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Kolkata, Apr 4 (PTI) 'Na kha payegi, na chal payegi... isse toh bhala isko zeher de do." Those were the cruel words neighbours and relatives hurled at Payal Nag's family in Balangir in Odisha after she lost all four limbs to electrocution as a child in 2015. On Saturday evening in Bangkok, the same girl, now 18, stood ''tall' on the global stage, winning double gold at the World Archery Para Series in a journey that has turned pain into purpose and silence into a statement. Payal stunned India's most decorated para archer the world No 1, Sheetal Devi, 139-136 in the compound women's final and also combined with her for the team gold, as India topped the medal standings with 16 medals (seven gold, five silver, four bronze). The turning point in her life came on a morning in 2015. A class 3 student then, Payal was playing with her younger brother on the fifth floor newly constructed terrace of an under-construction building in Raipur, where her father worked as a mason after migrating from Odisha in search of livelihood. There was water on the terrace and a live wire had come in contact with it. In a split second, everything changed. The electric shock left her critically injured, and doctors had no option but to amputate all four limbs to save her life. "I don't want to talk about the accident today," Payal said quietly in a mixed emotion of pain and joy. "Not today please... I can talk about it some other time." The tragedy pushed the already struggling family of six members into deep despair. With no means to care for her, her parents -- Bijay Kumar Nag and Janata --who hailed from a village Jamunabahal about 70kms from Balangir eventually put her in Parbati Giri Bal Niketan, an orphanage near Balangir. It was during those days that the harshest words came. "Na kha payegi, na chal payegi isse toh bhala isko jaher de do... (She won't be able to eat, she won't be able to walk... it would be better to poison her," Kuldeep Vedwan, who spotted her, recalled. "The parents were helpless and they put her in the orphanage run by the district adminstration." ABCD in archery ============== Her life-changing turning point came in 2023 when coach Kuldeep Vedwan spotted her on social media. "I saw her photo on Twitter... she didn't have any arms or legs. I was determined to bring her to my academy (hri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board)," Vedwan told PTI. "I made Sheetal Devi a champion and I always believed Payal could also become one. She was exactly the kind I was looking for." But getting her out of the orphanage and to convince everyone about something (archery) alien to them required effort. "I had to write to the district collector to get permission," he added. When Payal first reached the academy in Katra and saw others including Sheetal Devi training, she broke down. "Mui kenta chaleibi, mor toh haath per nai (How will I manage without limbs)," she said in Balangir dialect, her eyes filled with tears. Vedwan reassured her: "Leave everything to me, you just work hard." She followed that advice with discipline, training nearly eight hours a day. The device ========= Getting her to shoot, however, required innovation and patience. "For Sheetal, the releaser which was developed by me was enough. But for Payal, the challenge was bigger -- how would she lift the bow without legs?" he added. Vedwan designed customised equipment, including a steel device fitted to her prosthetic leg to lift the bow, and spent months perfecting it. First there were two devices fitted to her prosthetic legs. "It took me three months to tune her to the equipment. Only when she started scoring 350-355 out of 36 arrows did I know she was ready," he said. But it was with the twin devices which was not permissible in International compeition so after Payal was confident with that Vedwan went a step ahead to make the single device fitted to her right prosthetic leg. Her international debut came at the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games after World Archery approved her customised equipment, making her the world's first quadruple amputee archer to compete internationally. Sister support ============= Her rise since then has been remarkable. Making her debut at the 2025 Jaipur Nationals, she defeated Sheetal in to win double gold (ranking and Olympic rounds). She followed it up with a silver at the Khelo India Para Games and another at the Nationals in Patiala earlier this year -- both times losing to Sheetal. And in Bangkok, she delivered her biggest moment yet. "She has it in her to win multiple gold medals for India at the Asian Para Games and even the LA Paralympics," Vedwan said. "Sheetal has proved it, and Payal will carry that legacy forward." Through all the struggles, one constant has been her elder sister Barsha. "I'm really thankful to my sister. She has been with me like my shadow," Payal said. "All my success is because of her." Barsha, who even assists her during competitions, summed it up best. "People would say many things... maybe because of that she became so strong," her sister Barsha told PTI from Bangkok. "Today her success is a response to all those talks. I just want to thank those people." PTI TAP KHS
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Indian hockey player Jarmanpreet Singh said that the return of the Hockey India League (HIL) will help up-and-coming players learn more about the overseas players and would help India in ultimately securing the gold medal in Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Jarmanpreet spoke to ANI about the return of the Hockey India League, team India winning the Paris Olympics 2024 bronze and the Asian Champions Trophy, the retirement of legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh etc. Speaking about the return of HIL, Jarmanpreet said to ANI, "Yes (if it will help Team India get LA 20 ...Read More >
Archery is more than a sport; it's a meditative discipline that blends precision, control, and calmness. It's not merely about launching arrows; it's a craft that cultivates patience, focus, and discipline. While it may seem intimidating for beginners, with regular practice and proper techniques, anyone can conquer this timeless art. So, here are some crucial tips to help you start your archery journey. The key to mastering archery starts with a solid stance. Stand side-on to your target, feet shoulder-width apart. Balance your weight on both feet, keeping your body relaxed but strong. This s ...Read More >
OCCRP had published news articles against Adani; BJP MP Sambit Patra calls Rahul 'traitor of highest order' After a hiatus of two days, the Winter Session of Parliament plunged into chaos again Thursday, this time due to the ruling BJP targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of being part of a plan to "derail" India's economy and "disrupt" its democracy. Senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the matter in the Lok Sabha, alleging that a "dangerous triangle" ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) India began their campaign in the 20th Asian Women's Handball Championship (AWHC) 2024 with a battling 31-28 win over Hong Kong here on Tuesday. India's win was mainly due to brilliant performances from Bhawana Sharma and Menika. India started the match positively, scoring their first goal of the tournament through Priyanka Thakur, who was instrumental in India's historic win at the 2022 Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship. Moments later, experienced campaigner Menika opened her account, putting India in a position of strength. India also showed their sturdy d ...Read More >
Muzaffarnagar (UP), Dec 6 (PTI) A teacher who asked other students to slap a Muslim boy in a school here surrendered at a POCSO court and was released on bail, an official said on Friday. Tripta Tyagi was caught last year in a video asking children to slap a boy in a school where she taught. Additional District Judge (POCSO) Alka Bharti on Thursday granted her bail and ordered her to furnish two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. She posted the matter for further hearing on Friday. Kapil Ahlawat, Tyagi's lawyer, told PTI that Tyagi had surrendered in the Special POCSO court on Thursday and sought ...Read More >
Mumbai, (UNI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit (MZU), has successfully busted a major gold extraction and refining facility involved in the illegal melting of smuggled gold, officials said here on Tuesday. Acting on a specific intelligence, DRI officers conducted searches at three related locations, leading to the recovery of substantial quantities of smuggled gold, silver, and cash. The operation resulted in the seizure of 23.92 kilograms of gold bars and melted form, including foreign-marked gold, along with 37 kilograms of silver. Additionally, cash amount ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Veteran journalist and writer Humra Quraishi, who died due to heart failure and diabetic complications, was known as an advocate for truth, justice and as a champion for the marginalised. Quraishi breathed her last at a hospital in Gurugram on Thursday, her daughter Sarah Quraishi told PTI. She was 70. Also Read | Indian Army's 'Sambhav' Smart Phone Used During China Border Talks for Secure Communication. Born in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh on April 25, 1956, Quraishi worked as a Delhi-based writer and columnist. Also Read | Saif Ali Khan Stabbing Case: 'Bring a S ...Read More >
Itanagar, Dec 5 (PTI) The Arunachal Pradesh government has inked a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Indian Army for the maintenance and upkeep of the Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing Museum of Valour in Tawang district. The memorandum was signed by Tawang Deputy Commissioner Kangki Darang and Brigadier VS Rajput of the 190 Mountain Brigade on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. With this agreement, the museum will be effectively managed solely by the Indian Army, an official statement said here on Thursday. On the occasion, Khandu paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai P ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) The government on Thursday came out with the definition of green steel and asked the industry to take measures to bring down carbon emissions below the level of 2.2 tonnes on per tonne of finished products. Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy also released a 'taxonomy on green steel' with parameters for giving star ratings on products based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during the production process. The steel industry has been the backbone of India's industrial growth and it is imperative that this vital sector undergoes a transformative shift towards ...Read More >
Chennai: The capacity utilisation of the domestic steel industry is set to drop to 78 per cent for the first time in four years. In order to check unprecedented imports, the government is considering imposing a 25 per cent duty on steel imports. Cheaper imports from China and countries under Free Trade Agreement along with ongoing capacity addition can lead to capacity utilisation of domestic steel mills dropping from 85 per cent in FY2024 to an estimated 78 per cent in the current fiscal, the lowest we have seen in the last four years. The domestic steel industry witnessed an all-time high ...Read More >
Kottayam (Kerala), Dec 12 (PTI) The historic struggle for equality that took place in Vaikom a century ago, popularly known as the Vaikom Satyagraha, was not a movement confined to Kerala but marked the starting point for various other struggles for social justice, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Thursday. In his address at Vaikom in this district after inaugurating the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial and Periyar Library, Stalin said that while impressive strides have been made in areas of social justice and economy in 100 years, a lot more has to be achieved. Stalin inaugur ...Read More >
Hours after Atul Subash's wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha and brother Anurag were arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide, the Bengaluru techie's father, Pawan Kumar Modi has questioned where Atul's four-year-old son is and said the family was worried about him. Modi thanked the police for arresting the woman and her family members. However, he said, "We don't know where she has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don't know anything about him. I want my grandson ...Read More >
Sambhal (UP), Dec 15 (PTI) Weeks after violent clashes over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid claimed four lives, the district administration has launched a campaign against encroachments and illegal power theft in the area around the historic mosque. As part of its efforts, the administration began removing encroachments from the area on Sunday morning. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra, the focus is on clearing drains outside houses and shops in the area under the Nakhasa police station. The area is close to the residence of Samajwadi Part ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off the 'Fit India Cycling Drive' at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Tuesday. Close to 500 cycling enthusiasts joined the three kilometres ride from the stadium to Raisina Hills and back, the initiative aimed at promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. Also Read | ZIM vs AFG 2024: Rahmanullah Gurbaz Ruled Out of Zimbabwe ODI Series With Quadriceps and Hip Flexor Injuries. The event was flagged off by Mandaviya in the presence of Raksha Khadse, the minister of state (Sports), MP Tej ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Gold prices fell Rs 200 to Rs 79,100 per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday amid a firm trend in international markets, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity settled at Rs 79,300 per 10 grams in the previous session. Snapping a three-day losing run, silver climbed Rs 500 to Rs 92,000 per kg on Wednesday. It closed at Rs 91,500 per kg on Tuesday. In the last three sessions, the white metal plunged Rs 5,500 per kg. The price of gold of 99.5 per cent purity slipped Rs 200 to Rs 78,700 per 10 grams from the ...Read More >
IMAGE: Vikrant Massey in The Sabarmati Express. At 46, Quentin Tarantino said he would quit Hollywood at the age of 60 after he directs his 10th movie, reasoning he wouldn't want to linger on past his prime. He's 61 now and still deciding on the script of his much-hyped grand finale. Academy-award winner Daniel Day Lewis announced he would hang his boots in 2017 only to make an exception, seven years later for son Ronan's direction, Anemone. Back home, Vikrant Massey is grabbing headlines by his sudden decision to retire from films. 'Coming 2025, we would meet each other for one last time ...Read More >
Following violence in Sambhal on November 24 related to a mosque survey, authorities plan to publicly display posters of over 400 identified individuals involved. 32 have been arrested so far. The posters will exclude those arrested. The government aims to hold those responsible for property damage accountable. Four people were killed, and many injured during the clash.The Sambhal administration on Thursday said it will put up posters of those involved in the November 24 violence. "We will put up ...Read More >
The Andhra Pradesh government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google. The tech giant will launch its operations from Visakhapatnam in the State. Making the announcement at the district collectors' conference on Wednesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said HRD Minister Nara Lokesh's efforts have paved the way for this. The MoU was a significant development and would be a game changer. Visakhapatnam is poised for transformative growth, Mr. Naidu said. The chief minister, in ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Gold prices climbed Rs 500 to Rs 80,900 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday due to persistent buying by retailers and jewellers, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity finished at Rs 80,400 per 10 grams in the previous trading session. The yellow metal has jumped nearly Rs 2,000 in the past three sessions. Silver also rallied Rs 700 to Rs 97,000 per kg on Thursday. The white metal settled at Rs 96,300 per kg in the previous session. The price of gold of 99.5 per cent purity also surged Rs 500 to Rs 80,5 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-job scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that Chatterjee shall be released on February 1, 2025 subject to the trial court framing charges before the winter vacation and examination of vulnerable witnesses by the second and third week of January 2025. The top court said upon his release Chatterjee shall not hold any public office but can continue as MLA. The bench said that a suspect canno ...Read More >
Chennai, Dec 18 (VOICE) The Tamil Nadu police have ramped up security measures at border check posts with Kerala after reports of medical waste being dumped in a public area at Palavoor, Kadangallur, in Tirunelveli district surfaced.Patrolling has been intensified across various check posts in districts including Kanyakumari, Coimbatore, Gudalur, and Theni. Tirunelveli district police have warned of strict action against those involved in the illegal disposal. Environmental activists allege that large quantities of medical waste are being transported illegally from Kerala and dumped in Tamil ...Read More >
Shimla, Jan 14 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Police has filed an FIR against two men from Haryana for allegedly raping a married woman in a hotel in Kasauli, officials said on Tuesday. The accused, Mohanlal Badoli and Jai Bhagwan alias Rocky, also made videos of the act and threatened to kill the victim if she disclosed the incident to anyone, they said. The FIR was registered in Kasauli in Solan district on December 13, 2024. A copy of the FIR was doing the rounds on social media on Tuesday. According to the FIR, the woman was staying in a hotel in Kasauli with her boss and friend when she and he ...Read More >
American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, known for his quest to reverse aging, experienced the effects of Mumbai's air pollution during his India tour. Promoting his book Don't Die, Johnson detailed his discomfort despite using air purifiers and masks. He adhered to his rigorous health routine, carrying all his meals and supplements for the six-day trip. The visit included an exclusive meetup with prominent figures like Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, showcasing his dedication to health and longevity advocacy.Bryan Johnson, the American entrepreneur renowned for his anti-aging mission, has drawn atten ...Read More >
Bill Gates' comments on India's potential as a 'laboratory to try things' during a podcast have sparked backlash among Indian social media users, who felt the remark was disrespectful. While some saw it as reducing India to a testing ground, others defended Gates, claiming his statement was misinterpreted. Bill Gates' latest comments on a podcast with Reid Hoffman have set off a firestorm of controversy among Indian commentators. In a discussion, he referred to India as a "kind of laboratory to try things," which has caused great outrage and accusations of disrespect. The tech mogul has faced ...Read More >
Dhanbad/Gumla, Dec 4 (PTI) Thousands of people from various Hindu organisations on Wednesday took out rallies in Jharkhand's Dhanbad and Gumla cities in protest against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. Demanding the immediate release of Das, the protesters urged the Indian government to intervene and stop the atrocities being perpetrated on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country. In Dhanbad, Hindu Rashtriya Samanvya Samiti (HRSS) organised the protest, which was attended by members of Dhanbad ISKCON, Bajrang Dal, BJP and other o ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-job scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that Chatterjee shall be released on February 1, 2025 subject to the trial court framing charges before the winter vacation and examination of vulnerable witnesses by the second and third week of January 2025. Also Read | Atul Subhash Suicide Case: Wife Nikita Singhania Absconds, Karnataka Police Arrest Her Mother, Brother From Uttar Pradesh's Jaunp ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 17 (PTI) The rupee consolidated in a narrow range and settled for the day higher by 1 paisa at 84.90 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, weighed down by disappointing trade balance data and weak domestic markets. Forex traders said the rupee is likely to remain under pressure due to concerns over slowdown in the economy and dollar demand from importers and foreign banks. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 84.89 and touched an all-time low of 84.93 against the greenback during intra-day trade. The unit finally ended the session marginally higher by ...Read More >
New Delhi: Gold prices slipped below Rs 79,000 per 10 kg in the national capital on Wednesday due to poor offtake by stockists and retailers amid weak global trends, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity fell by Rs 150 to Rs 78,850 per 10 grams. It had closed at Rs 79,000 per 10 grams in the previous session. Price of gold of 99.5 per cent purity extended the losses for the third straight day, declining by Rs 150 to Rs 78,450 per 10 grams from the previous close of Rs 78,600 per 10 grams. However, silver rose Rs 100 to Rs 92,500 per kg. On ...Read More >
Aryan Meena, who lived in the Dausa district of Rajasthan state, was trapped in the narrow well for three days after falling into it while playing on Monday afternoon. The boy, wearing pants and a t-shirt, had to endure plummeting winter temperatures inside the well as well as hunger and thirst. Children and even adult people dying from falling into open borewells is not uncommon in rural India where they are dug to pump water for irrigation and drinking and left abandoned after they run dry. ...Read More >
SSAB, a Nordic and US-based steel company, along with its subsidiary Ruukki Construction, has announced a donation of roofing products and steel to aid in the reconstruction of war-damaged buildings in Ukraine. This philanthropic effort is in collaboration with the nongovernmental organisation OperationAid, focusing on the Mykolaiv region's urgent rebuilding needs. The donation includes approximately 3,000m² of colour-coated steel for roofing, manufactured at Ruukki's plant near Ukrainian capi ...Read More >