Latest news with #Sanda
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Wushu fighter Namrata Batra battles family resistance to make history
Namrata Batra (SAI) New Delhi: Indian wushu athlete Namrata Batra exemplifies the story of a small town girl with aspirations who fights adversities to achieve success on the international stage. Born in Indore in a conservative family, Namrata wanted to pursue martial arts but was opposed by her grandparents. They were concerned about perceptions related to the attire — wearing sleeveless vests and matching shorts — during training and competitions. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! However, her businessman father Sanjay Batra provided unwavering support, ensuring that societal pressure did not impede her ambitions to represent the country and win medals. On Tuesday earlier this week, the 24year-old became the first Indian ever to win a World Games medal in wushu, finishing runner-up in the women's sanda 52kg event in Chengdu, China. India have won a total of seven medals in different editions of the World Games – one gold, two silver and four bronze – but Namrata's wushu medal was a first in the quadrennial multisport event's 44-year-long history. Today, Namrata's grandparents feel immensely proud as they see her medal winning photos in the country's newspapers and websites. Poll What do you think has the biggest impact on an athlete's success? Support from family Personal determination Access to training facilities Societal acceptance 'I come from a big joint family. My grandparents earlier didn't like theh fact that I had to wear shorts and t-shirts to pursue myu dreams. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo They initially put a lot of restrictions and didn't even allow me to venture out alone for training and competition purposes. They were like what would the society say. For them, it was all about studying, getting good grades and looking for a settled job. But my father was always supportive of my career choices. He stood by me like a rock and backed my decision to become a martial arts player. Today, my grandparents and the same set of people who discouraged me, feel proud about my achievements. They fully support my journey,' Namrata told TOI after returning from Chengdu. Namrata boasts of an impressive CV. She is one of the country's leading female wushu (sanda) athletes with several domestic and international medals to her name. Wushu, a Chinese martial art, is categorised into two disciplines: Taolu (forms) and Sanda (sparring). Taolu involves choreographed routines with empty hands or weapons, while Sanda is a full-contact combat sport. Apart from the historic silver at the World Games, she finished second at the Asian championships last year, won bronze at the Asia Cup earlier this year, a gold medal at the Moscow Wushu Star championships and had podium finishes at the Uttarakhand and Gujarat editions of the National Games. She was the junior national champion from 2015 to 2018 and continued her success as a senior, winning gold medals from 2018 to 2021 in the 48kg division before moving to the 52kg category in 2022. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Brunettes with greasy roots: I tried Blake Lively's new affordable haircare brand, and I'm obsessed with its dry shampoo
As a new mom, I've struggled to find little moments of self care. The calm of a hot shower has become my favorite reprieve, and I have a few products that help me reset with their transportive aromas. Blake Brown, the beautifully-scented hair care brand I just can't get enough of these days, is one of them. Founded by Blake Lively, Blake Brown is chicly designed and hyper-focused on luxurious scents that you'll want to spritz all over — but as I've consistently used the products, I've learned that the formulas are really, really good, too. "Hair care is deeply personal. It's not just about aesthetics, it's about identity, mood, and how you carry yourself," Lively tells me through an email interview. "I've been lucky enough to learn from some of the best hair stylists, colorists, and artists in the world who use the best products out there — but I noticed a gap. Those products delivered incredible results, but they were rarely clean, they came at luxury price points, and the scents, while nice, weren't ones I'd choose as my signature fragrance." Thus, her years-long journey to creating Blake Brown began. The beginning of Blake Brown Blake Brown joined Lively's brand lineup in August of 2024 (the actor also heads Betty Buzz and Betty Booze). Since then, it's dropped a handful of hair care essentials like the fan-fave Amber Vanille Dry Shampoo and All-In-Wonder Leave-In Potion. "From day one, I partnered with Give Back Beauty because they shared my values and vision for what Blake Brown could be," says Lively of the brand's origins. "They never once compromised on quality or rushed development." The affordable collection ranges from $19 to $25 at Target. "Target felt like the perfect home for Blake Brown because it's where people shop for everyday essentials and little luxuries. I wanted our products to offer the full experience: performance you can feel from the first use, clean formulations, beautiful packaging, and fragrances you'd happily wear as perfume, at a price that makes them an easy addition to your weekly routine." Her reasoning? "Beautiful, quality haircare should not have to be a rare splurge." The Strengthening Duo: Sandalwood Vanille Shampoo and Mask Pros: The mask is better at nourishing and hydrating than a standard shampoo/conditioner combo Cons: It can be difficult scooping out the last of the product due to the unique jar shape I've always rotated between a few shampoo and conditioner duos, not really falling in love with any one brand — but I've been consistently using Blake Brown since it first launched. Uniquely, Lively has entirely left out the conditioner step, instead pairing her shampoo with a decadent mask that amps up your hair's strength and shine. Not only do they both smell divine, but the shampoo creates a sumptuous lather and the mask feels thick and rich, effortlessly coating my strands. The result: damp hair that feels easy to brush through, and air-dried hair that has minimal frizz and a healthy sheen. The Sandalwood Vanille Hair & Body Mist These days, caring for a baby means my fave perfumes have been collecting dust (since fragrance can easily transfer to her delicate skin) — but this Hair & Body Mist has been my newest best kept secret and ultimate mom hack. "Fragrance is at the heart and soul of Blake Brown because for me, fragrance defines my mood," says Lively. "I don't know how to pick a favorite — the fragrances were made to layer beautifully together, and they sure do." The Sandalwood Vanille scent has notes of heated vanilla, sandalwood, and dry, earthy vetiver. It's soft and sensual, yet the aroma's warmth lingers on my strands for hours. Plus, since it's meant to be spritzed on tresses, there aren't any harmful ingredients — like silicones and parabens — that can damage or weigh down your hair. I feel put-together finally having a signature scent again and grateful that my little girl doesn't have to "wear" my perfume. The Blackcurrant Vanille Classic Hairspray The Classic Hairspray is Blake Brown's newest addition to the collection, and it creates a soft-medium hold while being invisible. What's more, the flexible hold allows you to run your fingers through your hair without ever feeling crunchy strands. "We made sure it was as robust as a professional hairspray in hold and performance, while maintaining a softness and brush-ability which is tricky to do," says Lively. "The result is a hairspray that can work as hard as you need, or simply be a soft, finishing touch [with a] signature fragrance." After wearing my hair in a slicked-back bun in New York's heat, I can confirm it kept my flyaways at bay. The Amber Vanille Dry Shampoo While dry shampoo powders and sprays often leave a white cast or gritty texture at my roots, this mist refreshes my hair in between washes, all while being surprisingly lightweight and completely invisible on my dark brunette hair. Immediately, I can see why this product has become a standout for the brand. It has officially replaced the dry shampoos I was using before. It helps renew my look, and importantly, I don't feel like I'm overloading my scalp with product. The bottom line Lively may be best known as an actor, but in my opinion, she's firmly planted her stake in the beauty world with Blake Brown. Not only do the elegant scents set her brand apart on the shelves, but the formulas have my hair looking and feeling well-loved. If you're obsessed with luxurious fragrances, this line is worth a try. The Sandalwood Vanille Shampoo & Mask and Dry Shampoo are total must-haves that I use on the regular.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IHG adds two new ANA Holiday Inn hotels to portfolio
Hospitality group IHG Hotels & Resorts has entered a new agreement with Fet System to rebrand two existing hotels in Sanda and Tosu, Japan, to ANA Holiday Inn properties. This rebranding marks the introduction of the first internationally branded hotels in the two locations. The 130-room Celecton Premier Kobe Sanda Hotel will be rebranded as ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda. Similarly, Hotel Bientos will become ANA Holiday Inn Tosu, featuring 126 rooms. Both establishments are slated for significant refurbishments before they transition to the Holiday Inn brand next year. These hotels will feature the brand's signature Open Lobby concept and are expected to enhance the brand's growing presence in Japan, which currently includes 15 open and pipeline Holiday Inn hotels. Globally, the brand operates 1,241 open hotels and 273 hotels under development. Fet System president and CEO Hiroshi Nakamura said: 'The Holiday Inn brand, with its scale and strong reputation across Japan and globally, is the right choice for these locations, given the guest mix, and we look forward to welcoming guests to ANA Holiday Inn Kobe and ANA Holiday Inn Tosu next year after extensive renovations.' Situated 40km north of Kobe, the Sanda hotel offers guests a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and golf. It is also equipped with meeting and events space, catering to corporate and leisure guests. Meanwhile, the Tosu property is situated 30km from Fukuoka. It is expected to attract strong corporate demand due to the local manufacturing industry. IHG Hotels & Resorts Japan and Micronesia managing director and IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan CEO Abhijay Sandilya said: 'Building on our successful partnership with Fet System is another wonderful milestone in our growth journey, and together we are celebrating the addition of two new ANA Holiday Inn hotels into the IHG system. 'Together, we are creating new experiences for travellers with a brand they know and trust, including the upcoming opening of ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami and now in Sanda and Tosu in 2026. 'In Japan and globally, demand for quick-to-market conversions to IHG's brands and enterprise platform continues to be high. Globally, conversions represented around 60% of our openings and 40% of organic signings in the first quarter of 2025.' This expansion follows an earlier agreement this year to launch ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami, in partnership with Fet System subsidiary Odate Royal Hotel. IHG's expansion in Japan is part of a broader strategy, with the group currently operating 54 hotels across ten brands in the country and an additional 17 hotels under development. "IHG adds two new ANA Holiday Inn hotels to portfolio" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Tunisian woman seeks help after Facebook marriage ends
A young Tunisian woman has found herself stranded in the metropolis after her brief marriage to a local man — whom she met through Facebook — ended in divorce just months after it was solemnised. According to police sources and official records, 19-year-old Sanda Ayari, a resident of Tunisia, arrived in Karachi on November 28 after developing an online friendship with Muhammad Aamir, also 19, a resident of Nia Abad, Lyari. The couple solemnised their marriage on November 29, and formally registered it with the Union Council in Baghdadi, Lyari, on March 6, 2025. However, just few months into the marriage, Aamir reportedly divorced Sanda. Following the separation, she approached the Women Police Station in Liaquatabad for assistance. In her statement to police, Sanda revealed that her Pakistani visa had expired on February 18, and that her former husband was unwilling to support or accommodate her following the divorce. The SHO of Women police station, Uzma Khan, confirmed that Aamir was summoned to the police station where he acknowledged the divorce and then left. Police also confirmed that no allegations of physical abuse were made by the woman. Sanda has since been provided shelter and is currently under police protection. She has appealed to the Pakistan government to grant her an exit permit, citing her inability to afford travel back to Tunisia. This incident follows a similar case involving an American woman, raising concerns over the misuse of social media platforms and the exploitation of foreign women under the guise of marriage.
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Top athletes compete at Wushu championships
The Gauteng Provincial Wushu Federation (GPWF) recently hosted its much-anticipated Open Championships. The event showcased the province's top talent in Chinese martial arts as it featured athletes of all ages and levels competing in Traditional and International Compulsory Taolu forms, as well as Sanda (Full Contact Fighting) bouts. Excitement and energy filled the venue as soon as the gates were open and the first Taolu routines kicked off. The athletes competing in this category performed their forms barehanded, while others used weaponry items, as both these categories were featured at the championships. Later in the afternoon, the exhilarating Sanda bouts stole the spectators' attention as they ended the afternoon on a high note. Also read: Wushu action rocks Poortview A panel of qualified provincial judges oversaw proceedings, ensuring professionalism across every category and according to the GPWF secretary-general, Riana van Coller, the federation was happy with the turnout and energy on the day. 'There was a constant flow of excitement from athletes, coaches, and supporters alike. It was especially special to be joined by a delegation from the Chinese Embassy,' Riana expresses. Now in its second year as an independently hosted provincial event, this championship marked a significant milestone for the federation and organisers. 'What began as a bold step forward last year has now become a benchmark of what's possible when vision meets determination,' Riana shares. The event received positive feedback from participants and parents, as people praised the event for being well-rounded and giving athletes a valuable opportunity to showcase their skills. Beyond medals and trophies, the championship plays a strategic role in athlete development, and it serves as a selection platform for the Gauteng Provincial Squad. Only selected athletes who are South African citizens and GPWF members are eligible to represent the province at the South African Wushu Federation National Open Wushu Championships set to take place in September. Looking ahead, the federation plans to continue strengthening Wushu through workshops and further championships. The next provincial event is in the pipeline for early next year. For more information about the GPWF and future events, contact Riana at or 082 445 4657. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
