, leading to a dangerous tilt. Swift action by ICG ship 'Vishwast' and a specialist damage control team prevented a major maritime incident and potential environmental disaster.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh clarified his stance on his political future and loyalty to the BJP, stating it is his duty to voice his feelings about Punjab to the party, but this does not imply he is quitting. He also reflected on his long political career and the current "difficult times" while attending a book launch.
