Latest news with #DilpreetSingh
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
FIH men's Hockey Pro League 2024-25: India endures 1-2 defeat against the Netherlands
The India men's hockey team went down 1-2 against the host in its first fixture of the Netherlands leg of the men's FIH Hockey Pro League at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. India captain Harmanpreet Singh (19') handed the visitor the lead in a fiercely contested battle before Thijs van Dam (29', 58') registered a brace for the Netherlands. India began the encounter on a strong note, dominating possession with crisp passing despite the Netherlands' high press. While the first eight minutes didn't yield any real threats on goal from either side, India's best opportunity of the day came when it won the ball inside the Dutch circle. Dilpreet Singh's reverse hit, however, was shut down at close range by goalkeeper Maurits Visser. At the other end, the Netherlands threatened late in the quarter as Thierry Brinkman approached the right flank, but the Indian defence stood firm to avert the danger. The Netherlands came out with intent in the second quarter, with Steijn van Heijningen testing Suraj Karkera in the 17th minute, only for the Indian goalkeeper to block the effort away. READ: FIH Pro League 2024-25: All you need to know, points table, schedule, live streaming info India responded with purpose and was rewarded with a penalty corner after Dilpreet Singh was impeded by a stick challenge inside the circle. Harmanpreet stepped up and fired a powerful, low shot to give India the lead. As the quarter progressed, India exhibited a tight defensive formation, but the home team managed to break through in the 24th minute with van Dam finding the equaliser leaving the scores at 1-1 before half-time. As the second half began, India's strong passing game was at the centre of proceedings, but the visitor was encumbered by a lack of clear scoring opportunities and shots on goal. To break the deadlock, India looked to bypass the midfield with long aerial balls, but the Dutch defence was up to the task. At the other end, the Netherlands grew increasingly assertive, posing more questions of the Indian backline, though the deadlock remained intact at 1–1 after a tepid third quarter. Netherlands had the lion's share of possession in the final quarter, and the host made it count. Van Dam struck again in the 58th minute, making the most of a well-placed pass into the circle. With a deft first touch to control, he followed up with a fierce strike, ensuring victory for the Netherlands. Related Topics India / Harmanpreet Singh
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sangrur farmer to export ready-to-eat millets for health-conscious Canadians
Chandigarh: Having successfully exported nine millet types to Australia last year, a Sangrur-based grower is now targeting the health-conscious Punjabi diaspora in Canada with a new consignment of ready-to-eat millets ready for shipment next week. This expansion, fuelled by online visibility and positive word-of-mouth, also sees him catering to a growing local market of individuals and millet-biscuit factories. After returning from Australia five years ago, Dilpreet Singh, from Rajpura village in Sangrur, made a conscious shift from traditional wheat-paddy farming to millet cultivation. Setting his own standards, he adopted a chemical-free approach. "We have established complete end-to-end control over the value chain, handling primary and secondary processing, including international-quality packaging, within our own unit," he said. Embarking on millet exports wasn't without initial hurdles. The stringent Australian "nil germination" requirement necessitated the creation of a customised steaming plant on Dilpreet's farm. "Even the Punjab Agricultural University couldn't offer a solution," he recalled, emphasising a year of trial and error. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Following the successful shipment of 14.3 tonnes to Australia last year, preparations are now underway for exports to Canada. Highlighting the diverse ways millets are consumed, he explained, "The Punjabi diaspora abroad typically uses Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra as flours, but South Indian communities prefer them as a rice alternative. As for me, I just had brown top millet cooked like rice for lunch." The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations recognised 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM2023) to raise awareness about the health, nutritional, and environmental benefits of millets. Dilpreet lamented that the state govt can do a lot more in supporting millet cultivation. "Markfed, for instance, could easily integrate millets into their Sohna product line. Yet, they cite a lack of local supply and procure from Haryana. This leaves millet-growing farmers here without adequate buyers – a frustrating paradox," he said. Fluctuating prices in the local market pose another challenge. "During the International Year of Millets, brown top fetched Rs 85 per kg, only to plummet to Rs 28 per kg as raw material afterwards," Dilpreet explained. To counter this, he tried to carve out a niche by pre-soaking, dehydrating, and de-husking his millets, extending their shelf life to two years compared to the typical three months. "This value addition also enhances digestibility and imparts a pleasant aroma," he added. Dilpreet directly markets his homegrown millets online to health-conscious buyers and also supplies Markfed, Punjab Agro, millet restaurants, and millet-based biscuit factories. For his export ventures, including the upcoming consignment to Canada , he also sources millets from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, in addition to those grown on his 14-acre farm.
