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Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Delhi Government plans six new Khelo India centres
The Delhi government has proposed the establishment of six Khelo India Centres across the city to identify young sporting talent and promote a culture of fitness. The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), a senior government official confirmed. Once approved, the centres will offer aspiring athletes access to professional training, modern equipment, and expert coaching. The initiative is part of the national Khelo India scheme, which aims to strengthen grassroots sports by setting up training hubs at the state, district, or block levels, often utilising existing infrastructure such as schools and community centres. These centres will focus on training in athletics, football, volleyball, hockey, and kabaddi. Currently, thousands of athletes are receiving support through SAI Training Centres (STCs), including former Special Area Games (SAG) centres, under the State Level Khelo India Centre ( SLKIC ) vertical. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo Today's NYC Undo SLKICs have already been established in Kendriya Vidyalayas in Gwalior, Ghaziabad, and Delhi Cantt, among other locations, in partnership with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan . The centres are designed to identify promising talent and provide further training and financial assistance. The government will cover costs related to lodging, boarding, education, training, equipment, and competition exposure for enrolled athletes. Live Events Separately, the Delhi government organised a 'Sundays on Cycle' event on the occasion of World Bicycle Day as part of the Fit India Mission. The event was flagged off by Minister Ashish Sood in his Janakpuri constituency and saw participation from youth, students, senior citizens, and Resident Welfare Association members. Minister Sood highlighted the national push for fitness and sports, stating, 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several significant steps to strengthen the sports ecosystem in the country. Initiatives like the Fit India and Khelo India movements have gained wide popularity.' He added that the event reflected growing public awareness and enthusiasm for health and fitness.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Cyclists in Chandigarh rally for patriotism, health
Chandigarh: Over 450 students, faculty members, and citizens participated in a cycle rally organised by Panjab University, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Chandigarh administration's department of sports, to mark World Cycling Day on June 1. The event aimed to promote fitness, sustainable mobility, and raise awareness about the contributions of the Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor. The rally began at Gandhi Bhawan, PU, and concluded at Tiranga Park in Sector 17. It was flagged off by dean University Instruction Prof. Yojna Rawat, with active participation from Registrar Prof Y P Verma and several senior university officials, including DSW Prof Amit Chauhan, DSW Women Prof Simrat Kahlon, ADSW Prof Naresh Kumar, and PU director of sports Dr Rakesh Malik. PU vice-chancellor Prof Renu Vig, in a message to participants, encouraged students to incorporate cycling and exercise into their daily routine as a step toward a healthier nation. Executive director of Sports Authority of India (SAI) North Centre, Zirakpur, Manju Shree addressed participants at the concluding point. The event saw participation from institutions such as MCM DAV College, PG Government Colleges Sector 11, Dev Samaj College, Government College for Yoga Sector 23, and others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Encontre voos low-cost Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo It also included the NSS wing, Chandigarh Sports Department, the SAI team led by Dr. Lalit Lohani, and members of the Chandigarh Cycling Association. The rally was organised under the aegis of the ministry of youth affairs and sports as part of the Fit India Movement. Chandigarh: Over 450 students, faculty members, and citizens participated in a cycle rally organised by Panjab University, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Chandigarh administration's department of sports, to mark World Cycling Day on June 1. The event aimed to promote fitness, sustainable mobility, and raise awareness about the contributions of the Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor. The rally began at Gandhi Bhawan, PU, and concluded at Tiranga Park in Sector 17. It was flagged off by dean University Instruction Prof. Yojna Rawat, with active participation from Registrar Prof Y P Verma and several senior university officials, including DSW Prof Amit Chauhan, DSW Women Prof Simrat Kahlon, ADSW Prof Naresh Kumar, and PU director of sports Dr Rakesh Malik. PU vice-chancellor Prof Renu Vig, in a message to participants, encouraged students to incorporate cycling and exercise into their daily routine as a step toward a healthier nation. Executive director of Sports Authority of India (SAI) North Centre, Zirakpur, Manju Shree addressed participants at the concluding point. The event saw participation from institutions such as MCM DAV College, PG Government Colleges Sector 11, Dev Samaj College, Government College for Yoga Sector 23, and others. It also included the NSS wing, Chandigarh Sports Department, the SAI team led by Dr. Lalit Lohani, and members of the Chandigarh Cycling Association. The rally was organised under the aegis of the ministry of youth affairs and sports as part of the Fit India Movement.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Tiranga Rally: 25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle pays tribute to armed forces, celebrates World Bicycle Day
New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): The 25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, celebrated as Tiranga Cycling Rally, was successfully held in various parts of the country on Sunday morning. Highlighting a powerful blend of patriotism, fitness, and environmental awareness, more than 15000 cyclists from over 5000 locations joined in for a nationwide tribute to India's armed forces, as per a press release from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Media. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, led over 1500 cyclists at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium here, alongside Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao, sports icons - Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, cricketer Saba Karim, wrestler Sarita Mor, Bollywood actress Sharvari, and the Indian cycling team. One of the major highlights of the Sunday morning remained a full-fledged participation of cyclists from several regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Jammu, Poonch, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Bandipora, Shopian, Baramulla, Budgam, Samba and more. These cycling drives were conducted by several Khelo India Centres (KICs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and SAI Training Centres (STCs). Paying tribute to the armed forces, especially in light of the recent successful Operation Sindoor, Dr Mandaviya emphasized the deeper significance of this edition. 'This Tiranga Rally is a salute to our jawans and their sacrifice. Fitness and patriotism go hand in hand,' the Minister said. The landmark edition saw the launch of two key initiatives - the 'Fit India Newsletter' and the 'Carbon Credit Feature' on the 'Fit India' mobile app, where cyclists can now track the carbon credits they save by cycling regularly. 'One download of the app will make you a part of the Fit India movement,' Dr Mandaviya added. 'Your speed--from 7 to 34 kmph--and your distance will be recorded, and your carbon credits will be added.' The newly launched Fit India Newsletter will also serve as a monthly digest, featuring inspiring news stories as well as updates and training tips from various fitness influencers. Actress Sharvari, who is hailed as an upcoming superstar and is credited for films like Munjiya and Maharaja, was awarded the title of 'Young Fit India Icon' by Dr Mandaviya at the event. 'This movement is huge, and it is an honour to be a Fit India Icon. Cycling reminds me of school summer holidays--we all used to hire cycles and set out. This cycle rally is even more significant for me because this is for our brave soldiers. We can sleep peacefully in our homes because of them, and it is my great honour to pay tribute to their bravery through this Tiranga Rally,' he said. The Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative started in December 2024 with 150-odd cyclists and the participation figure has grown by leaps in a span of six months. Credit for this huge surge goes to partners such as the CISF, Indian Medical Association, journalist associations, teachers, Corporates, and professionals from several other walks of life who have made this possible. In this edition, the special partners were the Cycling Federation of India, Yogasana Bharat, Association of Indian Universities, BYCS India, CultFit and Red FM. Olympian and wrestling champion Yogeshwar Dutt called the initiative 'a movement that links national health with national pride'. He remarked, 'If we are healthy, the country will be healthy. Young kids, senior citizens, all are participating. That's the power of this campaign.' Several athletes pan-India also joined in to make the landmark 25th edition of Sundays of Cycle a grand success. Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Dipa Karmakar flagged off the rally in SAI Training Centre (STC) Agartala, while in SAI Sonepat, Deepika Kumari ( Padma Shri Awardee Archer), Purnima Mahato (Padma Shri Archery Coach), Arjuna Awardees Sumit Antil, Paralympics Double Gold Medallist and Asian Games Gold medallists Jyothi Surekha , Ojas Deotale, Aditi Gopichand Swami, Paralympians Sundar Gurjar and Pushpender took part. Renowned Indian Hockey player SK Uthappa was also in attendance in SAI Bengaluru. Meanwhile, there was a big representation of the All India Police force in SAI Rohtak. Rekha Arya, the Sports Minister of Uttarakhand, and Girish Yadav, the Sports Minister of Uttar Pradesh, joined in from respective events in Uttarakhand and Varanasi. Former cricketer and sports administrator Saba Karim praised the inclusiveness of the initiative. 'This is a brilliant step by SAI. Cycling keeps us fit and our surroundings green. I used to cycle to school myself. There's no maintenance, no pollution. A perfect tool for health and the environment.' Wrestler Sarita Mor, too, spoke passionately: 'I feel blessed to be part of this initiative started by PM Narendra Modi. Cycling is already a part of my training routine. Today, with this rally, we also remember our brave soldiers of Operation Sindoor. It is because of them that we stay safe today.' (ANI)
Time of India
7 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Asian Athletics Championships: India win gold in mixed relay; Tejaswin Shankar, 3 others bag silver
India's overall tally in the Asian Athletics Championship rose to 8 (Image via X/@Media_SAI) Gumi (South Korea): India's 4x400m mixed relay team defended its gold with a domineering performance after four individual silvers and a bronze in varying events bolstered the country's overall tally to eight medals on a brilliant second day outing at the 26th Asian Athletics Championship here. The Indian quartet of Rupal Chaudhary, Santhosh Kumar, Vishal TK and Subha Venkatesan won the top honours with a timing of 3:18.12sec. Of these, Rupal also claimed the individual women's 400m silver earlier in the day. Subha, on the other hand, was a part of the mixed team that claimed gold in the 2023 edition. China's team finished a distant second after cloking 3:20.52s, while Sri Lanka took bronze with 3:21.95s. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The largely US-based Tejaswin Shankar was among the silver-winners for India, finishing second in decathlon after accumulating a score of 7618 following the regulation 10 events. He ended behind China's Fei Xiang (7634) and ahead of Japan's Keisuke Okuda (7602). Praveen Chithravel also bagged a silver medal in men's triple jump with a best effort of 16.90m. Earlier, Rupal (400m) and Pooja (1500m) picked up silver medals, Yoonus Shah fetched a bronze in men's 1500m. India Test squad for England tour: Shubman Gill to lead, Rishabh Pant his deputy The mixed gold was India's second top finish after national record-holder Gulveer Singh's (10,000m) brilliance on Tuesday. Quarter-miler Rupal opened India's account for the day, clocking 52.68 seconds to finish second in the women's 400m final. Fellow Indian Vithya Ramraj was placed fifth with a time of 53.00 seconds. The gold went to Japan's Nanako Matsumoto (52.17s), while Uzbekistan's Jonbibi Hukmova (52.79s) took bronze. Pooja followed with another silver, clocking 4:10.83sec in the women's 1500m, just ahead of compatriot Lili Das, who finished fourth (4:13.81sec). Li Chunhui of China (4:10.58) won the gold while and Japan's Tomaka Kimura ran a season's best time of 4:11.56 to claim the bronze medal. Rupal had scripted history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals at the World U20 Athletics Championships in 2022, claiming a silver in the 4x400m relay followed by a bronze in the women's 400m events back then. Hailing from a farming family in Shahpur Jainpur village in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district, the 20-year-old is being seen as a bright prospect. In the men's 1500m, Yoonus Shah clinched bronze with a time of 3:43.03, pushing India's medal count to five. Japanese runner Kazuto Lizawa ran a personal best of 3:42.56 to take home the coveted gold medal while South Koreas Jaeung Lee (3:42.79) finished second. Aside from national record-holder Gulveer's gold, Servin Sebastian clinched the 20km race walk bronze on the opening day of the competition. Poll How do you feel about India's overall performance on the second day of the Asian Athletics Championship? Impressive Satisfactory Disappointing In other results, Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi ran a personal best of 45.57s in the men's 400m but that could only fetch him a fourth-place finish. Long jumpers Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan qualified for the final of the women's long jump event. Shaili had a best effort 6.17m, the third best in the 20-woman field. Ancy 6.14m sealed her place in the final. Hurdler Jyoti Yarraji qualified for the next round after finishing with a time of 13.18secs in her heat. She crossed the line in third position. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
SAI submits comprehensive proposals for federal budget
ISLAMABAD: The SITE Association of Industry (SAI) has submitted comprehensive budget proposals for the Federal Budget 2025-26, advocating for policy measures to stimulate industrial growth and enhance Pakistan's export competitiveness. In budget recommendations, SAI President Ahmed Azeem Alvi and former president Riaz Uddin, who chairs the association's taxation committee, emphasized the need to transform budget-making into a strategic economic tool rather than maintaining it as a routine fiscal exercise. The industry body emphasized the institutional separation of tax policy formulation and tax administration to avoid conflicts of interest and align with global best practices. Drawing comparisons with the UK and other neighbouring countries' models, SAI suggested the establishment of a structure where tax policy rests with the Ministry of Finance, revenue sharing is managed by an independent finance commission, and consumption taxes are regulated by a dedicated council. Addressing structural weaknesses in the taxation system, SAI noted that Pakistan's income tax base remains narrow-just 9 to 10 percent of GDP- while the formal industrial sector bears a disproportionate tax burden. The association recommended widening the tax net to include all untaxed and under-taxed sectors and capping the maximum income tax rate on business income at 25 percent over the next three years. It further proposed the abolition of the Super Tax, terming it an outdated and unjust burden, and called for relief on inter-corporate and individual dividend taxation. Ahmed Azeem Alvi and Riaz Uddin expressed serious concerns about recent amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance through Ordinance IV of 2025, particularly changes to Sections 138(3A), 140(6A) and 175C of the Income Tax Ordinance. According to SAI, these amendments grant excessive powers to tax authorities and contravene Articles 4, 18, and 77 of the Constitution. The association demanded that the amendments be withdrawn immediately, arguing that they could deter compliance, encourage informality, and diminish investor confidence. Regarding sales tax reforms, SAI leaders pointed out persistent challenges due to overlapping federal and provincial jurisdictions. It proposed a harmonized General Sales Tax (GST) structure supported by a single compliance portal, enabling seamless cross-jurisdictional input tax adjustments. The association stressed the need for expeditious refund mechanisms, with refund payment orders (RPOs) to be issued within five working days of claim submission and payments processed shortly thereafter. Concerns were also raised about the prevailing 22 percent combined sales tax and further tax rate, which the association believes fuels evasion and hinders formalization of the economy. A review of the tax rate structure was urged to reduce distortions and incentivize registration. SAI Chief urged the government to implement progressive reductions in the sales tax rate, targeting a 15% rate over the next three years. The association argues that this reduction will help lower the cost of doing business for the formal tax-paying sector and promote overall economic growth. He also called for the abolition of the additional sales tax, which it claims encourages the continuation of the informal sector by allowing businesses to evade registration and tax obligations. According to the association, this perpetuates a cycle of non-compliance, hindering the formalization of the economy. Furthermore, the association recommends that sales tax exemptions on essential goods, including basic staple foods, pharmaceuticals, and education-related products, should be maintained. These exemptions are seen as crucial in providing a safety net for the common man, particularly in the face of inflationary pressures. SAI also requested the restoration of zero-rating on export facilitation schemes and educational stationery, as promised by the Finance Minister in his budget closing remarks in June 2024. The association believes that reinstating these exemptions will promote the export sector and ease financial burdens on educational institutions. In addition, the association proposed the introduction of a lower sales tax rate of 5% for other essential and deserving items to further reduce the financial strain on consumers. The industry body called for the removal of area-specific sales tax exemptions in the former tribal areas (FATA/PATA). The association stresses that such exemptions should not continue in any form, in line with the broader goal of tax uniformity and fiscal reform across the country. Ahmed Azeem Alvi and Riaz Uddin also emphasized for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan Customs, highlighting outdated legislation, tariff fragmentation, under-invoicing, and ineffective enforcement as key challenges. It recommended a revision of the Customs Act to align with WTO and WCO standards, simplification of duty structures, and adoption of a unified valuation and appraisal system. SAI advocated for the port of entry to be designated as the sole revenue collection point to prevent revenue leakage and ensure smooth inland movement of goods. On social welfare schemes, they criticized the current management of employee welfare programs (EOBI, PESSI/SESSI, WWF, and WPPF) as inefficient and outdated. The schemes largely funded by employers, offer minimal influence to contributors over fund management and disbursement. The association proposed the integration of these schemes into a unified authority with digital interfaces, central governance, and tripartite representation from employers, employees, and regulators. Disbursements, it suggested, should be made via mobile payment platforms, while health and related services could be outsourced to third-party providers. The budget proposals underscore SAI's position that economic policy should balance revenue needs with industrial growth objectives, particularly through measures that enhance Pakistan's export potential and attract productive investment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
