Category Archives: Women/Girls (since October 30-2023

In Donald Trump’s moment, Indian Americans notch up historic seven seats in US Congress

Nine desis contested this election and out of them six – all of them Democrats – have won the race to the US House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current House.

Donald Trump has already started his victory speech and the Republicans have already won the United States Senate, but Indian Americans too have quite a bit to celebrate in this election season in America.

Nine desis contested this election and out of them seven – all of them Democrats – have won the race to the US House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current House. 

This is the most number of US Representatives the community has ever had in the US Congress.

The Telegraph Online looks at these Indian Americans who have made the community proud this year.

  1. Shri Thanedar

Shri Thanedar has won the contest for the thirteenth Congressional District of Michigan with 80,462 votes, defeating his Republican rival Martell Bivings who got 39,385 votes, according to The New York Times.

Thanedar, 69, was born in Karnataka and came to the US to pursue a doctorate in the year 1979. After dabbling with a career in business, he took the plunge in politics in 2018.

According to his website, he got elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in Congress in 2022. And he helped pass the “largest increase in per-pupil funding for Michigan Public Schools in state history”.

2. Ro Khanna

Ro Khanna has won the race from the seventeenth Congressional District of California winning 80, 112 votes as against Republican Anita Chen, who managed 36,837 votes.

Khanna, 48, is a lawyer who was born in the US. In 2016, Khanna is currently serving his third term representing California’s 17th District. This district covers part of the famed Silicon Valley, the home to global tech multinationals.

Khanna’s first brush with politics came when he was a student at the University of Chicago and campaigned for Barack Obama during his initial years. 

Khanna, whose “grandfather participated in Gandhi’s independence movement in India, spending several years in jail for promoting human rights,” says that he is committed to public service because he believes in the American Dream that inspired his family.

3. Suhas Subramanyam

The 38-year-old Suhas Subramanyam has won a close contest from the tenth Congressional District of Virginia winning 207,131 votes as against Republican Mike Clancy, who got 190, 227 votes.

Suhas’s mother relocated from Bengaluru to the US to unite with his father.

Suhas first got involved in public work when he organised volunteers to help people affected by hurricane Katrina.

A lawyer, he had earlier served as a White House technology policy adviser to President Barack Obama.

“I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia’s 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington,” Subramanyam said.

4. Pramila Jaypal

Another veteran Democrat, Pramila Jaypal, has won the race from the seventh Congressional District of Washington with 244,150 votes as against Dan Alexander, who got 42, 958 votes.

Jayapal, 59, was first elected in 2016.

Jayapal was born in Chennai and grew up in India, Indonesia and Singapore. She came to the US at the age of 16 to attend college at Georgetown University. She came back to India and stayed for two years in the late 1990s and this led her to write a book, ‘Pilgrimage to India: A Woman Revisits Her Homeland’.

She is known for being vocal about immigration rights.

5 . Raja Krishnamoorthi

Raja Krishnamoorthi, 51, has won the race from the eighth Congressional District of Illinois getting 163,721 votes as against Republican Mark Rice, who got 127,136 votes.

Krishanamoorthy is a lawyer who was first elected to the Congress in 2016.

“While the battles for control of the White House and Congress remain close, I am honoured that the people of Illinois’ 8th District have extended my contract to represent them in Congress,” Krishnamoorthi said.

“My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their family’s future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America,” Krishnamoorthi concluded.

“Despite some hard times, we did.”

6. Dr Ami Bera

A physician by profession, Dr Bera, 59, is a Gujarati and the senior-most Indian-American Congressman representing the sixth Congressional District of California since 2013. He was re-elected for the seventh consecutive term.

He has 132,712 votes as against his rival Christine Bish 128,606 votes when 63 per cent of the votes were counted.

7. Dr Amish Shah

In Arizona, Shah from the Democratic Party was slightly ahead of his Republican Party’s incumbent David Schweikett from the first Congressional District of Arizona.

He has 132,712 votes as against his rival’s 128,606 votes when 63 per cent of the votes were counted.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited) / six to seven edited

NATIONAL: LADY JUSTICE: Supreme Court Introduces New ‘Lady Justice’ Statue: A Symbol of Equality And Constitutional Values In Modern India

The Supreme Court of India has unveiled a new Lady Justice statue, symbolizing a modern approach to justice by removing her blindfold and replacing the sword with the Constitution, reflecting a commitment to equality and constitutional values.

On October 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of India unveiled a new statue of Lady Justice, featuring open eyes and holding the Indian Constitution instead of a sword. This transformation, commissioned by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, symbolizes a shift away from colonial legacies and emphasizes that justice in India is based on constitutional values rather than punitive authority. The statue stands in the judges’ library and reflects a commitment to equality and fairness in the legal system.

A Modern Symbol of Justice

The newly unveiled Lady Justice statue at the Supreme Court now has her eyes wide open, signifying that the law is not blind. The traditional sword has been replaced with a copy of the Indian Constitution, reinforcing the message that justice should be administered according to constitutional principles. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated, “The law is not blind; it sees everyone equally,” highlighting the importance of equality before the law. The statue retains the scales of justice in her right hand, symbolizing impartiality in judicial decisions. This change aims to promote a more inclusive understanding of justice in contemporary India.

Contextual Background

The unveiling aligns with ongoing reforms in India’s legal system, including efforts to replace colonial-era laws like the Indian Penal Code with more modern frameworks such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The removal of the blindfold from Lady Justice marks a significant departure from traditional representations, which often emphasized impartiality through blindness. Instead, this new portrayal seeks to reflect an evolving identity for the Indian judiciary that embraces its constitutional roots while shedding colonial symbols.

Questions and Answers

1. What changes were made to the Lady Justice statue?

The statue’s blindfold has been removed, and it now holds a copy of the Constitution instead of a sword. This symbolizes a shift towards constitutional values rather than punitive authority while retaining the scales of justice for balance.

2. Why was this redesign commissioned?

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud believes it is essential to move beyond colonial symbols that have historically represented justice. By removing the blindfold, he emphasizes that “the law is not blind” and sees everyone equally, reflecting modern Indian values.

3. Where is the new statue located?

The redesigned Lady Justice statue stands prominently in the judges’ library at the Supreme Court of India, symbolizing its importance within the judicial system.

4. When was this change officially unveiled?

The new statue was unveiled on October 16, 2024, as part of ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing India’s legal identity.

5. How does this change fit into broader legal reforms in India?

This redesign is part of a larger movement to replace colonial-era laws with contemporary legal frameworks, such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. It signifies a commitment to uphold justice based on constitutional principles rather than outdated practices.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

The redesign of Lady Justice is a powerful statement about India’s commitment to a fair and equitable legal system. By moving away from colonial symbols and embracing constitutional ideals, we foster a more empathetic approach to justice that resonates with all citizens. This transformation invites us to consider how such symbolic changes can enhance public trust in our judiciary. What are your thoughts on this new representation of justice? We encourage our readers to engage in this vital conversation for positive social change.

source/content: thelogicalindian.com (headline edited)

REGION-ASIA: SPORTS – TABLE TENNIS : 2024 Asian Table Tennis Championships, Astana: Ayhika-Sutirtha Secure India’s 1st-Ever Women’s Doubles Medal, Win Bronze

Ayhika and Sutirtha have become the first-ever all-India women’s doubles pair from India to win a medal at the competition.

Ayhika and Sutirtha have become the first-ever all-India women’s doubles pair from India to win a medal at the competition.

India’s top-ranked women’s doubles pair of Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee made history, securing a historic bronze medal, the country’s first-ever medal in the category, at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan on Sunday.

Ayhika and Sutirtha have become the first-ever all-India women’s doubles pair from India to win a medal at the competition. Back in 1952, Gool Nasikwala secured a gold medal in the women’s doubles competition alongside Japan’s Yoshiko Tanaka in the inaugural edition of the tournament, as per Olympics.com.

The Mukherjees, the world number 15th pair in women’s doubles rankings, were defeated by the Japan’s world number 33 duo of Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara with a 3-0 (4-11, 9-11, 9-11). The losing semifinalists are awarded the bronze medals in this competition.

Ayhika and Sutirta did have a four point lead against their opponent in the second game. However, Miwa, who was the part of Japan’s silver medal winning Paris Olympics 2024 team and Miyuu, a three-time World Championships medalist, staged a brilliant comeback to deny any further chance of a comeback to India.

The Mukherjees made history during the Asian Games last year, by securing India’s first-ever medal in their category, a bronze. In Tunis last year, the duo became the first Indians to win a World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender women’s doubles title.

India ends the Asian Table Tennis Championships with three medals, all bronze. The Indian women’s team opened up the tally with a historic bronze, the country’s first in women’s team category since 1972 when Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) started organising the competition, following a loss to Japan. It was followed by the Indian men’s team repeating the feat and getting a bronze.

Overall, the country’s tally across all Asian Table Tennis Championships stands at eight, all of them being bronze medals.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

source/content: sports.ndtv.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: BEACON of INDIA INC. : Ratan Tata family tree: From Jamsetji Tata to Maya Tata, know all the members here

Ratan Tata Family tree: Here’s a look at the family lineage of the Tatas.

Ratan Tata complete family Tree: Ratan Naval Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai Wednesday night. He was admitted following age-related health issues and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. Tata, a beacon of India Inc, steered his group amid India’s economic liberalisation and, subsequently, guided its global expansion.

Conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, Tata was considered one of the greatest philanthropists in the country who touched lives of millions through his work in the field of healthcare, education, drinking water and many other areas.

Here’s a look at the family tree of the Tatas

Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group was born to Nusserwanji Ratan Tata and Jeevanbai Kavasji Tata, in 1939. apart from Jamsetji, Nusserwanji had four other children — Ratanbai, Maneckbai, Virbaiji, Jerbai.

Born into a family of Parsi priests, Jamsetji broke the tradition as he started his own trading firm in 1868 at a young age of 29. He started with a textile mill in central India in the 1870s. His vision later set the foundation for technical education in India and helped the nation to be counted among the industrialised nations.

Jamsetji married Hirabai Daboo and had three children — Sir Dorabji Tata, Dhunbai Tata and Sir Ratan Tata. 

Dorabji, the elder son of Jamsetji, was instrumental in translating his father’s vision into reality. It was under his leadership that the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust was created, propelling the Tata tradition of philanthropy. Jamsetji’s younger son, Ratan, was a philanthropist who created a trust to fund educational development, alleviate human sufferings and other public utility works.

Sir Ratan Tata married Navjbai Sett and adopted Naval H Tata. Naval married Sonoo Commisariat and had two sons — Ratan N Tata and Jimmy N Tata. But Naval and Soonoo divorced when Ratan N Tata was only 10 years old. Naval later married Simone Dunoyer and with her, had a son, Noel Tata. Noel is Ratan and Jimmy’s half brother.

While Ratan and Jimmy never married, Noel tied knot with Aloo Mistry, sister of late Cyrus Mistry, who served as Chairman of Tata Group. Noel and Aloo have three children — Leah Tata, Maya Tata and Neville Tata.

Neville is married to Manasi Kirloskar and together they have two children – Jamset Tata and Tiana Tata.

Again, Jeevanbai Kavasji Tata’s brother Dadabhai Kavasji Tata (adopted son of Kavasji Maneckji Tata) had a son with his wife Bhikhibai. Dadabhai’s son Ratanji Dadabhai Tata married a French woman Suzanne Briere. They had five children — Syla Petit, Jehangir Ratanji Dababhai Tata, Rodabeh Tata, Darab Tata and Jimmy Tata. 

Jehangir or JRD Tata, who went on to become Tata Chairman, pioneered civil aviation on the subcontinent in 1932 by launching the airline which is now known as Air India.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL: LEADERSHIP AWARD: Nagaland IPS officer Pritpal Kaur wins ‘2024 IACP 40 Under 40’ awardee in the US-based International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) award for exemplary leadership

Achieving laurels for the country, Pritpal Kaur, Superintendent of Police of Phek district in Nagaland, has been selected as the ‘2024 IACP 40 Under 40’ awardee by the prestigious US-based International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

The dentist (Goldmetalist)-turned-IPS officer Kaur, is among 40 police officers selected from around the world for the award and the lone winner of the ‘2024 IACP 40 Under 40’ award from India this year.

IACP President (Chief Wade Carpenter) in a letter to 29-year-old Kaur, a native of Haryana, said: “You are part of an incredibly talented, accomplished, and dedicated group of individuals who demonstrate leadership and exemplify a deep commitment to the profession.”

The IACP, a not-for-profit organisation, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, has invited Kaur, a 2016 batch IPS officer, to the 2024 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts, to receive the prestigious award on October 22.

The awardees of the IACP signify the top rising leaders, exemplifying leadership, commitment and service to their communities and the law enforcement profession.

Sharing Kaur’s profile, the IACP wrote: “Since childhood, she has carried a passion for spreading education, and throughout her career, she has helped resolve conflicts and strengthen communities across India.”

“Kaur’s passion for policing began in her childhood when she served as the captain of her school sports team. As a doctor, she participated in many police-community projects, which took her to remote areas needing help from the police and gave Kaur great satisfaction and encouragement from helping people.”

The IACP said that she served as the first SP for a newly created border district, and she brought progress and peace to international borders, using her negotiation skills to avert border clashes and land disputes, and assisted in anti-drug efforts, providing treatment, counselling, rehabilitation, and livelihood to hundreds of people struggling with drug addiction.

“Kaur has dedicated her career to strengthening communities through innovative projects such as Fighting Drugs with Education and Livelihood and Not Guns but Machines, which teaches people how to apply their skills into making machines such as electric bicycles, dryers, and other low-cost machines,” the international body said.

According to IACP, Kaur attributes her enthusiasm for education and service to her mother, who believed that education is not just for making money, but for teaching and helping others.

“She carries this philosophy with her today as she teaches communities how to enhance their livelihood.”

The young IPS officer has earlier received several awards, including the International Inspiration Women Award 2023, Skoch Gold Award 2023, DGP Disc Award, Women Power India Award 2023, and Global Women Leader Award 2024 by World Women Leadership Congress 2024.

“One of her greatest honours was the granting of a tribal name during her work with tribal groups in Nagaland. Currently, she serves as an SP in the Indo-Myanmar border district of Phek.

“The virtue of keeping society always in order, more peaceful, and progressive made me choose the law enforcement career,” Kaur said.

She described the people of Nagaland as loving and loved to work with them.

“Nagas are self-sufficient tribes and very talented in all fields, I am just helping them to polish their own talent. They are so rich in culture and traditions. We just admire them,” she told the media, adding that the only thing the people lacked behind was a lack of opportunities in a few domains.

A senior Nagaland Police officer said that apart from performing her duty as a police officer, Kaur has taken up many social and welfare activities for the local populace in those districts whenever she was posted.

Earlier the IPS officer was posted as Superintendent of Police of the Longleng district in Nagaland.

According to the police officer, the activities she undertook, include, free coaching classes, livelihood training for drug addicts and counselling, career guidance to students, training in farming, biodiversity and environment protection, the war against drugs, formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs), education at all the levels, promotion of sports among others.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujitchakrabortyne@gmail.com)

–IANS

source/content: bhaskarlive.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: FIRST WOMAN CHIEF: Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin is first woman to be India’s top military doctor

The appointment comes two months after Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair took over as the Director General Medical Services (Army), the first woman officer to be appointed to the post.

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin on Tuesday took over as the director general of the Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), the first woman doctor to hold the position.

She has had 45 predecessors, all men.

“She has been at the forefront of motivating young women to join the armed forces and is a shining icon for the Nari Shakti initiative of the government,” the defence ministry said.

Sarin is 60 and will head AFMS for two years.

DGAFMS functions directly under the defence ministry and is responsible for medical policy matters related to the military. Before being appointed to the top position, Sarin was heading the navy’s medical services directorate. She has previously also served as DG Medical Services (Air) and director and commandant of the Pune-based Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC).

The development comes two months after Lieutenant General Sadhna Saxena Nair took over as the Director General Medical Services (Army), the first woman officer to be appointed to the position.

Sarin was commissioned into service in December 1985 after she graduated from AFMC. She is an MD in radiodiagnosis from AFMC, Diplomate National Board in radiation oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and has trained in Gamma Knife surgery (noninvasive radiation therapy) from the University of Pittsburgh in the US.

“In a career spanning 38 years, the Flag Officer has held prestigious academic and administrative appointments including professor and head, radiation oncology, Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and Command Hospital (Southern Command)/AFMC Pune, commanding officer, INHS Asvini, and command medical officer in the Indian Navy’s southern and western naval commands,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

She has the rare distinction of serving in all three branches of the armed forces — lieutenant to captain in the army, surgeon vice admiral in the navy and as an air marshal in the Indian Air Force. To be sure, military doctors can be posted from one service to another.

Sarin was recently appointed as a member of the national task force constituted on the Supreme Court’s directions to formulate safe working conditions and protocols for medical professionals.

The 10-member task force was constituted in August after the apex court took suo motu cognisance of the alleged rape and murder of a female resident doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, an incident that triggered nationwide protests with resident doctors in most government-run hospitals then going on strike.

According to the terms of reference, the task force will prepare an action plan categorised under two heads: a) prevention of violence against medical professionals and providing safe working conditions; b) providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, nurses, and all medical professionals.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: BEAUTY PAGEANT : Meet Dhruvi Patel, Miss India Worldwide 2024, a Gujarati NRI, techie, founder of…

This techie from Gujarat has been crowned as the Miss India Worldwide 2024.

Dhruvi Patel has been crowned as Miss India Worldwide 2024, the longest running Indian pageant outside of India. An NRI techie, Dhruvi has carved out her niche in the pageantry world and this is not the first time when she won a pageant. She has a hall of fame that speaks of the many titles she won and events she participated in. This techie turned pageant winner, started young and has bigger aspirations to complete.

“Winning Miss India Worldwide is such an incredible honour. It’s more than a crown – it represents my heritage, my values, and the opportunity to inspire others on a global scale,” Dhruvi said after her crowning in Edison, New Jersey.

Who is Dhruvi Patel, NRI techie with big dreams

Dhruvi has always been fascinated with world of fashion. Since the age of 8, Dhruvi was inclined towards the glitz and glamour for the pageantry realm. In an interview she mentioned, “Unfortunately, school commitments took precedence, and I couldn’t pursue my interest back then. Now, with a renewed passion, I am eager to balance academics and aspirations as I embark on my journey into the world of pageantry.”

In 2023, she was crowned Miss India New England. She has also won Miss Rhode Island and was a contestant in the Miss World America Pageant.

Patel’s roots speak of rich and vibrant culture of Gujarat. Currently, she resides in Hamden, Connecticut, with her parents and siblings. In a bid to pursue her passion in the field of IT, she joined Dhruvi joined Quinnipiac University in 2021 as Computer Information System student.

Well, Dhruvi is not just another engineer who won a title. The Indian origin techie aspires to one day become UNICEF brand ambassador and also make her debut in Bollywood! She runs a home-based nonprofit called 3D Charities. She runs the organisation along with her siblings Darsh and Dhriti.

Apart from preparing for pageants, working up as Computer Science professional, Patel also enjoys the realm of sports as per report.

About Miss India Worldwide 2024

Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname was declared the first runner-up, while Malvika Sharma from the Netherlands was adjudged the second runner-up in the same race, as reported by PTI. In the Mrs category, SuAnn Mouttet from Trinidad and Tobago was the winner, with Sneha Nambiar the first and Pawandip Kaur from the United Kingdom the second-runner up.

In the Teen category, Sierra Suret from Guadeloupe was crowned Miss Teen India Worldwide. Shreya Singh from the Netherlands and Shradha Tedjoe from Suriname were declared the first and second runners-up. The beauty pageant is organised by New York-based India Festival Committee and is headed by Indian-Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran.

The crown is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year.

source/content: india.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: IIMCAA Awards 2024: Anup Pandey wins journalist of the year trophy

Shagun Kapil won the agriculture reporter of the year, receiving a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.

 The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) has officially announced the winners of the IIMCAA Awards 2024, recognising excellence in journalism, advertising, and public relations. The event was marked by the crowning of Anup Pandey as the ‘journalist of the year’, a title accompanied by a trophy, certificate, and a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh.

In the agriculture reporter of the year category, Shagun Kapil emerged victorious, receiving a cash prize of ₹1 lakh. Other awardees, spanning diverse categories, were honored with trophies, certificates, and cash rewards of ₹50,000.

The winners across various categories were:

Rajat Mishra (Publishing Reporting)

Abhinav Goel (Broadcast Reporting)

Surabhi Singh (Producer)

Muhammad Sabith U M (Publishing Reporting in Indian Languages)

Shatarupa Samantaraya (Broadcast Reporting in Indian Languages)

Saransh Jain (Advertising)

Shillpi A Singh (PR)

Ofactor (Ad Agency)

Kaizzen (PR Agency)

The ‘Jury Special Mention’ category recognised noteworthy entries that narrowly missed out on the top honours. Awardees in this section included:

Abhishek Angad, Ritwika Mitra, Ashutosh Mishra, Manish Mishra, and Nidhi Tiwari (journalist of the year)

Diwash Gahatraj (agriculture reporting)

Parimal Kumar and Vishnukant Tiwari (broadcast reporting).

Rohan Kathpalia (producer of the year)

Supriya Sundriyal and Nikhil Swami (PR)

Distinguished attendees included former principal director general of PIB Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia; ADG Raj Kumar; special commissioner of the Delhi government Sushil Singh; and Rahul Sharma, managing director of the US-India Business Council. The event was presided over by IIMCAA president Simrat Gulati, while executive president Gayatri Shrivastava hosted the ceremony.

During the event, a souvenir book featuring the profiles and accomplishments of the award winners was released by Awards Auditor Unni Rajen Shanker, Convenor Vineet Handa, Coordinator Puja Mishra, and General Secretary Deeksha Saksena.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: SPORTS / CHESS: Team India win historic twin golds in both Men & Women, for the 1st time at the ‘2024 Chess Olympiad’

Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams secured their first gold medals during the tournament.

Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams secured gold on a historic Sunday at the 2024 Chess Olympiad. It began with the men being crowned champions in the open section.

The team claimed its first gold medal in the last round after second-placed China dropped points on two boards against the USA, while India’s Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh secured wins for the team.

Gukesh concluded the Olympiad for both the nation and himself with a victory over Slovenian Vladimir Fedoseev, helping India secure the historic gold medal. Arjun Erigaisi also claimed a win against Slovenian Jan Subelj on the tournament’s final day. Praggnanandhaa also ended his campaign with a win.

The Indian team had an almost perfect run, starting with eight wins before being held to a draw by Uzbekistan, the defending champions.

Nonetheless, India bounced back, defeating the USA in the penultimate round to clinch the title.

The men’s team for the open category consisted of Gukesh, Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa R, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and Srinath Narayanan. This marks India’s first Olympiad gold when the event is held in person, as the last gold was shared during the pandemic when the event took place online.

With this run in the 2024 Olympiad, India showcased its best performance to date. Their previous best performances were in 2022 on home soil (Chennai) and 2014 (Tromsø, Norway) when they clinched bronze.

Heading into the final round, India topped the board with 19 points, while China and Slovenia were in second and third place, respectively.

Indian Women’s team clinch maiden gold

The Indian women’s team also clinched gold in the 45th FIDE Women’s Chess Olympiad.

The Indian women’s team consisted of Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev and Abhijit Kunte (Captain).

In the final round Divya Deshmukh, D Harika and Vantika Agarwal won against their opponents while R Vaishali had to settle for a draw.

USA, which held title-chasing Kazakhstan to a draw helped the Indian women claim their first gold.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: AVIATION / IAF’s FIRST WOMAN PILOT: Alma mater hails its former student and Squadron Leader Mohana Singh the first woman fighter to fly Tejas

Celebrating the feat of Squadron Leader Mohana Singh, who made history by becoming the first woman pilot to fly Tejas, India’s indigenously built fighter jet, the Global Group of Colleges sent congratulatory messages to their former student and her family….

Celebrating the feat of Squadron Leader Mohana Singh, who made history by becoming the first woman pilot to fly Tejas, India’s indigenously built fighter jet, the Global Group of Colleges sent congratulatory messages to their former student and her family. Mohana Singh became the first woman pilot to fly India’s Tejas fighter jet during the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise in Jodhpur.

Sharing sentiments with the entire nation, Global Institute’s vice-chairman Akashdeep Chandi said it was a matter of pride that their alumna has rewritten history and shattered the glass ceiling by becoming a shining example of gender equality in the armed forces. “Mohana Singh was a student of B.Tech (Electronics & Communication) during the period 2009-2013. In 2016, she joined the IAF as one of the first woman fighter pilots. She is truly a trailblazer, whether it’s her feat of flying MiG-21 to joining LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas squadron, an elitist flying squadron of the Indian Air Force,” said Chandi. He also elaborated on her being a prolific student and an all-rounder. “She was a good student and also excelled in extracurricular activities, as she was always an active participant. Mohana Singh has set new standards for future generations of women fighter pilots, reaffirming that sky is no more the limit but just the beginning for those who dare to dream.”

Mohana Singh, who originally hails from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, stayed in Amritsar for four years as her father, Pratap Singh Jitarwal, now retired, served in the IAF as an officer.

source/content: tribuneindia.com (headline edited)