Latest news with #Ghorpade
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Goal is to break into top-75 and then to top-50: young paddler Gorpade
Ahmedabad, Having made her senior debut in 2024, young Indian women table tennis player Yashaswani Ghorpade has fast risen in the sport, breaking into world top 100 the same year. But Ghorpade, ranked 84 in the world currently, is now determined to break into top-75 and then to top-50 to seal her place in next year's Asian Games in Japan and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "I was in 8th standard when I won my first national championships in Under-15 and then I won with Under-19 national championships. Last year, I did well in the domestic circuit. I finished second in the national rankings. I also got into top 100 world rankings last year," she told PTI. " my first goal is to be in the top-75 and to become India no.1 this year only. These are my short-term one-year goals. But of course Asian Games is the next target. The next big Games after that are the Olympics. So after getting into top 75, the goal is to get into top 50 and get a good seeding to make it to the Olympics. "Asian Games there is a criteria that we need to maintain good national ranking as well as world rankings to qualify directly," she added. Ghorpade partners with Diya Chitale in women's doubles and pairs up with Harmeet Desai in mixed doubles. Highlighting some of her achievements in her nascent journey, she said: "I have been former a world no.1 in Under-15 girls, and we have been the runner-up in WTT Contender last year." However, the journey was not easy for Ghorpade as she struggled with fitness from childhood. "I started my sports journey when I was in second standard. I was not a very strong kid and I used to fall sick often, so my parents wanted me to start sports, something indoor. I noticed table tennis was going on in my school, so I joined that. "I have been connected with table tennis for last 12 years and its been an amazing, continuous journey. When I started I would have never thought I would be at this place. I am very grateful," said the rising paddler, who studies second year in Jain University. Ghorpade, who idolises Manika Batra and Desai, also shared her future plans. "Three Smash tournaments are lined up in the coming 2 months US, Europe and China and then Asian Championships to be held in Bhubaneswar in October," she said. "I do look up to Manika di and Harmeet bhaiya. Both of them have been amazing. Manika di has given us a very high bench mark and Harmeet bhaiya has always been a very good supporter." In the ongoing Season 6 of Ultimate Table Tennis, Ghorpade is turning out for UMumba TT, having made her debut in the tournament last year with two-time defending champions Goa Challengers. "This is my second year in UTT. First season was amazing, I was with the Goa Challengers and it was dream come true to win the title. "UTT gave very good foundation for women's TT in India. In UTT we get to play with the foreign players, get to interact with them," she concluded.
Hans India
24-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Workshop to Spotlight Indian Grey Wolf Conservation Efforts in Karnataka
Bengaluru: As conservation concerns around the Indian grey wolf continue to gain attention, the Bengaluru International Centre will host a day-long workshop on June 1 (Sunday), focusing on recent developments and long-term strategies for the species' survival in southern India. The event will bring together ecologists, forest officials, researchers, and conservationists to assess ground realities and policy needs. The highlight of the workshop will be a keynote address by Indrajeet Ghorpade, convenor of the Deccan Conservation Foundation (DCF), a self-funded organisation at the forefront of wolf conservation in Karnataka's dryland ecosystems. Ghorpade, whose work has contributed significantly to the protection of these elusive predators, will present new findings from the field and outline the urgent actions needed to secure their habitat. Speaking to Hans India ahead of the event, Ghorpade revealed that at least three female wolves have recently given birth in the semi-arid landscape surrounding the Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary, with an estimated 12–13 pups born within a 50-kilometre radius. 'This suggests that wolf populations are beginning to expand beyond Bankapura, with additional litters reported in neighbouring areas,' he said. Sanctuary Status a Milestone, But More Needed The Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary, covering approximately 332 hectares under the Gangavathi Wildlife Division, was declared a sanctuary in a landmark move by the state government. While the declaration has created a legal framework for protection, conservationists like Ghorpade warn that much more remains to be done. 'Securing a sanctuary was a critical step,' he said, 'but habitat protection, prey base restoration, and a comprehensive conservation plan are equally essential—especially now, with new cubs born and dependent on a fragile ecosystem.' Ghorpade has urged the Karnataka Forest Department to prioritise the restoration of natural prey populations in the region, pointing out that the young wolves are especially vulnerable. 'If we don't act now to reduce human interference and improve food availability, these pups may not survive their first year,' he warned. Broader Biodiversity at Stake While Indian grey wolves will be the focus of the workshop, the event will also touch upon broader biodiversity concerns. The Bankapura sanctuary is home to several other species, including leopards, striped hyenas, Indian foxes, peacocks, hares, and porcupines. State Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre recently reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening anti-poaching efforts and community-based conservation initiatives in fragile dryland habitats like Bankapura. A Gathering of Experts and Stakeholders The upcoming workshop is expected to feature panel discussions, field data presentations, and stakeholder consultations. Participants will explore themes such as habitat fragmentation, coexistence with pastoral communities, challenges in prey management, and the scope for ecotourism-led awareness. Organisers hope the event will serve as a platform to build momentum for policy-level interventions and greater collaboration between the government, civil society, and scientific institutions. As Karnataka stands at a critical juncture in its approach to dryland wildlife conservation, the June 1 workshop promises to be a timely and essential gathering to ensure that Indian grey wolves—and the landscapes they inhabit—are not forgotten in the wider discourse of conservation.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Aragma Restaurant: Making heroes out of everyday ingredients, Hospitality News, ET HospitalityWorld
Advt Advt By , ETHospitalityWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHospitalityWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App Aragma, a restaurant which professes to be driven by ingredients rather than style of dishes was the brainchild of Poornima Somayaji who wanted to build a brand which has become a sanctuary of her—something that helped her champion the cause of local while still pushing the boundaries of how everyday ingredients used in home kitchens could be served in ways which were far from everyday dishes.'I come from a tech background and food gave me so much joy that it got me out of a very negative phase in my life, and that is when I felt that I wanted to create experiences for people where food gave them joy beyond just tasting a dish,' said techie-turned-entrepreneur Somayaji about her can be loosely translated from the Greek to mean 'enjoying the small pleasures of life'.While they were cuisine agnostic, Somayaji said the aim was to use everyday ingredients, things like tinda and lauki which were sourced by them from around the city and then used in dishes.'The real (culinary) culture of India is in our homes, and what we eat there. And clearly, what you find in the market and bring home is the freshest and it's so everyday and banal, that's why we don't celebrate it. At Aragma, we make it a point to cook with food that is so everyday, but like you have never seen them,' she hero in the kitchen at Aragma is the head chef Amit Ghorpade who returned to his roots in Pune to join Somayaji in the venture of making heroes of everyday ingredients. Ghorpade who was travelling around India at the time of the interaction was inspired by what chef Massimo Bottura said that one needed to get back to their roots to become truly great food itself is a very interesting mix of memories based on seasons where both Somayaji and Ghorpade sit together to develop dishes based on what they ate while growing up and how certain ingredients were always associated with the time of year, she said adding that even other members of the team contribute to the process.'We come up with a list of ingredients associated with the memories, then the ideation stops and Amit's (Ghorpade), technical expertise and understanding of flavours come into play. The dishes are created and go through multiple trials before going on the menu," she it comes to the kitchen, though there is a very distinct division of labour, Somayaji said she does not get in there—her role is more in front of the house as well as adding the 'softer touches' to the restaurant which is open for dinner through the week and lunch and dinner during the weekends offers an eight-course tasting menu with four changes annually connected to availability of seasonal ingredients that they source from both farmers and food she helps create at the restaurant is also a huge part of how Somayaji healed herself from a personal tragedy and her interest in food is something that she says has made her stronger.'I think your everyday food needs to come back into focus, because it is fresh, it is who you are. The restaurant is a place where hospitality is very important, and you have to make it to a point where people have to experience it and get a feeling of belonging,' she about the restaurant, which is three years old, Somayaji added that she felt it would remain a one-off at its current location.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Save trees with alternative infra designs: Garden dept
Pune: The civic body's garden department has issued a letter to various builder associations to be mindful of trees cut for construction projects. In a letter dated April 22 and addressed to Builders Association Of India, Credai Pune, Maratha Builders Association Pune, Maratha Chambers of Commerce and the Architects Association of Pune, PMC's chief garden superintendent Ashok Ghorpade stated that it is mandatory to have alternative designs for construction projects to ensure minimal trees are cut or transplanted. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Before procuring a provisional NOC from the building permissions department, the developer must submit a layout plan and if there are a significant number of trees that need to be cut or transplanted, an alternative design, which calls for lesser trees to be cut or transplanted, must also be presented at the time of seeking permission," the letter stated. Several trees have been axed over the last few years for the flyover on Ganeshkhind Road, riverfront development project and for a new building inside the ITI campus on Aundh to name a few. There are many more that are slated to be chopped off as well. Keeping this loss of tree cover in mind, and the rising temperatures, members of Pune Samwad group, met Ghorpade. "Trees are never stakeholders in the real estate business. The temperatures in the city have been rising and we have witnessed more than 40 degrees C continuously in April this year. PMC has finally heeded our requests and helped make trees stakeholders in all new projects. This is a 1975 law, which we are pleased to bring to fruition in 2025," activist and economist Ameet Singh told TOI. Advocate Maitreya Ghorpade, who was also present at the meeting, said, "The letter attempts to remedy some of the lapses in enforcement of the Tree Act as pointed out by us during the meeting held on April 8. More importantly, the letter affirms the importance of trees in protecting against rising temperatures. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Although its implementation will pose a challenge, these pro-conservation directions by the tree authority are a welcome move. It must be noted that the letter is a direct result of persistent public pressure, and an inspiring instance of democracy in action." The tree preservation and protection act is different from the tree felling act, but at the core of it all is safeguarding of trees, said Sathya Natarajan, author of 'Single Page Tree Act'. "Tree felling discussions, be it for PMC projects, societies or for other developments have to focus on preservation and protection before anything else. Currently, when a tree-felling proposition is tabled, it is a massive effort on part of the citizens to ensure that minimal trees are cut. We have to come up with solutions. However, this must be done at the planning stage, so it is important for developers to submit alternative plans. We want to see that due diligence has been done and that they have thought about preservation first," Natarajan added. The letter by Ghorpade also highlighted increase in temperature over the last five years. "To control the rising temperatures, it is important to plant multiple trees and preserve and protect those that are already there collectively," it said. Ghorpade said, "We have circulated this letter with the aim to save trees. With an alternative design, developers or those seeking tree-felling permission will not get a provisional NOC. If this mandate is flouted, a complaint can be made with the Pune commissioner directly. While there are multiple reasons for rising temperature in the city and not just tree felling, we must do what we can to protect the green cover of the city."
