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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Harmeet Desai eyes 2026 Asian Games, begins preparations with UTT
Two-time CWG champion Harmeet Desai is focussed on a podium finish at next year's Asian Games in Japan and will use the sixth season of Ultimate Table Tennis, which will feature many accomplished players, to kick-start his preparations for the continent event. Desai, currently ranked 66th in the world, bagged gold medals in men's team event at the 2018 Gold Coast and 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He also has a bronze medal in men's doubles at Gold Coast and a bronze at the men's team event in 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. "I don't like to predict so much. I am just taking it step by step, at the moment I am just focussing on UTT," Desai, who will be turning out for two-time champions Goa Challengers in the eight-team UTT, told PTI. "Definitely more important tournaments are coming. Next is Slovenia WTT tournament, Asian Games is also lined up next year so my focus is on to that as of now. "The UTT is a great platform to start my preparations for the Asian Games as many world champions, Asian champions and Olympians are participating in the event," he added. Goa Challengers are two-time defending champions, having won the title in 2023 and 2024 and are eyeing a hat-trick of crowns. He feels the league has changed the face of the sport in India. It began in 2017 but because of COVID two seasons didn't happen. "If you see the graph of Indian table tennis it has risen a lot. We used to be ranked around No.30 in the world but now we came up to top-10 in the recent past," Desai said. "In the last Olympics both the teams qualified for the very first time. We have been winning medals at the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games. So many players have entered into top-100 in world rankings. "The juniors have been really doing well. Senior women team got into top-25 in the world rankings. These kind of things never happened before, so all credit goes to UTT because it gave us exposure to learn from foreign players, foreign coaches," he added. Desai, who is from Surat, is excited to play in his home state, which is hosting the tournament for the first time. "It's first UTT season in Gujarat, my home state, so I am really excited to perform before home fans. So it's a big opportunity to inspire youngsters who are taking table tennis as a future prospect. "It will great platform youngsters of Gujarat to watch international players, including 32 Olympians," he noted. The sixth season of UTT will be held at the EKA Arena here from May 31 till June 15.
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aniq wary of new threats following weight class revision
KUALA LUMPUR: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan is expecting to face a new set of rivals when he begins competing in the new under-60 kilogramme weight class later this year. Aniq previously competed in the under-61kg category and did well to finish fourth at the Paris Olympics last year. The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has, however, conducted a revision of weight classes in the sport which will come into effect on June 1. Aniq's under-61kg class has been replaced with an under-60kg category while the under-55kg class has been removed completely. "I am sure there will be new contenders in this under-60kg class because it is now the smallest weight class available," said Aniq recently. "Those who previously competed in the under-55kg class will definitely move up to under-60kg. "I can roughly guess which nations will be dangerous in this new under-60kg division. China will obviously be strong and so will North Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. "We will have to wait until the World Championships in Norway (Oct 2-11) to get a clearer picture. By then we can start to crunch the numbers and get a clearer picture of what we need to finish in the top-four (in global competitions). "It is tricky because it appears like they (IWF) are making changes to the weight classes every two Olympic cycles, so we have to be ready to adjust." Aniq had previously competed in the under-55kg class and won silver (clean and jerk) at the 2021 World Championships and gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the division. He stepped up to the under-61kg class in 2023 and won bronze (clean and jerk) at the World Championships that year and two silvers (clean and jerk, overall) at the world meet last year. The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in India (Aug 24-30) will be Aniq's first competition in the under-60kg class. The meet will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Telegraph
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Calling in Army to deal with bin strike proves Government's failure
While the Armed Forces are renowned for fighting wars, another key string in the military's bow is its contribution to resilience. When a request known as military aid to the civilian authorities (Maca) comes in from any government department, the Ministry of Defence will assess whether it meets the criteria. If it does, the Armed Forces will help. A key principle that must be met is whether there is a threat to life. However, as The Telegraph revealed on Sunday, the decision to send in troops to tackle the Birmingham bin crisis after Angela Rayner's department submitted a Maca request for help has left a sour taste in many mouths. By calling on the military to sort out a problem that Ms Rayner, the Housing Secretary, failed to resolve when she met with union chiefs last week, it suggests that the Government has failed. Labour cannot use central government funding to fix the problem because it would be deemed too toxic to do so, which means it will instead rely on the trusty military, which routinely (and uncomplainingly) answers the call to help whenever it comes. The Armed Forces are often called in for 'niche' support, such as assisting the police with explosive ordnance disposal or providing specialist aerial imagery. They also support major events, with thousands of troops supporting police during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the Olympic Games in 2012. Involvement in industrial action isn't unprecedented, with almost 250 military fuel tanker drivers mucking in during a 2021 national shortage of HGV drivers. After the July 7 bombings, the MoD provided logistical and technical support in London, while the Cumbria floods of 2009 saw search and rescue helicopters locating stranded civilians. In 2014, the military assisted with flood defences across the country, in a response led by Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, who would go on to become the head of the Army. More than 3,500 service personnel were involved in rescuing those whose homes were underwater, as well as removing an aqua-dam and constructing metal barriers to divert the flow of rivers. But it is the Covid pandemic that has stayed most prominently in public minds, as tens of thousands of personnel were drafted in for more than 400 Maca requests when the NHS became overwhelmed. It is with this in mind that MPs and defence sources have questioned the decision to bring in troops to sort out a bin crisis they believe should have been resolved by Ms Rayner and the unions. However, with the unions unequivocal that the deal backed by the Deputy Prime Minister will not be accepted, many have questioned Labour's ability to solve the dispute and asked where it can go next. One source accused Ms Rayner of 'floundering', adding that the 'union is adamant and they are Labour's paymaster'. What they are clear on is that the Army cannot be relied on indefinitely. Sir Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, told The Telegraph that it was a 'scandal' to involve the military, adding that the Army should not have been enlisted to sort out Birmingham city council's mess. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, accused Labour of 'complete failure' to deal with the trade unions. He told The Telegraph: 'The reality is the councils with the Government should have found an alternative way to clear the bins. It's not beyond the wit of man to solve this, rather than bring in soldiers. 'If they asked for volunteers in the area, gave them the vehicles and paid them the wages I believe you would get them. Had they done this early they would have brought Unite to the table. Instead, they will cave to the unions but the Army can't be there all the time. They can't hanging around being the bin cleaners. 'It is a very bad use of the Army and as someone who served in the Army when the Green Goddess strikes were underway when firefighters were striking, the Army can't be the go-to all the time.' Sir Iain added: 'Less than a year after Labour get into power they already have to use emergency procedures because the trade unions are saying up yours. This is not a lasting solution and it's bad for the Army.' A defence source familiar with Maca operations said that conversations ensuring 'all options had been exhausted' would have taken place before the MoD agreed to deploy service personnel to help in the Birmingham bin crisis. However, if further requests came into Standing Joint Command (UK), he cautioned against what would be 'damaging' images of soldiers litter picking at a time where the military is fighting its own crisis in recruitment and retention. 'It's one thing to help out with floods or fires, backfill for armed police in terrorist situations, or a Covid situation, it's another thing where servicemen and women are being asked to do someone's job in a local dispute where arguably lives are not at risk,' he said. However, the source explained that they understood the rationale of calling on the Armed Forces in this scenario. 'The military plans for everything, we have some very expert individuals who can go somewhere and see the wood for the trees. The expertise offered from people who do it all the time – they look at resources available and know what can be achieved, and with what capabilities – rather than those who don't practise planning on a daily basis.'
CNN
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Ozzy Osbourne to reunite with Black Sabbath for farewell concert
Ozzy Osbourne has announced that the original members of Black Sabbath will play a concert together for the first time in 20 years. In a post on X, Osbourne revealed that he would reunite with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward to play one final show at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on July 5. 'It's my time to go Back to the Beginning… time for me to give back to the place where I was born,' said Osbourne. 'How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.' Osbourne will play his own short set in the multi-artist show before joining with the band for his 'final bow,' the announcement said. Other musicians performing at 'Back to the Beginning' include Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, Alice in Chains and Anthrax. 'This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever,' the post quoted the concert's music director, Tom Morello, as saying. Formed in Birmingham in 1968, Black Sabbath went on to become one of the most successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide, according to Osbourne's post. Back in 2022, he surprised attendees at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a mini Black Sabbath reunion, rocking out on stage with Iommi. Though Osbourne had a farewell tour set to begin in 2023, he was forced to cancel the shows due to poor health. 'My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak,' he said in a statement at the time. Osbourne, 76, later told Rolling Stone that he would 'die a happy man' if he could perform in one more show to express his gratitude to fans from the stage. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, hinted at the upcoming concert in an interview with Rolling Stone last year, telling the magazine that Osbourne was ready to give his fans a sendoff in his hometown. Tickets for the concert go on sale February 14, with profits going to various charities.
CNN
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Ozzy Osbourne to reunite with Black Sabbath for farewell concert
Ozzy Osbourne has announced that the original members of Black Sabbath will play a concert together for the first time in 20 years. In a post on X, Osbourne revealed that he would reunite with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward to play one final show at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on July 5. 'It's my time to go Back to the Beginning… time for me to give back to the place where I was born,' said Osbourne. 'How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.' Osbourne will play his own short set in the multi-artist show before joining with the band for his 'final bow,' the announcement said. Other musicians performing at 'Back to the Beginning' include Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, Alice in Chains and Anthrax. 'This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever,' the post quoted the concert's music director, Tom Morello, as saying. Formed in Birmingham in 1968, Black Sabbath went on to become one of the most successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide, according to Osbourne's post. Back in 2022, he surprised attendees at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a mini Black Sabbath reunion, rocking out on stage with Iommi. Though Osbourne had a farewell tour set to begin in 2023, he was forced to cancel the shows due to poor health. 'My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak,' he said in a statement at the time. Osbourne, 76, later told Rolling Stone that he would 'die a happy man' if he could perform in one more show to express his gratitude to fans from the stage. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, hinted at the upcoming concert in an interview with Rolling Stone last year, telling the magazine that Osbourne was ready to give his fans a sendoff in his hometown. Tickets for the concert go on sale February 14, with profits going to various charities.
