Latest news with #VimalKumar
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First Post
18-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
'Lack of sting, application': What's worrying coach Vimal Kumar most about Lakshya Sen's poor form
Lakshya Sen, the biggest Indian name in men's singles badminton, is experiencing a horrendous 2025, suffering multiple early exits in the tournaments. Coach Vimal Kumar explains what is wrong with Sen's game. read more Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen is having a tough 2025 as he struggles for form and consistency, suffering seven first-round eliminations in 10 tournaments. His best performance so far has been the quarter-finals at the All England Badminton, which has also been the only tournament in 2025 in which he has managed to go beyond the Round of 32. His latest defeat came at the Round of 32 in the Japan Open, where he lost 21-19, 21-11 to World No.7 Kodai Naraoka of Japan. World No.18 Sen, who hails from Almora, started brightly in the Thursday match as the scores were levelled 17-17 in the first game at one stage, but his inability to close out the game came back to bite him as he went to to lose 21-19. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Coach Vimal Kumar explains Lakshya Sen's struggles Sen had faced similar issues at the Paris Olympics 2024 when he lost the bronze medal match to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia despite winning the first game. He had also blundered three game points in the first game of the semi-finals against Viktor Axelsen before losing the match. Former Indian badminton coach Vimal Kumar, who is also Sen's childhood trainer, is worried the young prodigy is failing to apply himself in the closing stages. 'I'm disappointed and a little concerned. Till 17-all ( in the first game against Naraoka), he was OK, but Lakshya should have taken the first game," Vimal told the Indian Express. 'He's still not applying himself in those crucial situations. He needed to push pace for Kodai can be beaten when you vary pace.' Naraoka made a blistering start to the second game but faced stiff resistance from Sen as the Indian took the score to 6-10 after being 1-8 down, but once again lost momentum as the Japanese upped the ante with lethal smashes in the absence of any significant net play from the Indian shuttler. Vimal Kumar was also quite critical of Sen's game at the net. 'Lakshya was not sharp at the net and Kodai was comfortable playing him. The shuttle wasn't spinning in dribbles or tumbles leading to errors and lifts were not great,' the former Indian badminton player told Indian Express. While Sen has recovered from shoulder and ankle injuries, Vimal said his smash shots have also lost a lot of sting over the years. 'When I speak to him he says shoulder is OK. But maybe back of his mind, he's still wary and hence tentative (about injury). But the big problem is when he comes under the shuttle (ideal position), his hard smashes on the body lack sting,' the coach said. 'Last couple of years it's becoming a little ineffective.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'He tends to play slices and half smashes, but he's not employing the hard smash from good positions. Typically if he hits one and it gets returned, the next two three shots lack the same power and sting so he can't finish the down stroke,' he added.
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First Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
'Players ke sath gandi baatein...': Rohit Sharma catches interviewer off guard with hilarious line; watch video
Rohit Sharma elicited a chuckle with his 'gandi baatein' remark during his interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, which was posted a day after he announced his retirement from Test cricket last week. read more Besides being one of India's greatest captains ever, especially in the white-ball formats, Rohit Sharma's also known for his jovial personality both on and off the field, and some of his hilarious one-liners have become the subject of memes on social media. One such quirk of his is currently doing the rounds on social networking platforms. In an interview with journalist Vimal Kumar that was published on the latter's YouTube channel a week ago, the 'Hitman' said one should engage in 'dirty talk' with players – before quickly clarifying he was referring to honest conversations regarding team selection. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rohit clarifies 'gandi baatein' remark instantly, elicits chuckle from interviewer 'Players ke sath gandi baatein karni chahiye (One should have 'dirty' conversations with players),' Rohit said in the interview, before quickly adding, 'Gandi baatein matlab ki tereku kyon nahi khilaya (dirty conversations like why you weren't picked in the team).' 'Acha tough talks,' remarked Vimal, to which Rohit replied," Galat cheez hi sochte ho yaar tum (all the wrong things come to your mind mate)," eliciting a laugh from the interviewer. Watch: Rohit: "Players ke sath gandi baatein karni chahiye" 😭🙏 — Shikha (@Shikha_003) May 13, 2025 Rohit has gone viral in the past for his 'garden' comment made during the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam last year among other hilarious moments on the field. The 38-year-old is just as hilarious when it comes to speaking to reporters at press conferences, an example of which was when he was asked to offer advice to Pakistani batters following India's victory over their arch-rivals in the 2019 ICC World Cup. 'If I ever become the coach for Pakistan, I will tell them,' Rohit said in response. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rohit's interview with Vimal Kumar was posted a day after he announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing an 11-year journey to an end in which he scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches including 12 centuries and lead India to 12 wins out out of 24 matches as captain. Rohit had quit Twenty20 Internationals last year after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean, and will continue playing One-Day Internationals.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sense of normalcy in Rajasthan border districts but schools, colleges remain shut
Normalcy was slowly returning in Rajasthan's sensitive border districts, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar, on Monday morning. There was increased public movement, but schools and colleges remained shut in these areas as a precautionary measure. Flight operations, which had earlier been suspended until May 15, also resumed at Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh, and Bikaner airports along with 32 others across the country. The blackout in these districts was enforced from 7:30pm on Sunday to 6am Monday amid the tensions in the India-Pakistan border. A ceasefire was agreed between India and Pakistan on Saturday. There were no reported untoward incidents in these districts on Sunday night during the blackout time with security personnel patrolling key areas ensuring compliance. Brief panic after drone activity Despite the ceasefire agreement, there was panic in Barmer on Sunday night around 8:40pm when sirens blared for around 15 minutes. Barmer district collector Tina Dabi urged residents to remain indoors and strictly follow blackout protocols. Normalcy gradually returning in Jaisalmer Markets in Jaisalmer were gradually opening with locals expressing their relief. 'We're relieved to reopen our shops. Things are slowly getting back on track,' said Vimal Kumar, a shopkeeper in Jaisalmer. Also Read: Drone activity spotted in Barmer, residents asked to stay indoors and observe blackout In a show of solidarity with the armed forces, the Gayatri Parivar organised a Sainyashakti Samvardhan Deep Yagya to express their support for the armed forces. However, access to border routes in Jaisalmer has been restricted. On the road from Ramgarh to the Tanot border, entry is prohibited to outsiders after 3pm and only local residents are allowed upon presenting Aadhaar identification. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have erected barricades to enforce these curbs. Schools and colleges remain closed District administrations in Barmer and Jaisalmer had ordered closures of all educational institutions after drone activity and explosion reports surfaced on Saturday night, despite the ceasefire. Authorities have stated that a decision on reopening schools and colleges will be taken after assessing the evolving situation. Sri Ganganagar observes calm during blackout Caution in Bikaner Life in Bikaner remained largely undisturbed. Shops functioned normally, and no unusual activity was reported in either rural or urban pockets. However, schools, colleges, and coaching centers remain shut until further notice. Villages near the border—including Khajuwala, Bajju, and Kolayat—reported calm and normalcy. District authorities in all four regions remain vigilant and are expected to review the situation in coordination with the central government before lifting remaining precautionary measures, including the night-time blackouts.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
‘Mujhe aise laga ki abb mujhe na mile': Hitman Rohit Sharma opens up on team India captaincy doubts
On Wednesday, Rohit Sharma officially announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, bringing an end to ongoing speculation about his role in the longest format of the game. His departure leaves India in need of a new captain ahead of the upcoming five-Test series against England beginning on June 20. Having already stepped away from T20 Internationals after guiding India to a World Cup victory last year, the 38-year-old will now continue to represent the national side only as the ODI captain. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Live Updates| From Sindoor to showdown? Track Indo-Pak conflict as it unfolds India's biggest strike against Pakistan since 1971: 70+ terrorists, aides killed Pakistan mounts campaign of lies, deceit and disinformation Rohit Sharma concluded his Test career as one of India's most reliable batters in the latter stages of his tenure. Over 67 matches, he amassed 4,301 runs, registering 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with an average of 40.57. Announcing his decision on social media, he wrote, 'Hello, everyone. I just want to share that I'm retiring from Test cricket. It has been a tremendous honour to play for my country in whites.' 'Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format,' he added. In a recent conversation with journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit Sharma reflected on his captaincy journey and the uncertainties he once faced about leading the Indian team. 'Yes, I did feel that way at one point. Sometimes, there's a preference for a young captain who can lead the side for 10 to 15 years. I thought I might not get that chance. But I'm truly grateful that I eventually did,' he shared. With Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, the BCCI is now tasked with selecting a new captain for the format. Currently, Shubman Gill is seen as the leading contender for the role. Live Events Rohit Sharma missed the opening Test in Perth against Australia last year as he stayed back for the birth of his second child. In his absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the innings. When Rohit returned for the second Test, he initially batted in the middle order before resuming his role as opener in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. He later opted out of the Sydney Test on his own accord. India, led by Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test, secured a win but ultimately went on to lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. [inputs from TOI]
Wamda
24-02-2025
- Business
- Wamda
omnispay Secures $1.5 million seed led by Mercatus Capital
omnispay, a UAE-based fintech, has raised $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Mercatus Capital Pte. Ltd., with participation from regional and international investors. Founded in 2022 by Simanta Das, Vimal Kumar and Praveen Kiran, omnispay simplifies SME cash flow management through its all-in-one collect, pay, and borrow platform. omnispay claims to have onboarded over 1,600 businesses with rapid month-on-month growth. Press release: omnispay, a UAE-based fintech innovating SME payments, today announced it has raised $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Mercatus Capital Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based venture capital firm, with participation from regional and international investors. The funds will accelerate omnispay's mission to empower SMEs with an all-in-one platform for collecting, paying, and managing cash flow while advancing the GCC's digital transformation agenda. The company addresses a critical gap in the GCC's B2B payments landscape, where less than 5% of transactions are digitised despite an opportunity size exceeding $1.5 trillion annually. This presents a massive opportunity for omnispay to drive digital adoption and unlock economic potential for SMEs. Unlike competitors who focus solely on collections, omnispay combines collect, pay, and borrow functionalities—intelligently orchestrated to reduce transaction costs and simplify cash flow management and provide SMEs with a competitive edge in a digital-first economy. With 1,600+ businesses onboarded, 40% month-on-month growth in processed volumes, and a 5-star customer rating on Google, the platform is rapidly becoming the go-to solution for SMEs. omnispay's mobile app is the first in the region to support English, Arabic, and Malayalam, breaking language barriers for businesses across the UAE. Over 40% of its customers are accepting digital payments for the first time. Vimal Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO of omnispay emphasised the importance of SMEs, which constitute 94% of companies and generate 40% of GDP in the UAE (UAE Ministry of Economy). 'SMEs are the backbone of the GCC economy, yet they've been underserved by legacy financial tools. By democratising access to digital payments, we believe we're fuelling regional growth,' he says. 'This seed round serves as a powerful endorsement of omnispay's vision and market fit,' says Simanta Das, Co-Founder & COO of omnispay. 'We are thrilled to welcome Mercatus Capital and our other investors who share our belief in empowering SMEs through accessible, multilingual, and intelligent payment solutions. Our platform is designed to simplify the entire payment journey—from invoice management and smart efficiency tools to quick settlement, including responsible borrowing options.' Post-pandemic, SME adoption of digital payments increased by 60%, though it remains significantly lower in B2B contexts compared to B2C. By combining COLLECT (invoice management and digital collections), PAY (flexible payment methods and disbursements), and BORROW (future micro-lending functionality), omnispay is uniquely positioned to bridge this gap, enabling SMEs to fully embrace digital transformation and compete in a rapidly evolving economy.
