Latest news with #SouthernZone
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
It's Summer time, as McIntosh aims to rule World Aquatics C'ships in Singapore
Summer McIntosh of Canada celebrates as shes poses with her medal after winning the women's 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics. SINGAPORE – Sprint events like the 50m freestyle and butterfly are usually the hottest events to watch at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH), but the spotlight in Singapore will also be focused on the distance races this time. The women's 800m freestyle is set to be the most highly anticipated showdown in the WCH Arena, with American legend Katie Ledecky to face Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh in the race for supremacy. Before 2024, Ledecky owned all the 20 fastest times in the event, including the world-leading 8min 4.12sec set in April. The 28-year-old is also the most decorated female swimmer in history with 13 Olympic medals – nine of them gold – and 21 world championship titles. But the rise of McIntosh has changed all that. The 18-year-old has decided to take Ledecky head-on in the latter's pet event at the championships, and with her coach Fred Vergnoux proclaiming she can 'go under eight minutes... no question', the stage is set for a fierce battle in the pool. In a Zoom interview with global media on July 9, McIntosh said: 'Anytime I get a race with Katie, it's lots of fun. I learnt so much about myself, and I think we bring the best out of each other, for sure.' The Canadian teenager only competes in the 800m freestyle once a year – the last time she did so was at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she was 14 and she finished 11th in 8:25.04. She bettered that time only in 2023, when she clocked 8:20.19 at the Southern Zone meet. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Then came some huge improvements – she lowered her personal best to 8:11.39 at the 2024 Southern Zone meet, handing Ledecky her first loss in a 800m freestyle final in 13 years. The youngster then lowered it to 8:09.86 in February, before posting 8:05.07 at the Canadian Trials in June. The latest result was the third-fastest time ever, giving her belief as she made the 800m free her fifth individual event for the WCH. She said 'I'm just excited to see how I manage doing five events, which I've never done before on the world level. I did four in Paris, and to add this new challenge this year really kept me motivated.' Never mind Ledecky, McIntosh is also chasing the feat of another American great – Michael Phelps. At the Canadian Trials, she set world-best times in the 400m freestyle (3:54.18), 200m individual medley (2:05.70) and 400m individual medley (4:23.65). After becoming the first swimmer since Phelps to break three individual world records at a single meet, she received a congratulatory call from the 23-gold Olympic champion, who also owns 26 championship titles. Other than the scorching 800m freestyle, she also posted the second-fastest time in the 200m butterfly (2:02.26), raising expectations that she could again match Phelps by winning five individual events at a single WCH, and break more world records along the way. McIntosh, who struck gold in both medleys and the 200m butterfly, and a silver in the 400m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, said: 'My main goal in Singapore is just to get my hand on the wall first as many times as I can... in doing so we can also come with some world records hopefully. 'I saw some photos of the Singapore pool getting set up, and it looks super cool and super fast. Anytime I get a race in a new pool, it's always a fun time and a learning experience.' While both swimmers remain respectful of each other, the rivalry has seemingly sparked new life in Ledecky, whose latest 800m freestyle world record was her first in nine years. She then beat McIntosh over the Canadian's preferred 400m in May. Suggesting that a high-octane atmosphere is key to her raising the bar again for the 800m freestyle, she told USA swimming: 'I can't stop smiling... It's been so many years in the making to do it tonight. The crowd was amazing tonight, I couldn't have done it without that.' With the WCH Arena fast pool matched by a capacity 4,800-strong crowd, other world record holders will also be pushing their limits, even if Hungary's 200m butterfly king Kristof Milak and Australia's 200m freestyle queen Ariarne Titmus are missing due to personal reasons, and the world's fastest woman, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, is on maternity leave. More on this topic Training sessions at World Aquatics Masters C'ships cancelled due to Sentosa's water quality issues American Gretchen Walsh was the first woman to go under 55 seconds in the 100m butterfly with a 54.60 in May, while French star Leon Marchand has recovered in time from a dislocated shoulder and cracked rib. While Marchand won Olympic gold in the 200m breaststroke and butterfly, as well as the 200m and 400m medley, he will focus on the medleys at the WCH to see what magic he can produce. After he claimed the men's individual ranking title at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Singapore in November, the 23-year-old said: 'I'm in a time when I need to launch myself to get a new motivation after the Olympics, and I think this was perfect, to meet new people, new culture, discover new places and race as fast as possible.' Swimmers at both ends of the age spectrum will also look to make an impression. China's 12-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi will race McIntosh in the medleys and 200m butterfly with an outside chance of making the podium, while 33-year-old Pole Katarzyna Wasick, who is one of only eight active female swimmers to go under 24 seconds in the 50m freestyle, will fancy her chances of being crowned champion in Sjostrom's absence. Asia will also be represented by China's 100m freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle, while compatriot Qin Haiyang will look to repeat his historic feat in 2023, when he became the first man to win the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events at a single championships. Qin will also be looking to get over a tumultuous 2024, when he failed to win an individual medal at the Olympics and was accused of infidelity by his fiancee. South Koreans Hwang Sun-woo and Kim Woo-min are aiming to retain their men's 200m and 400m freestyle titles respectively, while Japan's 19-year-old Tomoyuki Matsushita will try to challenge Marchand in the medley events.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Prevent human loss during rains and floods, DGP tells APSDRF personnel
Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta has directed the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response Force (APSDRF) to remain vigilant and prepared to prevent loss of life during the ongoing monsoon season. During a meeting held at the AP Police Headquarters in Mangalagiri on Friday, APSDRF head and Inspector General of Police (IGP) B. Raja Kumari and Commandant M. Deepika, along with their team, briefed the DGP on current preparedness levels. Commending the SDRF for their effective rescue and rehabilitation efforts during the Budameru floods and other emergencies, Mr. Gupta urged them to maintain high alert throughout the season. He also lauded the APSDRF for winning first place in the Regional Level Competitions (Southern Zone) and securing third place in the National Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) event. The SDRF officers also detailed recent rescue operations, including successful interventions in Krishna river and other drowning incidents across the State.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
NGT orders CCMC to clear Vellalore legacy waste by 2025 end
COIMBATORE: The National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone) has issued a stern directive to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) to clear the massive backlog of legacy waste at the Vellalore dumpyard by the end of 2025, calling for urgent action on a 'war footing.' The directive came during a hearing held on June 23, presided over by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana. Expressing dissatisfaction with the corporation's progress, the tribunal criticized the continued suffering of residents in Vellalore, who have for years endured foul odour, mosquito menace, and groundwater pollution caused by the accumulated waste. According to the corporation, over 7.9 lakh metric tonnes of waste have been dumped at the site. However, a recent assessment by Anna University's Environmental Research Centre pegged the figure at 9.4 lakh metric tonnes. Despite initiating bio-mining efforts in February 2021, the tribunal questioned how meaningful progress could be made with only three trommels in operation. They noted that at this pace, it could take years to complete the work. The segregation of solid waste has also dropped sharply, from 36% in November 2023 to 15% in May 2025, even as waste processing improved from 64% to 85%. The tribunal recommended the immediate addition of trommels or the deployment of high-capacity machinery like the Power Screen Warrior 1200 to ramp up daily waste processing to at least 10,000 tonnes. The corporation has been instructed to submit a comprehensive, time-bound action plan to a committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has also been tasked with conducting monthly inspections and submitting reports. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on August 7, 2025.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Rance lining up for her 27th go at tourney
Otago bowlers (from left) Amanda Katipa, Lyn Rance and Poppy-Jade Katipa are ready for the Southern Zone women's eights tournament this afternoon. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON Lyn Rance keeps rolling on. The Green Island bowler is the only player to have been involved in the Southern zone women's eights tournament since its inception in 1998 and this weekend will be no different. Rance is lining up for her 27th tournament with the Otago team at the Dunedin Indoor Bowls Stadium. "I was the original one. I'm the only one that's played right through," Rance said. "I just so enjoy meeting the people that you've met over the years. You make a lot of friends and it's just a great competition among ladies — it's just brilliant." The annual tournament features teams from Otago, South Canterbury, North Otago, South Otago, Central Otago and Southland, and is returning to Dunedin for the first time in six years. Southland have been the leaders through the years, notching 12 wins and winning the tournament for the past three years. Otago, who have won the tournament seven times and last held the trophy in 2019, are packed with talent. Keri Te Tamaki, who captained the South Island team last year, is suiting up alongside fellow South Island representative Tracey Van Tuel. Van Tuel is also playing alongside her sister, Amanda Kapita, and Kapita's daughter, Poppy, 18, is also in the team. There is power across all the teams including former South Island representatives Alanna Moffitt, from South Otago, and Suzanne Mackie, from Southland, who is also a former national representative. Each district has eight players split into two teams of four. Each player plays five games of singles, pairs, and fours across the two days. At the end, the points for both teams of fours are combined and the district with the most points is the winner. Play gets under way at 8.30am today and the final games should be finished by mid-afternoon tomorrow.
Morocco World
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Moroccan Military Chief Visits Ethiopia to Boost Defense Cooperation
Rabat – General Mohamed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone, is on an official working visit to Ethiopia from April 23 to 26. The visit aims to strengthen military cooperation and deepen ties between the Royal Armed Forces and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. According to a statement from the Royal Armed Forces, General Berrid held a meeting with Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. The two military leaders discussed ways to boost cooperation between the Moroccan and Ethiopian armies. Both officials expressed satisfaction with the growing military ties between the two countries. They also discussed a draft agreement to strengthen and expand their bilateral military partnership. The agreement is expected to be signed soon, added the statement. During the visit, General Berrid also met with Ethiopia's State Minister of Defense, Martha Luigi, in the presence of Morocco's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nezha Alaoui M'Hammdi. They talked about new ways to improve military collaboration between the two countries. General Berrid also toured several key Ethiopian military sites, including the Cyber Security Directorate, the Artificial Intelligence Institute, Bishoftu Air Base, and an ammunition factory. This visit follows a similar trip to Morocco by the chief of the Ethiopian military in August 2024 for similar discussions. Marshal Birhanu Jula was received in Rabat by Morocco's Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). The two officers discussed the state of bilateral military cooperation and ways to strengthen their defense ties. Marshal Birhanu also met with the Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone. These ongoing efforts reflect both countries' desire to deepen defense collaboration and expand their partnership across areas such as cybersecurity, AI, and defense industries.
