Latest news with #Vinesh


Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Wrestler-turned-MLA Vinesh Phogat becomes a mother, welcomes baby boy with husband Somvir Rathee
Vinesh Phogat, one of India's most celebrated wrestlers and a first-time legislator, stepped into a new chapter of her life on Tuesday with the birth of her first child, a baby boy. The 30-year-old Congress MLA and her husband, fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee, welcomed their son at a private hospital in Delhi. Vinesh Phogat during the 2024 Paris Olympics Her elder brother Harvinder Phogat confirmed the joyous news. 'Vinesh gave birth to a baby boy this morning. Both mother and baby are healthy. It's a moment of great joy for our family,' Harvinder told The Indian Express. He also revealed that Vinesh will soon return to Somvir's home, adding, 'We will all visit her soon. Everyone in our village, Balali, is excited to welcome her and the baby.' Back in March, Vinesh had shared her pregnancy announcement on social media, captioning a photo with: 'Our love story continues with a new chapter,' accompanied by baby and heart emojis, a post that drew warm wishes from fans and fellow athletes alike. This joyful news arrives after an emotional and turbulent phase in Vinesh's life. At the Paris Olympics last year, she faced heartbreak after being disqualified from the women's 50kg final due to exceeding the weight limit. She later described the incident as the 'biggest wound' of her life, though she kept the door open for a future return to wrestling. Vinesh has won two bronze medals at the World Championships, with an Asian Games gold and three Commonwealth Games gold medals in a celebrated career. Switch to politics Since then, her journey has taken a political turn. Vinesh joined the Indian National Congress in September and successfully contested the Haryana Assembly elections from the Julana constituency, defeating BJP's Yogesh Kumar. On Tuesday, party colleague Kumari Selja extended her congratulations: 'Hearty congratulations and best wishes… I pray the newborn brings happiness and good health to the family.' Vinesh was also at the forefront of the wrestlers' protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment.


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Olympian Vinesh Phogat, husband Somvir Rathee blessed with baby boy
Vinesh Phogat of Team India (red) celebrates victory against Yusneylis Guzman Lopez at the Olympic Games in Paris (Image by) Former wrestling star and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat gave birth to a baby boy on Tuesday morning at a private hospital in Delhi. This is the first child for 30-year-old Vinesh and her husband, wrestler Somvir Rathee. Vinesh's elder brother Harvinder Phogat confirmed the news. 'Vinesh gave birth to a baby boy this morning. Both mother and baby are healthy. It's a moment of great joy for our family,' Harvinder told The Indian Express . Vinesh had announced her pregnancy in March on social media. She shared a photo with the message, 'Our love story continues with a new chapter,' along with baby and heart emojis. Harvinder added that Vinesh will return to Somvir's home in a few days. 'We will all visit her soon. Everyone in our village, Balali, is excited to welcome her and the baby,' he said. The 30-year-old was disqualified from the women's 50kg final at the Paris Olympics last year for going over the weight limit. After that, she said the missed Olympic medal was the 'biggest wound' of her life but added she might return to wrestling in the future. In September last year, Vinesh joined the Indian National Congress and later won the Julana seat in the Haryana Assembly elections by beating BJP's Yogesh Kumar. After the baby's birth, Congress leader Kumari Selja congratulated her. 'Hearty congratulations and best wishes… I pray the newborn brings happiness and good health to the family,' wrote the politician. Poll Do you think Vinesh Phogat will return to the mat? Yes No Vinesh also led protests against former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.


Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat gives birth to baby boy
Former World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat gave birth to a boy at a private hospital in Delhi on Tuesday morning. He is the first child of the 30-year-old Julana MLA and wrestler Somvir Rathee. 'Vinesh gave birth to a baby boy this morning at a private hospital in Delhi. Both Vinesh and the baby are fine. It's the biggest joy for the whole family,' Harvinder Phogat, Vinesh's elder brother, told The Indian Express. Vinesh had announced her pregnancy in March on her social media accounts. 'Our love story continues with a new chapter,' she had posted along with emojis of a foot and a heart, suggesting that the couple was expecting a child. Harvinder added that the mother and child will be back at Somvir's home soon. 'Vinesh will be back home in a couple of days and we all will visit her after that. The whole of Balali is waiting to welcome Vinesh and her son,' he added. Vinesh, who was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit just hours before contesting the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling final at last year's Paris Olympics, had announced her retirement from the sport soon after the setback, but kept her options open about returning to the mat. 'I just want to say that missing the Olympic medal is the biggest wound in my life. I don't know how much time it would have taken to heal this wound. But as I got love from my fellow Indians, my village and my family members, I guess I would get some courage to make this wound heal. Maybe, I could return to wrestling. I don't know if I would pursue wrestling or not but the kind of courage I got today, I want to use that in the right direction. Our fight has not ended and the fight will continue and I pray to god that the truth will prevail,' Phogat had said while addressing villagers at the village Balali on her return post the Olympics. In September last year, she joined the Indian National Congress and later contested from the Julana constituency in the Haryana Assembly elections, defeating BJP's Yogesh Kumar by 6,015 votes. Haryana congress leader Kumari Selja too congratulated the Julana MLA. 'Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Congress MLA from Julana, Mrs. @Phogat_Vinesh ji on the birth of a son. I pray to God that the newborn baby brings joy and prosperity to the family and that both of you remain healthy and happy.' Selja posted on X. Vinesh was also the face of the protests against then Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Nitin Sharma is an Assistant Editor with the sports team of The Indian Express. Based out of Chandigarh, Nitin works with the print sports desk while also breaking news stories for the online sports team. A Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award recipient for the year 2017 for his story 'Harmans of Moga', Nitin has also been a two-time recipient of the UNFPA-supported Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity for the years 2022 and 2023 respectively. Nitin mainly covers Olympics sports disciplines with his main interests in shooting, boxing, wrestling, athletics and much more. The last 17 years with The Indian Express has seen him unearthing stories across India from as far as Andaman and Nicobar to the North East. Nitin also covers cricket apart from women's cricket with a keen interest. Nitin has covered events like the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2011 ODI World Cup, 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2017 AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships. An alumnus of School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, from where he completed his Masters in Mass Communications degree, Nitin has been an avid quizzer too. A Guru Nanak Dev University Colour holder, Nitin's interest in quizzing began in the town of Talwara Township, a small town near the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. When not reporting, Nitin's interests lie in discovering new treks in the mountains or spending time near the river Beas at his hometown. ... Read More


The Star
30-04-2025
- The Star
Generative AI for a promising future
At APU, students are empowered not only to use transformative tools like ChatGPT but also understand the technology behind them. IN 2022, the world changed with the rise of the artificial intelligence (AI) tool, ChatGPT. Later, other AI tools like Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and DeepSeek followed suit. These powerful tools are now being used everywhere, from classrooms and offices to startups and global corporations. For students fresh out of SPM, ChatGPT is more than just a chatbot — it represents a powerful glimpse into the future of work, creativity and communication. Additionally, it's a tool that redefines how ideas are developed, how problems are solved and how people interact with technology in both academic and professional settings. At Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), this future isn't just a vision — it's a reality in motion. At the institution, students are empowered not only to use transformative tools like ChatGPT but also understand the technology behind them, explore its full potential and lead the way in building innovative AI-driven solutions that shape tomorrow's world. Why ChatGPT matters? ChatGPT is more than a homework helper or writing assistant. It's part of a new wave of AI technologies reshaping how we solve problems, learn new things and even choose careers. From writing code and generating business ideas to analysing data and building apps, tools like these are helping professionals across industries get more done, smarter and faster. For SPM leavers, this means you're stepping into a world where AI is your co-pilot. Whether you want to be a digital marketer, entrepreneur, architect, psychologist, designer, animator, mechatronic engineer, cybersecurity consultant or data analyst, knowing how to work with AI will give you an edge. At APU, AI is not just another tool in the syllabus, but a catalyst for innovation, critical thinking and real-world impact. Common misconceptions APU's chief innovation and enterprise officer Prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam highlights a common myth surrounding AI — that it is only meant for tech geniuses or students pursuing computer science. In reality, he explained that AI tools like ChatGPT are designed to be accessible, intuitive and user-friendly, making them valuable across a wide range of disciplines. 'At APU, this belief is embedded in the academic culture, where students from various programmes, not just those in tech, are encouraged to explore AI in creative, practical and meaningful ways,' he said. 'This inclusive approach ensures that all students, regardless of their field of study, are empowered to harness the potential of AI in their academic and professional journeys.' Beyond the surface Prof Vinesh emphasised that AI is not just another tool in the syllabus, but a catalyst for innovation, critical thinking and real-world impact. 'We don't just teach students how to use AI like ChatGPT, instead, we train them to understand what's behind the tool, how it works and more importantly, how to use it purposefully and ethically. 'From the very first day, students are encouraged to use AI ethically. We don't restrict it, as they're guided to use it wisely. 'Additionally, AI literacy is embedded into classroom experiences and project work, empowering students to explore AI as collaborators, not just consumers,' he said. AI tools, like ChatGPT, aren't just for tech geniuses, as they are designed to be accessible, intuitive and user-friendly. What's next? If you're an SPM leaver wondering what to study or where to take your next step, take a closer look at the world around you. AI isn't just the future, it's already transforming the present. Tools like ChatGPT are just the beginning of what's possible when human creativity meets machine intelligence. At APU, you won't just learn how to use AI — you'll gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to shape what comes next. Whether you're dreaming of innovating in tech, leading in business or making a difference in the creative industries, APU could give you the tools to thrive in an AI-powered world. For more information, visit

The Star
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Jet fuel refinery to break ground
All smiles: Nik Nazmi (centre, in blue), with the chairman of BZI, Sheikh Khaled Zayed Saquer Zayed Alnahyan (third from right) witnessing the strategic cooperation agreement signing ceremony between BZI and FHE represented by Shamir (third from left) and Vinesh (second from right) in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama Partnership with UAE poised to transform aviation sector, operational by 2029 KUALA LUMPUR: Airlines will have greater access to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with the setting up of a state-of-the-art refinery in Port Klang, a US$500mil (RM2.19bil) collaboration between UAE-based Bin Zayed International Group (BZI) and Malaysia's FatHopes Energy (FHE). The two firms announced that the facility – among the first of its kind in South-East Asia – will be one of the world's most forward-looking SAF refineries. It is expected to transform the regional clean aviation landscape by producing SAF via the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids pathway, which currently accounts for over 80% of global SAF production. According to BZI (Malaysia) Berhad managing director Datuk Seri Dr Shamir Kumar Nandy, the project is slated to break ground in 2026 and begin commercial operations by 2029. 'We are underwriting the entire sum for now by ourselves. Based on FatHopes' findings and updates, they're in the process of getting the necessary approvals and sanctions before they can break ground. 'So I believe that will be a year down the road – about 12 months from today,' he said at a press conference here yesterday. Also present at the announcement was Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Shamir said the partnership combines BZI's global investment expertise and FHE's leadership in sustainable biofuel feedstock aggregation, laying the groundwork for a highly diversified and scalable SAF platform in the region. He added that the Port Klang refinery is a key element in Malaysia's ambition to produce one million tonnes of SAF annually, solidifying the nation's role in the global SAF economy. 'This initiative has the potential to reimagine the future of flight,' said Shamir. 'It's about profit, people and the planet – but most importantly, it's for the planet,' he added. FHE chief executive officer Vinesh Sinha said the project, currently in the feasibility stage, will have a production capacity of 300,000 tonnes per annum, requiring roughly 330,000 tonnes of feedstock. He noted the technology in use can process various feedstocks, guided by prevailing policies and certifications. While BZI has fully committed to the financing, Vinesh highlighted that the primary challenges in the refinery's development are technical in nature. 'There's a lot of input materials we need – hydrogen and nitrogen, which are major components of the manufacturing process. 'We are in the midst of identifying sources for those. Then there's the port infrastructure, which is also a key factor. 'On our end, we are really focused on technical readiness and securing environmental impact assessment clearance for this particular plant,' Vinesh added. Earlier in his speech, Nik Nazmi called the project a 'game-changer' for Malaysia's energy and aviation sectors, noting its alignment with the country's climate goals under the Paris Agreement. 'Air travel is essential, but it must become sustainable. This refinery will help decarbonise the aviation sector while enhancing our energy security and supporting Malaysia's net-zero aspirations,' he said. Nik Nazmi also highlighted the project's socio-economic value, saying it will create jobs and benefit communities involved in the biofuel supply chain. 'This project shows that sustainability and economic opportunity can go hand in hand.'