Latest news with #SOS
Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Recruitment for Agniveers from August 1
AI IMAGE HYDERABAD: The Army will hold a unit headquarters quota (UHQ) recruitment campaign (Agniveer) from Aug 1 onwards at 1 EME Centre, Secunderabad. The UHQ is an enrolment process by the Army for vacancies reserved for Sons of War Widow (SOWW), Sons of Widow (SOW), Sons of Serving Soldier (SOS), Sons of Ex-Servicemen (SOEX), and Brother of Serving Personnel (BOSM). Additionally, recruitment for the Agniveer for Agniveer (GD), Agniveer Technical, and Agniveer TDN 10th Education Standard Category (Chef) & Open Category for Outstanding Sportsmen in the fields of Swimming & Diving and Volleyball positions will also take place. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Over 50 Dragonfly, Damselfly Species Documented at Belvai Odonata Workshop
Mangaluru: A three-day Odonata workshop hosted by Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park in Belvai has documented over 50 species of dragonflies and damselflies, including several that are endemic and vulnerable in the Western Ghats. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The residential workshop brought together 13 participants, five volunteers, two expert mentors and the host, Shetty. Field studies were conducted at Ayameri Lake in Marnad, the outskirts of forested regions near Durga and Mala, and the stream–pond ecosystems within the Butterfly Park. "At Ayameri Lake, participants recorded a variety of species associated with open freshwater bodies," Shetty said. These included the Scalloped Spreadwing (Lestes praemorsus), Black-tipped Forest Glory (Vestalis apicalis), Stream Ruby (Heliocypha bisignata), Malabar Torrent Dart (Euphaea fraseri) and Rapacious Flangetail (Ictinogomphus rapax). Larger dragonflies such as Epophthalmia vittata, Macromia irata and Duskhawkers were also seen actively foraging. The workshop was co-led by Dr Dattaprasad Avinash Sawant and Dr Vivek Chandran. Dr Sawant, a physician and odonatologist, has over 15 scientific publications to his credit and serves as an editor at Odonata of India. Dr Chandran, who was recently awarded a doctorate for his research on the Odonates of Kerala's Kole wetlands, is a council member of the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and a co-author of new species descriptions from the Western Ghats. Participants learnt how to identify Odonates using characteristics such as wing venation and abdominal patterns, and recorded behaviours such as territoriality, perching, hovering during mating, basking for thermoregulation, obelisk posture, and egg-laying, both endophytic (within plant tissue) and exophytic (on water or other surfaces). Key sightings across habitats included 27 species from the outskirts of the Durga region, including Brown Midget, Lesser Bluewing, Long-banded Bluetail, Coorg Bamboo-tail and Malabar Torrent Dart. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Mala buffer zone recorded many interesting species like Pied Shadowdamsel, Red-spot Shadowdamsel, Coorg Bambootail, Malabar Torrent Dart, Shadowdancer and the rare Montane Forest Glory. From the Butterfly Park, about 24 species were documented, including Long-banded Bluetail, Lesser Bluewing, Orange-tailed Marsh Dart and frequent sightings of Brown Midget. "This workshop helped expand the checklist of Odonates from the region while training the next generation of naturalists. Such programmes encourage keen observation and accurate documentation skills that are crucial for both ecological understanding and long-term conservation," Dr Sawant said. Volunteers Raghavendra, Narendra, Afran, Nithin, and Abhijith provided vital support with field coordination, note-taking, and guiding participants during fieldwork.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
'Ben Stokes Has Looked Shaky...": Big Verdict From Ex-England Star Ahead Of 3rd Test vs India
Ben Stokes' batting form has steadily deserted him over the years, more so at a time when he should be leading an under-fire England team from the front, says former skipper Michael Atherton after the hosts were humiliated by India in the second Test at Edgbaston. Atherton reckons that in his three years at the helm, the series against India is Stokes' sternest test of leadership qualities. It is been two years since Stokes hit the last of his 13 hundreds at Lord's in an Ashes Test where he would be back for the third Test against India starting on Thursday. "To add to the problems of back-to-back matches, little rest, a heavy defeat and bad judgment is his own form with the bat, which has declined with each year he has been in the job," Atherton wrote in his column for 'The Times'. "As a dedicated one-format player who does not play much cricket outside Tests — sometimes of his own accord — Stokes is in the invidious position of being short of rhythm and form just when he needs to lead from the front," the former opener with 100 plus Tests observed. Atherton also spoke about how Stokes's opposite number, Shubman Gill, has been a picture of contrast when it came to facing spinners. "While Stokes has looked shaky against spin, his opposite number is lording it. Gill's returns in this series have been immense and the victory at Edgbaston was driven by his vision, determination and single-mindedness. "England have a plan to Gill to target his stumps early on, by running the ball back into his pads, but he has not looked like getting out. Gill's weariness after Edgbaston will be of a completely different kind to Stokes's." While both Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson are under-cooked in terms of red-ball miles in their legs having recovered from their respective injuries, Atherton reckons both should play at Lord's. "Clearly the pace attack needs freshening up. When the SOS went to Archer in 2019 at Lord's as a way of stopping Steve Smith, the fast bowler was at the top of his game, despite not having played Test cricket. "Will he be as good as before? Can he be? His readiness for the five-day game after just one first-class match in four years is a complete unknown, yet he will surely play," Atherton declared. Atherton also wants Atkinson, who is back from a hamstring injury, in the playing eleven primarily because he has picked 19 wickets in two Tests played at Lord's. "Gus Atkinson has a tremendous record at Lord's, with ball and bat, but has not played since tweaking his hamstring against Zimbabwe six weeks ago. Pairing with Archer represents a gamble, but if taken (one must assume they are fit once selected in the squad) it means that the third seamer must be ready to bowl long spells." "Yet (Chris) Woakes, who also has a superb record at Lord's, is 36 years old and has taken three wickets at an average of 96 in this series. His possible replacement, Sam Cook, was unconvincing in his only Test," Atherton put forth facts. The former England skipper, however, doesn't want Stokes to press the panic button yet while ushering the changes required. "Panicked changes are rarely the way to go after defeat. I'd keep faith with the batting and freshen up the seam attack, bringing in Archer and Atkinson for Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse. Right now, though, you'd want to be in Gill's shoes not England's. What a test of leadership this is for Stokes."
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Atherton slams Stokes' form, backs Archer-Atkinson for Lord's Test
Ben Stokes' batting form has steadily deserted him over the years, more so at a time when he should be leading an under-fire England team from the front, says former skipper Michael Atherton after the hosts were humiliated by India in the second Test at Edgbaston. Atherton reckons that in his three years at the helm, the series against India is Stokes' sternest test of leadership qualities. It is been two years since Stokes hit the last of his 13 hundreds at Lord's in an Ashes Test where he would be back for the third Test against India starting on Thursday. "To add to the problems of back-to-back matches, little rest, a heavy defeat and bad judgment is his own form with the bat, which has declined with each year he has been in the job," Atherton wrote in his column for 'The Times'. "As a dedicated one-format player who does not play much cricket outside Tests sometimes of his own accord Stokes is in the invidious position of being short of rhythm and form just when he needs to lead from the front," the former opener with 100 plus Tests observed. Atherton praises Gill's performances Atherton also spoke about how Stokes's opposite number, Shubman Gill, has been a picture of contrast when it came to facing spinners. "While Stokes has looked shaky against spin, his opposite number is lording it. Gill's returns in this series have been immense and the victory at Edgbaston was driven by his vision, determination and single-mindedness. "England have a plan to Gill to target his stumps early on, by running the ball back into his pads, but he has not looked like getting out. Gill's weariness after Edgbaston will be of a completely different kind to Stokes's." While both Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson are under-cooked in terms of red-ball miles in their legs having recovered from their respective injuries, Atherton reckons both should play at Lord's. "Clearly the pace attack needs freshening up. When the SOS went to Archer in 2019 at Lord's as a way of stopping Steve Smith, the fast bowler was at the top of his game, despite not having played Test cricket. "Will he be as good as before? Can he be? His readiness for the five-day game after just one first-class match in four years is a complete unknown, yet he will surely play," Atherton declared. Atherton also wants Atkinson, who is back from a hamstring injury, in the playing eleven primarily because he has picked 19 wickets in two Tests played at Lord's. "Gus Atkinson has a tremendous record at Lord's, with ball and bat, but has not played since tweaking his hamstring against Zimbabwe six weeks ago. Pairing with Archer represents a gamble, but if taken (one must assume they are fit once selected in the squad) it means that the third seamer must be ready to bowl long spells." "Yet (Chris) Woakes, who also has a superb record at Lord's, is 36 years old and has taken three wickets at an average of 96 in this series. His possible replacement, Sam Cook, was unconvincing in his only Test," Atherton put forth facts. The former England skipper, however, doesn't want Stokes to press the panic button yet while ushering the changes required. "Panicked changes are rarely the way to go after defeat. I'd keep faith with the batting and freshen up the seam attack, bringing in Archer and Atkinson for Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse. Right now, though, you'd want to be in Gill's shoes not England's. What a test of leadership this is for Stokes. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: Michael Atherton slams Ben Stokes after 2nd Test defeat, calls him 'one-format player'
England batter Ben Stokes reacts after being dismissed during day five of the Second Test Match against India at Edgbaston (Image by) Former England captain Michael Atherton has raised serious questions about Ben Stokes ' declining batting form and leadership, especially after England's heavy defeat to India in the second Test at Edgbaston. Calling it the "sternest test" of Stokes' captaincy so far, Atherton highlighted how the all-rounder's batting returns have dipped with each passing year since taking over the reins. 'To add to the problems of back-to-back matches, little rest, a heavy defeat and bad judgment is his own form with the bat, which has declined with each year he has been in the job,' Atherton wrote in his column for The Times. The third Test at Lord's will mark two years since Stokes last scored a Test hundred, which was his 13th, against Australia in the Ashes. Atherton believes his current position, playing just one format by choice, leaves him underprepared at a critical time. 'As a dedicated one-format player who does not play much cricket outside Tests — sometimes of his own accord — Stokes is in the invidious position of being short of rhythm and form just when he needs to lead from the front,' Atherton added. Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir shut critics with thumping win over England Drawing a contrast, Atherton praised Indian captain Shubman Gill for his composure and technique against spin. 'While Stokes has looked shaky against spin, his opposite number is lording it. Gill's returns in this series have been immense and the victory at Edgbaston was driven by his vision, determination and single-mindedness. 'England have a plan to Gill to target his stumps early on, by running the ball back into his pads, but he has not looked like getting out. Gill's weariness after Edgbaston will be of a completely different kind to Stokes's.' On England's bowling front, Atherton called for changes ahead of the Lord's Test. He backed the inclusion of Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson despite their limited red-ball workload in recent times. 'Clearly the pace attack needs freshening up. When the SOS went to Archer in 2019 at Lord's as a way of stopping Steve Smith, the fast bowler was at the top of his game, despite not having played Test cricket. Will he be as good as before? Can he be? His readiness for the five-day game after just one first-class match in four years is a complete unknown, yet he will surely play. ' Poll Do you think Ben Stokes should continue as captain after the recent defeat? Yes, he has proven himself for the job No, it's time for a change Atherton also highlighted Atkinson's record at the venue. 'Gus Atkinson has a tremendous record at Lord's, with ball and bat, but has not played since tweaking his hamstring against Zimbabwe six weeks ago. Pairing with Archer represents a gamble, but if taken (one must assume they are fit once selected in the squad) it means that the third seamer must be ready to bowl long spells.' He noted that Chris Woakes, despite his history at Lord's, has had a poor series. 'Yet (Chris) Woakes, who also has a superb record at Lord's, is 36 years old and has taken three wickets at an average of 96 in this series. His possible replacement, Sam Cook, was unconvincing in his only Test,' Atherton stated. Despite the challenges, Atherton urged caution over reactionary changes. 'Panicked changes are rarely the way to go after defeat. I'd keep faith with the batting and freshen up the seam attack, bringing in Archer and Atkinson for Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse. Right now, though, you'd want to be in Gill's shoes not England's. What a test of leadership this is for Stokes.' Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
