Paris Paralympics: Suhas Yathiraj, Sukant Kadam Start Singles Campaigns On Winning Note

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Paris Paralympics: Suhas Yathiraj, Sukant Kadam Start Singles Campaigns On Wi...

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Yathiraj will have to next beat Kyung Hwan Shin of South Korea to advance as only the group winners make it to the semifinals

In the same SL4 category, India's Sukant Kadam and Tarun Dhillon also won their first match in their respective groups

In the Mixed Doubles SH6 section, India's Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan lost their opening match to the American combine of Miles Krajewski and Simon Jayci

Paris, Aug 29: Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj had a mixed day while Sukant Kadam won his opening match in the group stage on the opening day of badminton competitions in the Paralympic Games here Thursday.

Yathiraj, who is an IAS officer of the 2007 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre and has served as District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar & Prayagraj, started the day with a defeat in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU 5 partnering Palak Kohli. They lost to compatriots Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan 0-2 (14-21, 17-21) at Court 4 of the La Chapelle Arena in the French Capital.

The 41-year-old shuttler then came back a couple of hours later to start his campaign in the men's singles SL4 on a rousing note, defeating Indonesia's Hikmat Ramdani 21-7, 21-5 in just 22 minutes in his first match in Group A.

Kyung Hwan Shin of South Korea is the third player in the preliminary Group A. Yathiraj will have to next beat the Korean to advance as only the group winners make it to the semifinals.

In the same SL4 category, India's Sukant Kadam and Tarun Dhillon also won their first match in their respective groups. Yathiraj is the top seed in his category.

In Group B, Kadam started his campaign with a hard-fought three-game win over fourth seed Mohd Amin Burhanuddin of Malaysia. Kadam defeated the Malaysian 2-1 (17-21, 21-15, 22-20) in a 61-minute encounter. Thailand's Siripong Teamarrom is the third player in the group.

In Group D, India's 30-year-old Tarun Dhillon got the better of Brazil's Rogerio Junior Xavier de Oliveira 2-0 (21-17, 21-19). Tarun had represented the country in the Tokyo Paralympics but had failed to win any medals.

India suffered a setback in the Women's Singles SL3 category as both Manasi Joshi and Mandeep Kaur lost their opening matches. The 35-year-old Manasi, who is making her Paralympic Games debut in Paris, ran into top seed Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh of Indonesia in her first match in Group A and put up a superb fight before going down 1-2.

Manasi won the first game but lost the next two to lose the match 21-16, 13-21, 18-21. She put up a strong fight in the third game but could not go all the way. Ukraine's Oksana Kozyna is the third player in the group.

In the Mixed Doubles SH6 section, India's Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan lost their opening match to the American combine of Miles Krajewski and Simon Jayci 0-2 (21-23, 11-21.

All is not lost for the Indian pair as they need to beat the third pair in the group, Natthapong Meechai to keep their hopes alive to advance to the next stage as two pairs from the group will qualify for the semifinals.

(IANS)

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Habishyalis' 'Maha Kartika Brata' Begins In Puri

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Puri, Oct 18: The serene and devotional atmosphere of Puri was enhanced further as Habishyalis started to observe a month-long vow, named 'Pabitra Kartika Brata' with the beginning of the holy month of Kartika on Friday.

More than 2500 Habishyalis from different parts of the State have been accommodated in four temporary camps in Puri. They will stay in the camps and observe Kartika Brata through the entire month of Kartika.

The Bratadharis took baths in their camps and did 'Maha Sankalpa' (Sacred promise to observe the Brata) at the Tulsi Chaura.

As per the tradition, the Habishyalis will go to the Shreemandir to have the Darshan of Lord Jagannath in Radha Damodar Besha every day.

The State government has created all facilities to help Habishyalis observe their Brata throughout the Kartika month.

Process For Choosing Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Begins

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bhubaneswar, Oct 18: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has started a process of selecting a leader for the post of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president, which has been lying vacant for a few months following the general elections.

The AICC has entrusted Charan Das Mahanta, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader of Chhattisgarh, with the responsibilities of preparing a report on the organizational work and leadership regarding the Pradesh Congress Committee. He has been advised to coordinate with senior leader Meenakshi Nataranj and visit Odisha at the earliest.

AICC general secretary KC Venugopal has written to Charan Das Mahanta in this regard.

The PCC headed by Sarat Pattanaik was dissolved on July 21 after the dismal performance of the Congress in the general elections in Odisha. After that, the AICC formed a steering committee to manage party affairs in the State.

Delhi Chokes As Air Quality Deteriorates

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, Oct 18: Delhi's air quality is deteriorating rapidly and the average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 293 on Friday.

In several parts of the national capital, the AQI has fallen into the 'severe' category, posing significant health risks. People are experiencing difficulty in breathing due to the hazardous air.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), as of 9 a.m. on Friday, Delhi's average AQI stands at 293. Meanwhile, in the surrounding NCR areas, Faridabad recorded an AQI of 194, Gurugram 196, Ghaziabad 247, Greater Noida 296, and Noida 242.

In several parts of Delhi, the AQI levels are hovering between 300 and 400, indicating severe pollution. Notable areas include Wazirpur (379), Vivek Vihar (327), Shadipur (337), Rohini (362), Punjabi Bagh (312), Patparganj (344), Narela (312), Mundka (375), Jahangirpuri (354), Dwarka Sector 8 (324), Bawana (339), Anand Vihar (342), and Alipur (307).

Rahul, a Delhi resident sharing his concerns, stated that pollution levels have significantly risen in recent days. He expressed frustration, saying that every year, the government makes lofty promises to control pollution but no effective action is taken. He is experiencing breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and sore throat, prompting him to wear a mask while outdoors.

"Pollution has made it extremely hard to breathe," he said.

In order to curb increasing pollution, the Delhi government has implemented GRAP-1. Chief Minister Atishi and Environment Minister Gopal Rai had a meeting with officials regarding the increasing pollution in Delhi. After this meeting, it was told that 99 teams would inspect the construction sites to check dust pollution. 200 anti-smog guns from PWD, 30 from MCD, 14 from NCRTC and 80 from DMRC will also be deployed.

Apart from this, the Delhi government has appealed to people not to burn crackers, and if any pollution-causing activities are done anywhere, then they should inform on the Green Delhi app.

--IANS

Paris Paralympics: Suhas Yathiraj, Sukant Kadam Start Singles Campaigns On Winning Note

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