Indian men’s hockey team coach Harendra Singh has said that simple hockey and a change in mindset is the basic requirement for the team ahead of the upcoming Hockey World Cup.
The coach further stated that all the teams participating in the world cup would come well-prepared and they just need to be prepared, mentally and physically.
Speaking to agencies, Singh said, “We just need to change our thinking. We need to play simple hockey. We will take one match at a time. Teams participating in the World Cup will come well prepared. Any team can surprise other any day. We should be prepared mentally and physically so that the same does not happen to us.”
Reflecting on the recently-concluded Asian Champions Trophy, where India were declared a joint winner with Pakistan after the summit showdown was abandoned due to bad weather, Singh said that there are a lot of positives to take out from the tournament.
He, however, added that they still need to work on their strategy inside the circle.
“Overall, if you see, India remained undefeated throughout the tournament…it is a big positive. We scored maximum goals is a positive side, We conceded fewer goals is also a big positive. But the concerned area is that there is a lot of penetration in the circle. We need to work on the same. Boys know that in order to strengthen their claim on the World Cup trophy, they need to improve in that area,” he added.
When asked if the team is missing the services of retired midfielder Sardara Singh, the coach said that every player leaves the team at one or another point. The main thing is how you cope with that, he continued.
“Every player has to leave the team at one or other point. The point is how well you cope up with the situation. I will credit Manpreet Singh for taking the responsibility like Sardara. I am happy the way he has played,” he added.
Hockey World Cup is slated to be held from November 28 to December 16 in Odisha.
Thousands of congratulations to Virat Kohli on becoming the first Indian to score three consecutive tons in ODIs and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar for praising him saying that he is not a normal human being. In fact, such appreciation from Sachin proved that he has a wide heart in his existence. We are proud of Virat and Sachin because they are Indian.
– A Zafar,
2) Ola- Uber strike set to continue
Drivers of the app-based cab aggregators Ola and Uber went on an indefinite strike and protesting their low earnings. The strike has been called by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which claims that several drivers of these cabs are not able to cover costs due to the falling business. In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 app-based cabs but a slump in the business has seen a drop of about 20 per cent in their numbers. Driver unions have consistently gone on strikes across metros in the past, with some of the demands being putting a stop to low-fare bookings, setting fares based on vehicle costs and even reinstating blacklisted drivers who have been given low ratings by passengers. This is a well-planned agitation and Mumbaites face the surge as the strike set to continue and hamper the paid transport service for some more time.
– Nikhil CK Maniam
3) CIC complimented
The Chief Information Commissioner and all others at CIC including Commissioners, officers, and staff deserve full compliments for successfully holding its 13th annual convention at Pravasi Bhartiya Bhawan, New Delhi on October 12, 2018, at a very short notice after the President of India consented to inaugurate it just two days ago. Venue-change, printing, and distribution of invitation-cards for security considerations replacing earlier e-invite was indeed a tough task.
Deliberations at the convention this year were more practical in comparison to earlier years with both the President of India and DoPT minister rightly stressing to prevent misuse of the wonderful sunshine Act. This convention also turned into a farewell for Chief Information Commissioner and three other Commissioners who will all be remembered for their remarkable verdicts especially to prevent misuse of the RTI Act and ensuring providing allowable information, a drastic reduction in pendency-time, well-equipped new CIC-building and an appreciable but long-pending hike in salaries of hard-working CIC-staff.
Three remaining Commissioners after December 2018 are also doing very well coming fully prepared after careful study of each case before hearing. It should be hoped that new-to-be appointed Chief Information Commissioner and other Commissioners will follow the legacy by making the RTI Act successful to be ranked as globally best transparency Act.
– Subhash Chandra Agrawal
4) All Souls’ Day
All Souls’ Day, which is celebrated by the Catholic Church on November 2 every year, is a Christian festival that honours all Christian souls who have died.
Many people visit the cemetery and decorate the graves of their loved ones. Special Masses are celebrated in cemeteries and in churches on that day.
Catholics on this day remember and pray for the souls of people who have died and who are in Purgatory – the place in which those who have died to atone for their sins before being granted the vision of God in heaven.
The thought behind this is that when a soul leaves the body of the dead person, it is not entirely cleansed from venial sins.
But, through the power of prayer, the faithful on earth can help these souls gain heavenly vision they seek. At each one’s home, a special rosary is recited to remember and pray for the souls of their family members, friends, etc.
– Jubel D’Cruz
5) Kohli — a name ‘synonymous’ with a Ton!
Every Virat Kohli innings these days surpasses some record or the other as the Indian captain becomes the only player from our country to smash three consecutive tons in ODI innings to add another feather to his illustrative hat. His name has become ‘synonymous’ with a ton and anything less from his blade is considered a failure. India lost the Pune ODI in spite of Kohli heroics and this would give sleepless nights to Indian selectors as the World Cup would be held next year but our team other than the skipper looks vulnerable.
IPL is responsible for India’s poor performance in ODI’s as we even play the 50 over the game in T-20 format hurrying into things which proves our downfall. Mental conditioning is the key for a changeover and our Board needs to hire a top psychologist for counselling sessions for a makeover. If we lose against depleted sides like West Indies in our home conditions, winning the World Cup abroad next year would be a gigantic task though not impossible!
– S.N.Kabra
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
H.W. Longfellow said that “Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us, Footprints in the sands of time”. On October 31, we are going to celebrate the 142nd Birth Anniversary of the Iron man — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is a historical figure who moves us to tears but it seems India has forgotten this precious stone because today’s young generation of India only knows him as a freedom fighter. The younger generation has little understanding of the Sardar’s monumental contribution in stitching together a united India from disparate princely States. Though Sardar Patel’s contribution in bringing the nation together was great, his memories are fading away gradually and thus he has become a silent icon.
Sardar Patel was a great political leader with exemplary qualities. Straightforward and outspoken, his commitment to secular India was true and well-defined. Blessed with extraordinary qualities of courage, integrity and an iron determination, Patel played an important role in the freedom movement. He was, thus, able to win their unstinted support in the endeavor of nation building. The genuine qualities of leadership he had shown as the leader of Satyagraha, flowered in a greater way in the administration of the country, maintenance of law and order and ensuring the stability of the country and making it invulnerable.
Here, I would like to point out that if our country is such a well built and multifarious, then one can carefully guess that Sardar Patel is the chief engineer for it. He emerged an astute leader and a perceptive statesman acknowledged as the ‘Iron Man’ and a founder of modern India. As a nation-builder, he was a key leader in the framing of the Constitution, consolidated the nascent state by integrating the Princely states and reorganising the bureaucracy. His efforts to change the Hindu religion and protect the people of other faiths reflected his longing for the right to religion. He was a person of independent nature who brought together the farmers and encouraged them and hence got the title of ‘Sardar’.
The British government considered him as a threat and his lectures were considered anti-government and he was imprisoned several times. In 1942, he took part in the Quit India Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
With great wisdom and political foresight, he strengthened the small kingdoms. There were a lot of problems connected with the reunion of the copious states into India. The impact of Gandhiji’s personality on Patel was tremendous which gave him a new mission in life.
Sardar Patel’s unrelenting efforts towards the unity of the country brought success. A man of iron will and absolute fearlessness integrated 553 princely Indian States into the Indian Union. Due to the achievement of this massive task, Sardar Patel got the title of ‘Iron Man’. He is one of the prestigious leaders of the world who became immortal by uniting a scattered nation without any bloodshed. He took over as the nascent nation’s Home Minister at a very crucial juncture in history and devoted himself wholeheartedly to ensure that the country which was already partitioned remained intact and united.
As soon as Sardar Patel came in contact with the Mahatma, he decided to discard his foreign clothes and follow the rules of Satyagraha as laid down by Gandhiji. He showed a genuine interest in the welfare of his companions, by constantly enquiring about their needs and problems and helping them as best he could.
I would like to quote one incident of Gujarat. When Hindus and Muslims rioted in Ahmedabad in 1941, Patel was in jail. On his release from jail, he told Gujaratis that on his release: “The wounds that were inflicted on me, deep down within me, when I heard of what took place during the riots in this city, have still not healed. If even 10 had been bold enough to stand up to the miscreants, this would not have happened. In the future, do not ever run away. Put up the defence. Face your enemy with a superior force: Gandhiji’s path of non-violence.”
Today, our country frantically needs a leader like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was not just an inspiration but was also a hope for our country. It is crystal clear that a person who has high moral standards is bound to take decisions, which are also in the public interest. As it is rightly said in Bhagwad Geeta that this mortal frame is perishable but the spirit within it is never dead so when we say that Sardar Patel was dead in 1950, we simply mean that he was physically dead but he is spiritually alive and his spirit must not be dead. With the statement of our PM Shri Narendra Modi, I would conclude that “Through his skill, vision and patriotism Sardar Patel integrated the nation. We can never forget his contribution in uniting free India.” It is hard to find a leader like him who dedicated himself to the service of the nation and its people. Let us hope we find a determined leader like him with depth and vision. Following up the footsteps of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to inculcate integrity in Public life, let us remember him with veneration and bow to him. Let us imitate his admirable qualities.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Priyanka Chopra says respect for each other in a relationship is vital.
The actor believes it is this key ingredient that worked for her and fiance, singer Nick Jonas.
“Truly this is what worked for me, he has to be someone who respects you. By that, I don’t mean makes coffee for you, not that. But someone who respects the hard work you put into your life.
“Who respects that if his work is important, so is yours. Or if he makes choices that are important to him, so is your opinion. That’s respect, and that’s incredible to have,” Chopra told a US based magazine.
The 36-year-old actor said she does not want women to settle for less than what they deserve in life.
“Then everything is so easy because you give each other credit for your intelligence, you give each other the benefit of the doubt because you trust each other. There’s so much that comes out of that. I think don’t settle for less than that,” she said.
Chopra celebrated her bridal shower Sunday night ahead of her wedding with Jonas, 26.
According to sources, the couple are set to tie the knot “in India in December”. They got engaged in a traditional roka ceremony at her residence in Mumbai.
Adult film star Shakeela will be seen in a cameo in her biopic.
The film features Richa Chadha as Shakeela, who was one of the biggest stars of the ’90s from Kerala and has acted in several adult films in languages spanning Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
The biopic is being helmed by Indrajit Lankesh.
The director said besides the cameo, the South Indian star was an integral part of the film who gave the team interesting insights – be it her life or the art direction.
“It was nice shooting her for Shakeela biopic, though I have shot with her before for my another film in 2003. That sparked an interest in me to make a film on her and in 2015 after conceiving the idea of making a film on her I met her and realised my dream,” Lankesh said in a statement.
“I feel every woman and girl who wants to be an actress should see her story, to know what she went through to become an actress and how it was such a compelling rags-to-riches-to-rags story of her life,” he added.
The director said Richa met Shakeela in Bangalore to get into the skin of her character before the commencement of the shooting.
“Richa got to spend time with her, understand her style of talking, her body language and such nuances… I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela, I was immensely impressed with her on-screen and off-screen personality.
“I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela,” he said.
The film also reunites Richa with her “Masaan” co-star Pankaj Tripathi, who stars in the role of a ’90s actor.
Actor Dev Patel, a British native of Indian descent, is all set to make his directorial debut with upcoming revenge thriller film ‘Monkey Man’.
The ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame actor will also star in the movie, Variety reported.
‘Monkey Man’ tells the story of Kid (Patel), who emerges from prison to grapple with a world marred by, in the words of the logline, “corporate greed and eroding spiritual values.”
The film will be set in modern-day India, but will also deal with mythology.
Patel has co-written the script for the movie with Paul Angunawela and John Collee. His upcoming projects include ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ and ‘Hotel Mumbai’.
As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wait for their first child, the Duke of Sussex has already thought of a name for the newest member.
In their final day in Wellington, New Zealand, while visiting Abel Tasman National Park, Harry, while addressing a crowd, called the yet-to-be-born child as the couple’s “little bump”.
He also thanked everyone for their hospitality during their stay, reported a online portal.
They even met mental health workers at Maranui Cafe and met a couple of young students.
The couple is currently on their first royal tour of Australia and South Pacific that began on October 16. The tour will end on October 31 with their visit to New Zealand.
Meghan and Harry are expecting their first child in 2019.
Kravitz, who has been dating her fellow actor for two years, said ‘yes’ after he popped the question in her living room in February.
“I’m engaged. I haven’t told anyone yet – I mean, I haven’t told the world. I wanted to keep it private,” she told Rolling Stone magazine.
The “Big Little Lies” star said Glusman was planning to propose to her during a romantic trip to Paris, but decided to pop the question while they were at home due to work calls.
She recalled the moment saying she was in sweatpants and was “a little drunk”.
“I could feel his heart beating so fast – I was like, ‘Baby, are you OK?’ I was actually worried about him!”
Glusman then started to get down on one knee and Kravitz assumed he was stretching to calm his heart down. But instead he went on to pull out a ring box.
“He nailed it. And I love that it wasn’t this elaborate plan in Paris. It was at home, in sweatpants,” she added.
Hollywood may be considered the birthplace of the #MeToo movement but Olivia Munn believes the entertainment industry is more talk and less work on tackling sexual harassment and abuse.
The actor, who was one of the several women to accuse director Brett Ratner of sexual misconduct last year, said she was surprised by the outrage after the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke out.
“I remember where I was when I heard that people were getting outraged about Weinstein and I thought, ‘People care? They didn’t used to care, nobody cared’. For so long, people turned a blind eye.
“When it hits their movie, their show, their bottom line – no one wants it to happen, but when it does happen, what do you do? Hollywood is really big on symbolism but crappy on change,” Munn told a leading magazine for its December issue.
The 38-year-old actor said she was shocked by the piece of advice she was given after she went public with allegations against Ratner.
She claimed that the director had performed a sex act on himself in front of her in 2004 on the sets of “After the Sunset”.
“The advice you’re given is: their power trumps your power and right and wrong doesn’t really come into play,” she recalled.
Munn said she was unafraid of the repercussions of raising her voice.
“I’m not for sale… If speaking up costs me my career, I don’t want it anyway,” she said.
Post allegations, Warner Bros refused to renew a $450-million co-financing deal with Ratner and also severed ties with the director’s banner, RatPac-Dune Entertainment.
He was also sacked as producer on Warner Bros film adaptation of the best-selling novel “The Goldfinch”.
Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma have become parents to their first child, a baby girl.
The couple shared the news Tuesday on Instagram.
They have named the little one Banks Violet Bair, whom Duff, 31, gave birth to last Thursday at her residence.
“Banks Violet Bair… This little bit has fully stolen our hearts! She joined our world at home on Thursday afternoon and is absolute magic,” the “Younger” star wrote alongside a photograph with her boyfriend and the baby.
She also has a six-year-old son, Luca Comrie with former husband Mike Comrie.
Koma, 31, also shared the same picture a while later expressing his excitement.
“… We welcome a beautiful daughter, little sister, and best friend for life. Could not possibly be more grateful for our growing family and for the … who makes it all possible. Cloud ten,” the musician wrote.
They had announced pregnancy in June.
Duff and Koma have been dating since last January.
