New Delhi, Ace Indian pistol shooter <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manu-Bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword> has set her sights on winning multiple medals at the Olympics in the future following her historic feat at the <keyword id="20242595" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Games" source="keywords">Paris Games</keyword>. The 22-year-old scripted history to become the first Indian athlete in post-independence era to win two <keyword id="22481252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympic-medals" source="keywords">Olympic medals</keyword> in a single edition of the Games. Bhaker won a bronze each in the women's 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team event -- where she had paired with <keyword id="22566736" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sarabjot-Singh" source="keywords">Sarabjot Singh</keyword>. She also came close to winning a third bronze in 25m pistol before finishing a creditable fourth in Paris. No Indian athlete has won more than two individual medals at the Olympics. "I think we all work hard to win medals. But if that happens (winning more than 2 individual medals at Olympics) then that would be great. The aim is to work hard and better this performance in the future," Bhaker told PTI Videos. "(I am) aiming to win many more Olympic medals for India," added Bhaker, who returned to the country after participating in the <keyword id="21485167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Closing-ceremony" source="keywords">closing ceremony</keyword>. Bhaker had the honour of being India's flagbearer alongside veteran hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh at the closing ceremony on Sunday. "Being the flag bearer was the opportunity of a lifetime, I am grateful that I got this opportunity and will cherish this for a lifetime," she said. "I have a very friendly bond with Sreejesh bhaiya. I have known him since I was a young kid. He is always very friendly, helpful and kind. He made it a lot easier for me in the closing ceremony." Bhaker had returned to India last week but had flown back to Paris for the closing ceremony were she was the joint-flagbearer. She was accompanied at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by her coach Jaspal Rana and mother Sumedha. "I am happy for her. I am happy for the players. When I went to Paris, I met the <keyword id="20601214" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hockey-team" source="keywords">Hockey team</keyword>, Aman Sehrawat, Neeraj Chopra. I just hope all these athletes keep winning medals and all the mothers of this nation will be happy," said Bhaker's mother. Bronze-winning <keyword id="20415656" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-hockey-team" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian hockey team" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian hockey team">Indian hockey team</keyword> players Sreejesh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Abhishek and Sanjay also arrived here in the morning. They were given a grand welcome by hundreds of fans who greeted them with garlands and dhols. "We are getting a lot of love, hockey players should get more love because we have got two medals (Tokyo and Paris Games). It has been great for the sport of hockey and hockey lovers of the country," Sumit said.

Manu Bhaker aims for multiple Olympic medals

Paris [France], August 4 (ANI): India's two-time Olympic bronze medallist <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manu-Bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword> is set to be <keyword id="485496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indias-flagbearer" source="Orion">India's flagbearer</keyword> in the <keyword id="21485167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="closing-ceremony" source="keywords">closing ceremony</keyword> of the <keyword id="4833237" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Olympics" source="Orion">Paris Olympics</keyword>. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sources stated that Bhaker will be India's women's flagbearer in the closing ceremony. India's men's flagbearer for the ceremony is yet to be confirmed. The closing ceremony of the Paris <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> will take place on August 11. Bhaker brought her A-game in Paris and broke numerous accolades to claim two bronze medals in the Summer Games. The Paris Olympics has been a redemption for the 22-year-old shooter. During the 10m air pistol qualification round in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, her gun malfunctioned, which led to a loss of time. She was left with a very short amount of time to carry out her quota of shots. She missed the top-eight finish required to qualify for the final round and finished in the 12th spot. Bhaker opened India's medal tally in the ongoing Olympics after she secured third place in the women's individual 10m Air pistol event. Following that, Sarabjot Singh and Bhaker won the Bronze medal in the 10m air pistol (mixed team) event. She had a shot at returning with three medals from Paris. But in her final event, she narrowly missed out on the historic grand treble and finished fourth in the women's 25m pistol shooting event. She missed out on the opportunity to become the first Indian to win three medals at the Olympics. Bhaker is the first athlete from the Indian contingent after independence to get two medals in a single edition of the Paris Olympics. Earlier in the 1900 Olympics, Norman Pritchard won two medals while representing India, both silver in the 200m and 200m hurdles. Bhaker also joined an elite group of athletes to have multiple individual medals at the Olympics: PV Sindhu (badminton silver at Rio 2016 and bronze medal at Tokyo 2020) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics).

Star shooter Manu Bhaker set to be India's flagbearer in Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony

New Delhi: <keyword id="20016187" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hockey" source="keywords">Hockey</keyword> goalkeeper <keyword id="20544212" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="PR-Sreejesh" source="keywords">PR Sreejesh</keyword> will accompany pistol shooter <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manu-bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword> as the joint flagbearers of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> during the closing ceremony of the ongoing Paris <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> 2024, the <keyword id="19896477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Olympic-Association" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Olympic Association" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Olympic Association">Indian Olympic Association</keyword> (IOA) has announced. Secretary General of <keyword id="20063115" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hockey-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hockey India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hockey India">Hockey India</keyword>, Bhola Nath Singh, heaped praise on Sreejesh for his exemplary leadership in India's bronze medal win at the Olympics. "PR Sreejesh deserved the honour of being the flag bearer. Hockey India extends its gratitude to the government for bestowing this prestigious recognition upon him," Bhola Nath told reporters. He confidently stated that the coutnry's team is the best in the world and capable of defeating anyone. "I can say it with utmost confidence, our team is the best in the world," Nath said while speaking to ANI. The organization celebrated the Indian team's remarkable achievement of securing back-to-back bronze medals, though they acknowledged the desire to have reached the final. "It has been an incredible achievement to win back-to-back bronze medals. We had hoped to reach the final. If <keyword id="21262191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amit-Rohidas" source="keywords">Amit Rohidas</keyword> hadn't been shown a red card, the outcome could have been different. With him on the field, we believe we could have won gold and his presence might have changed the result against Germany," he said. Singh emphasized that Amit Rohidas' absence from the semifinal may have impacted the team's performance and possibly altered the colour of their medal. Reflecting on the semifinal, Singh noted, "It simply wasn't our day." Despite the setback, the team's triumph in the bronze medal match was a source of national pride. Singh highlighted that millions tuned their television to watch the match, although many were unaware of their return to the country today, so, there was no crowd as such. "During the bronze medal match, 18-19 crore people were glued to their TV sets. Many were unaware of that we will be landing today, because we had not communicated it properly," Singh said. Secretary General of Hockey India also praised coach Craig Fulton for understanding the Indian players and the country so quicky. "Craig Fulton is a splendid coach. He understands the players of India and Hockey. He will be there with us till the next Olympics. In the 2028 Olympics, we will win the Gold medal for India," Singh said The celebration of the hockey bronze medal was a testament to the players' resilience and dedication. Hockey India, along with fans across the country, celebrated the players' success and their contribution to Indian sports.

PR Sreejesh and Manu Bhaker to be flagbearers of India during Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony

<keyword id="19896016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi" source="keywords">New Delhi</keyword>: Star pistol shooter <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manu-Bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword> arrived home on Wednesday after her historic feat at the ongoing <keyword id="20242595" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Games" source="keywords">Paris Games</keyword> where she became the first Indian in post Independence era to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics. The Air India direct flight (AI 142) which brought <keyword id="22601636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bhaker" source="keywords">Bhaker</keyword> from Paris to Delhi landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9:20am, delayed by one hour from the earlier scheduled time. Around 100 people waited at the airport long before her arrival despite the morning drizzle in the city. Among them were Bhaker's parents -- Ram Kishan and Sumedha -- and sports enthusiasts and officials from neighbouring states, including from Uttarakhand, the home state of Bhaker's personal coach Jaspal Rana, who also came back along with here. Rana's father was also among those present at the airport. People gathered at the airport long before her arrival and they celebrated Bhaker's feat with song and dance, beating of drums, holding banners with photos of Bhaker and Rana. Bhaker will go back to Paris on Saturday and will be the female flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday. The 22-year-old Bhaker won a bronze each in the women's 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team event -- where she had paired with Sarabjot Singh -- to script Olympic history for the country. Before her, British-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in 200m sprint and 200m hurdles at the 1900 Olympics but that achievement had come in the pre-Independence era.

Double Olympic bronze medal-winning shooter Manu Bhaker returns home

New Delhi: After meeting the <keyword id="20287873" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-contingent" source="keywords">Indian contingent</keyword> that recently returned from the <keyword id="20006192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Olympics" source="keywords">Paris Olympics</keyword>, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was an honour for him to host all the Indian athletes at his residence. On the occasion of Independence Day, <keyword id="19899320" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="PM-Modi" source="keywords">PM Modi</keyword> met the Indian contingent of the Paris <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> at his residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital on Thursday. During the meet, the Indian men's hockey team presented him with a signed jersey and hockey stick. "It is an honour to have you all here... <keyword id="20544212" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PR-Sreejesh" source="keywords">PR Sreejesh</keyword> proved why he is known as 'The Wall'. Everyone who won a medal and even those who lost by a point reiterated that this saga will not stop unless they win a Gold," PM Modi said while interacting with the Indian contingent. Shooter <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manu-Bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword>, who made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics, said PM Modi encouraged her a lot. "I felt great that I received the call from PM Sir after winning the medal. He has encouraged a lot," Bhaker said. Further, badminton player, Lakshya Sen spoke about his training with coach Prakash Padukone. "Prakash Sir took my phone during the matches at the Olympics and said that you will not get it till the end of the tournament. A lot of people supported me throughout the journey. I had a great running experience in Paris. It was a little bit heart-breaking as I came such close of winning a medal but was unable to win it. I will try to do better in the future," the shuttler said. Former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh also spoke about his journey and said, "I have been thinking of retiring for the last few years. I joined the camp in 2002 and played my first international match in 2004 at junior level. I have played since then and represented the country for 20 years so I thought that I should retire from the sport at a good level so the Olympics was that platform. It was hard for us as we lost the semifinal. Our A team went to Paris and we thought that we would compete for the gold medal. Ahead of the bronze medal match, every player said that we have to play for Sree bhai." India ended its campaign at the Paris Olympics with six medals including five bronze and a silver. Led by <keyword id="20349470" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harmanpreet-Singh" source="keywords">Harmanpreet Singh</keyword>, the Indian men's hockey team won back-to-back bronze medals for the first time in 52 years at the Olympics following their 2-1 triumph over Spain. In shooting, Manu Bhaker etched her name into the history books. She became the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics. This distinction was previously held by Norman Pritchard at the Paris 1900 Games. In the women's 10m air pistol event, Manu won a bronze medal, becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win a medal in this event. Alongside Sarabjot Singh, Manu secured her second bronze and India's first-ever medal in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. She narrowly missed a hat-trick of medals, finishing fourth in the women's 25m pistol shooting event at the Paris Olympics.

PM Narendra Modi meets Indian contingent of Paris Olympics, says it was an honour

The <keyword id="11932" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympic" source="Orion">Olympic</keyword>s, a grand stage for timeless rituals and traditions, embodies humanity's enduring pursuit of greatness and togetherness. From the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame to the grandeur of the opening ceremonies, each tradition tells its own unique story. Yet, amidst these historic customs, one curious practice stands out as a quirky relic from the past: athletes biting their medals. It's a sight as iconic as the Games themselves: athletes, beaming with pride on the podium, their medals catching the light. But as they pose for photographers, many can't resist the impulse to bite their hard-earned honours. Why do they do it? <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="From a historical tradition to a modern-day money shot" comment="subhead" text="From a historical tradition to a modern-day money shot">From a historical tradition to a modern-day money shot</cmsannotation> The tradition of <keyword id="22584047" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biting-medals" source="Orion">biting medals</keyword> has its roots in history, tracing back to an era when gold was used as currency. Merchants would chomp down on gold coins to test their authenticity, as pure gold is soft and would leave a mark if bitten. Fast forward to today, and Olympic medals are a far cry from solid gold. They consist of only about 6 grams of gold, with the remainder being silver and other metals. So, the athletes aren’t actually verifying the gold content when they give their medals a nibble. And yet, this quirky tradition has become so entrenched in Olympic culture that it’s almost expected. What began as a method to test the authenticity of medals has morphed into a celebratory gesture. Today, athletes bite their medals not to check for gold, but as part of the euphoria of their victory and, at times, to comply with photographers’ demands. Photographers often insist on this medal-biting pose, sometimes coaxing or even pressuring athletes to comply. David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians, has pointed out that the medal-biting pose is a coveted “money shot” for photographers. “It's become an obsession with the photographers. I think they look at it as an iconic shot, as something that you can probably sell. I don't think it's something the athletes would probably do on their own,” Wallechinsky told CNN back in 2012. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112009818" title="From sunbeams to Olympic dreams: How a simple mirror creates the legendary Olympic flame" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Some athletes have even suffered unpleasant consequences from this pose, like German luger David Moeller, who broke his tooth while biting his silver medal in 2010. Despite the risks, the medal-biting tradition shows no signs of slowing down. It's become an iconic part of the Olympic experience, capturing the thrill of victory in a single, unforgettable image. And as long as photographers keep asking for the shot, athletes will likely keep biting — even if they're not actually checking for real gold.

Bite-sized tradition: Why do Olympic winners bite their medals?

The entire list and a brief profile of 'Delhi ke nirmata'⁠— the makers of Delhi felicitated at Kejriwal's oath taking ceremony

<keyword id="20292631" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-mens-hockey-team" source="keywords">Indian men's hockey team</keyword> secured yet another medal, this time a bronze, for <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> at the ongoing <keyword id="20006192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Olympics" source="keywords">Paris Olympics</keyword>, thrashing Spain by 2-1, and finishing at the podium for the second consecutive time since the <keyword id="20262833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tokyo-Olympics" source="keywords">Tokyo Olympics</keyword>, where they had previously secured a bronze. For India, both goals in this match were scored by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, also popularly known as Sarpanch Sahab. For the first time in 50 years, India has won bronze medals in Olympics, back to back. India holds the distinction of being the country that holds the most number of Olympic medals in field hockey. With this, India takes its medal tally to four in this Olympics. All of them are bronze medals, won by Manu Bhaker (2), Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale in shooting. India came very close to winning medals in Paris 2024 Olympics, securing six 4th place finishes. These athletes include Arjun Babuta (shooting), Dhiraj Bommadevara/Ankita Bhakat (archery), Manu Bhaker (shooting), Anantjeet Singh Naruka/Maheshwari Chauhan (mixed team skeet shooting), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting) and Lakshya Sen (badminton). The medal comes as a soothing salve, as India nurses a series of brunts, following Vinesh Phogat's unfortunate disqualification from wrestling finals, and Antim Panghal's three-year ban imposed by the International Olympics Association (IOA), after she was found in breach of discipline. Her sister was arrested on charges of impersonation and entering the international athlete's village on Panghal's accredition card, following which the wrestler was sent back to India. After their gold medal triumph in 1980, the <keyword id="20415656" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-hockey-team" source="keywords">Indian hockey team</keyword> had to go through a long, 41-year drought, where the team won no medals, till Tokyo Olympics 2020, where we secured a bronze. To date, India has won 8 gold medals in hockey in Olympics, with the country's last gold medal in this sport coming in 1980. India did qualify for semi-finals in this Olympics and also came a step closer to winning silver or gold medal, but were defeated by Germany 3-2. Previously, India has also won a silver medal in 1960, alongside 3 bronze medals in 1968, 1972 and 2020. This is the last Olympic outing for star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who managed to save many a crucial hits from the opposition. The team dedicated the medal to him, squaring off his fantastic career, which began in 2006. He holds 2 Asian games gold medals, 4 Olympic hats, and over 300 games to his credit.

Paris Olympics: Indian men's hockey team wins bronze medal, repeat their feat from Tokyo Olympics

It took just two rounds of throws on Thursday night, and the fate of the men’s <keyword id="19934351" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="javelin-throw" source="keywords">javelin throw</keyword> final at the <keyword id="20201477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-2024-Olympics" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Paris 2024 Olympics" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Paris 2024 Olympics">Paris 2024 Olympics</keyword> seemed to have been sealed. As crores of Indians brimmed with anticipation for a historic gold repeat, a shiny silver landed on <keyword id="19968766" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Neeraj-Chopra" source="keywords">Neeraj Chopra</keyword>’s lap despite an incredibly gritty effort. On day 13 of the ongoing <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword>, India's golden boy had to settle for silver with a throw of 89.45m, which was very close to his personal best. However, Pakistan's <keyword id="20865533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arshad-Nadeem" source="keywords">Arshad Nadeem</keyword> stole the show, setting a new Olympic record and clinching the coveted <keyword id="20342188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-medal" source="keywords">gold medal</keyword>. He came up with a sensational throw of 92.97 metres in his second attempt that not only dethroned defending champion Neeraj but also created a new Olympic record. The earlier Olympic record stood at 90.57m in the name of Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway, set during the 2008 Beijing Games. Grenada’s Anderson Peters claimed bronze with best throw of 88.54 metres in his fourth attempt. <h2>Final moments of javelin throw in Paris 2024</h2>Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, also displayed immense courage and determination throughout the competition. With the sliver in Paris 2024, Neeraj became the fourth Indian athlete to clinch two individual Olympic medals, after shuttler PV Sindhu (one silver, one bronze), wrestler Sushil Kumar (one silver, one bronze) and shooter Manu Bhaker (two bronze). In the finals, however, reeling under the pressure to beat the record-breaking second throw from Nadeem, Neeraj fouled five times with four consecutive breaches after his second attempt of 89.45 m. In his sixth and final attempt, Nadeem again breached the coveted 90 m mark with an impressive of 91.79m to establish his dominance. Nadeem's exceptional performance proved to be insurmountable. Despite the disappointment of not defending his title, Chopra's <keyword id="19920397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="silver-medal" source="keywords">silver medal</keyword> remains a testament to his unwavering dedication and skill. It also marked India's first silver medal at the Paris Olympics so far. <h2>A new chapter in Indo-Pak sporting rivalry</h2>Nadeem's victory is a monumental moment in Pakistan’s sporting history, being the country’s first Olympics gold in athletics. His record-breaking throw has not only secured him Olympic glory but also marked a new chapter in the Indo-Pak sporting rivalry. Chopra and Nadeem have added a new dimension to this decades-old sporting narrative, showcasing the spirit of top-class competition and sportsmanship in athletics, which remains an underappreciated field in both countries. The 26-year-old Chopra had never lost to Nadeem in their earlier 10 clashes throughout World and Asian Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympics. As the dust settles on this thrilling final, both Chopra and Nadeem have etched their names in the annals of Olympic history. While India celebrates Chopra's silver, the subcontinent as a whole is bowing to the extraordinary talent displayed by both athletes. (With inputs from agencies) Also Read: <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112323364" title="A father recalls: It took a village to get behind Arshad Nadeem&amp;#39;s Olympic final qualification" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112379419" title="Paris Olympics: Indian men&amp;#39;s hockey team wins bronze medal, repeat their feat from Tokyo Olympics" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div>

Neeraj Chopra settles for India’s first silver in Paris 2024 as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem strikes gold with a new Olympic record in javelin throw

The Ambani-Merchant nuptials, culminated in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai after a series of celebrations spanning multiple countries over the past four months. Notably absent from the Mumbai reception, however, was Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, <keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>. Reports suggest that billionaire <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> had personally invited Rahul Gandi and Sonia Gandhi for his son Anant Ambani’s wedding. These speculations arose after the businessman was seen arriving at 10, Janpath. Sources close to Gandhi, however, had firmly denied his attendance, underlining a strategic move to reassert his image as a leader connected to the common citizen. Amid the celebrations, Rahul Gandhi was seen adressing a crowd of people. Talking about the grandeur of the event being held at the Jio World Convention Centre, he sardonically remarked how all of this was happening while the public was suffering. <div type="twitter" handle="pbhushan1" handlename="pbhushan1" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1812340770860413030"></div>Further, a video of the 54-year-old Congress leader waiting for his order at a Delhi pizzeria has gone viral. And many speculate that the timing of this co-incided with some of his allies attending the Ambani event. <div type="twitter" handle="mr_mayank" handlename="mr_mayank" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1812210852042572052"></div>While Gandhi's decision to abstain is seen as a deliberate stance against what he critiques as “crony capitalism”, particularly under the current <keyword id="20360422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NDA-government" source="keywords">NDA government</keyword>, some of his allies and colleagues from his party such as Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mamata Banerjee graced the occasion. Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> also attended the Ambani-Merchant reception to give his blessings to the happy couple. Andra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu was also in attendance. Read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pm-narendra-modi-attends-anant-ambani-and-radhika-merchants-star-studded-wedding-event/articleshow/111719695.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">PM Narendra Modi attends Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's star-studded wedding event</a> Amit Malviya, the national head of the Bharatiya Janata Party's IT cell, took a swipe at Gandhi's absence, insinuating that the Congress leader might be abroad, a notion that has stirred controversy in political circles. Malviya's comments also alluded to the participation of opposition leaders in the wedding festivities, contrasting sharply with their criticisms of prominent industrialists like Ambani and Adani. The <keyword id="20727512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ambani-wedding" source="keywords">Ambani wedding</keyword> saga, from its extravagant pre-wedding celebrations in Gujarat and Italy to the final celebrations in Mumbai, has been a magnet for media attention, showcasing the elite social circle of the Ambani family. While a majority of the festivities have come to an end, the event continues to attract equal parts admiration and scrutiny, particularly around the intricate web of political dynamics that surround them. Related: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/meet-the-rich-and-famous-people-in-mumbai-for-the-ambani-wedding/slidelist/111694174.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Meet the rich and famous people in Mumbai for the Ambani wedding</a>

Rahul Gandhi takes dig at politicians attending Ambani wedding bash while commoners are “dying of hunger”

<ul><li>Making a significant investment in Indian sports, <keyword id="138873" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Puma">PUMA</keyword> signs 15 Athletes and <keyword id="11623794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="3-para-athletes">3 Para Athletes</keyword> in India.</li><li>With an aim to spread a vision of hope, optimism and self-belief, PUMA has signed these athletes as a part of its latest brand campaign ‘Only See Great.’</li></ul>Sports brand PUMA has signed 18 Indian athletes who will represent the country in national and international events across sporting disciplines like shooting, hockey, track and field, boxing, table tennis, discus throw and badminton. It’s a major step for the brand as it continues to push boundaries and celebrate diversity in sports. Through its brand campaign ‘Only See Great’, PUMA aims to explore the very idea of achieving greatness and how these athletes have strived for it during extraordinary times. With an aim to bring about a mindset transformation towards equality in sports, the brand is focused on supporting talent across multiple sporting disciplines. In addition to ace boxing champion, <keyword id="47387" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mary-Kom">Mary Kom</keyword> and Indian national sprinter, <keyword id="1142452" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dutee-Chand">Dutee Chand</keyword>, the brand has signed a bevy of big-hitters like boxer Pooja Rani; track and field athlete Tejinder Singh; shooter Manu Bhaker; swimmer Srihari Nataraj; hockey players Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Savita Punia, Sushila Chanu, Navneet Kaur, Navjot Kaur, <keyword id="809404" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vandana-Katariya">Vandana Katariya</keyword>, Gurjit Kaur and Udita Duhan. The list also includes para-athletes like shooter Avani Lekhara; table tennis champ Bhavina Patel and discus throw athlete Ekta Bhayan. “We are thrilled and honored to sign some of the country’s finest athletes. As they continue to lead the way with their strength and athleticism, it's equally important to work with them to break down barriers on the field of play. As a brand, we strongly believe that being unique is a great strength and our unwavering commitment to inclusivity in sports is testament to this,” said Abhishek Ganguly, Managing Director, <keyword id="11623792" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="puma-india-southeast-asia">PUMA India &amp; Southeast Asia</keyword>. “Our athletes have time and again proven their mettle. I am sure with their grit and determination they will continue to outperform themselves. I wish them good luck in their pursuit to achieve greatness and make our country proud,” he added. With their eyes set on the challenge, each athlete will be showcasing their prowess as they set out to achieve their own moment of greatness in sport. PUMA’s ‘Only See Great’ campaign puts the spotlight on them as they strive for greatness, listening to their hearts, and finding a vision that no one else can see. Mary Kom said, “I have been associated with PUMA for over two years now and I am proud of the fact that the brand has always been at the forefront of encouraging the spirit of sports. For any athlete, grit, passion and hard work are the key ingredients to success. My boxing journey has not been that easy, but with years of practice, hard work and determination, I achieved the improbable. I am glad to represent India in the international sports circuit after such a long time.” Dutee Chand added, “PUMA was my very first brand association and will always be very close to my heart. I’m thrilled and proud to see the brand encourage athletes across sporting fields and support them in their journey to achieve greatness. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, I believe that my hard work has brought me closer to my goal. My single focused aim is to win more laurels for the country in national and international sporting events.” Commenting on the association, Ekta Bhayan said, “Everybody has the right to dream, don’t let disability define you. I hope my sporting journey sets an example for others that nothing can stop them. I am so thrilled to be associated with PUMA at this juncture in my sporting career. It’s great to see the brand continuing to break stereotypes and champion inclusivity in sports.”

You Searched For "Manu Bhaker closing ceremony" and got 11 results

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Rahul Gandhi takes dig at politicians attending Ambani wedding bash while commoners are “dying of hunger”

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