India women's hockey team created history on Monday as they stunned three-time Olympic champions Australia 1-0 to enter their first Olympic semi-finals in Tokyo 2020. Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur converted India's lone penalty corner in the 22nd minute into a goal and that turned out to be the difference between both sides.
The Indian team were in sublime form and Gurjit Kaur (22') emerged as the only goal-scorer of the match. At the other end, Savita Punia was invincible under the frame as she made nine saves in the match. The Indian team will face off against world no. 5 Argentina in the semifinal on Wednesday.
It is under Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne that the India women's hockey team recorded the historic feat. Taking over as the head coach of the team in 2017, the 47-year-old has instilled a champion's mentality into the side by working on the mindset of the players.
Former Ind.....
Mumbai: Even as there was a strong recovery in consumer demand, global gold demand was flat with a 1 per cent dip during the April-June quarter at 955.1 tonne compared to the same period in 2020, following modest inflows into ETFs, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report.
Overall gold demand stood at 960.5 tonne during April-June quarter in 2020, according to the WGC's 'Gold Demand Trends Q2 2021' report.
The report revealed that between April and June, most consumer gold purchases were positive as jewellery demand grew by 60 per cent at 390.7 tonne compared to 244.5 tonne in the same quarter last year, mainly driven by China and India.
Bars and coins, overwhelmingly bought by retail investors, saw a fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year gains, with 243.8 tonnes during the second quarter of 2021 compared to 156.7 tonnes bought during April-June 2020.
However, deman.....
Australia will host the Olympics for the third time and Paralympics for the second time after Brisbane and South East Queensland tonight secured the 2032 Games.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said securing the Games was a coup for the nation.
“It’s a historic day not just for Brisbane and Queensland, but for the entire country,” the Prime Minister said.
“Only global cities can secure the Olympic Games – so this is fitting recognition for Brisbane’s standing across our region and the world.
“It also marks an important leap forward for Australia as we look toward major events that lock in economic growth and social benefits that will echo for years to come.
“We know the impact on Sydney more than two decades ago was transformative. We can now expect a repeat for Brisbane and communities across Queensland.
“It’s a proud day for Queenslanders and Australi.....
Tokyo: The first resident of the Olympic Village has tested positive for COVID-19, Tokyo Olympic organizers said on Saturday.
Officials said it was not an athlete with the the Games opening in just under a week on July 23.
Tokyo officials including Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the organizing committee, confirmed the case and said the positive test was Friday.
Organizers say for confidentiality purposes they can only offer a vague description and few details.
In the current situation, that positive cases arise is something we must assume is possible, said Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo organizing committee.
The person is identified simply as a games-concerned personnel. The person is also listed as a non-resident of Japan. Tokyo officials said the person was placed in a 14-day quarantine.
The Olympic Village on Tokyo Bay will house about 11,000 athletes during t.....
New Delhi: From olive wreaths to recycled metals sourced from old cell phones and electronics, the reward for winning at the Olympics, the most sought-after achievement in an athlete's life, has come a long way, much like the Games itself.
Made of recycled electronic devices and pebble-like in appearance, the medals in the upcoming Tokyo Games will measure 8.5 centimeters in diameter, featuring the flying image of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
But, unlike previous years, these will be produced from gold, silver and bronze (in this case, copper and zinc) that has been stripped from over 79,000 tons of used cell phones and other small electronic devices donated by the Japanese population.
During the ancient Olympic Games, athletes who emerged victorious were awarded 'Kotinos' or olive wreaths, which were considered a sacred prize in Greece, representing the highest honour.
.....
New Delhi: India's coal import rose 20.4 per cent to 19.92 million tonnes (MT) in the month of May.
The country had imported 16.54 MT of coal in May last fiscal, according to data compiled by mjunction Services.
"On a year-on-year basis, however, India's coal and coke imports in May 2021 were up 20.4 per cent as against 16.54 MT clocked in May 2020," it said.
Import volumes of dry-fuel, it said, are expected to remain subdued in the ongoing monsoon season on account of lower demand, firm prices and high freight rates.
India's coal import also rose 25.4 per cent to 42.19 MT in the first two months of the ongoing fiscal, against 33.63 MT of coal imported in the corresponding period of previous financial year, it said.
Of the total import in May, non-coking coal was at 13.64 MT, against 10.54 MT imported in May last financial year. Coking coal import was at 4.41 MT, up agains.....
Toronto: An important debate is brewing about free speech at the Olympics. After years of the International Olympic Committee restricting the free expression of athletes at the Games, some prominent athletes are calling for the unlimited right to speak freely including the right to protest.
The advocates include Canadian decathlete Damien Warner, an Olympic bronze medallist in 2016, who has said: If there's something on their mind, then athletes should be allowed to speak. The IOC, he said, is on the wrong side of history.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Olympic Advisory Committee takes a similar view.
In response, the IOC has relaxed its Rule 50 on advertising, demonstrations and propaganda to allow free speech in interviews and meetings, but has stood firm on the prohibitions against political statements on the field of play and during ceremonies. The committee threatens to pun.....
Two partnerships representing 13 local governments combined have been selected as Western Australia's first Regional Climate Alliances.
The $500,000 Regional Climate Alliance pilot program is part of the Western Australian Climate Policy, and encourages regional local governments to work together to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The pilot received eight applications, collectively representing a total of 51 regional local governments across the State.
"The Regional Climate Alliance program empowers local governments to band together to achieve important environmental innovations that would not otherwise be possible. I look forward to seeing the difference these alliances make to tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their local communities," said Environment and Climate Action Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
The successfu.....
Sydney: Australia will send 472 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics, the second-largest team sent overseas by the country since the 2004 Athens Games.
The Australian Olympic Committee said Monday that 254 women and 218 men would travel to Tokyo for the games which begin July 23. At Athens, Australia sent 482 athletes.
No. 1-ranked women's tennis player Ash Barty will be one of 16 Indigenous athletes on the Australian team.
The Australians will compete in 33 sports, including fielding athletes in four new Olympic sports karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.
Team chef de mission Ian Chesterman said the selected athletes had endured the uncertainties of a one-year postponement, disrupted competitions, qualifying opportunities and access to training venues.
"This has been extremely difficult for every athlete and each has their own individual story to tell. But they ha.....
Lisbon (Portugal): Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations and outpace the spread of the more infectious delta variant, in a high-stakes race to prevent hospital wards from filling up again with patients fighting for their lives.
The urgency coincides with Europe's summer holiday months, with fair weather bringing more social gatherings and governments reluctant to clamp down on them. Social distancing is commonly neglected, especially among the young, and some countries are scrapping the requirement to wear masks outdoors.
Incentives for people to get shots include free groceries, travel and entertainment vouchers, and prize drawings. The president of Cyprus even appealed to a sense of patriotism.
The risk of infection from the delta variant is high to very high for partially or unvaccinated communities, according to the European Centre for.....
Hong Kong: Hong Kong is still China's wealthiest, most capitalist city. Its vistas of skyscraper and sea framed by dragon-backed emerald peaks are as stunning as ever.
But a year after Beijing imposed a harsh national security law on the former British colony, the civil liberties that raised hopes for more democracy among many of its 7 million people are fading.
The June 30, 2020, rollout of the law accelerated a rolling back of freedoms promised to Hong Kong when China took over in 1997. That process was punctuated earlier this month with the shutdown of the city's last pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily.
The authorities first came for Apple Daily's outspoken billionaire founder Jimmy Lai. He's in jail serving a 20-month sentence and facing charges of foreign collusion to endanger national security.
Last week, some 500 police officers raided the newspaper's headquarters.
.....
New Delhi: Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday slashed India's growth projection to 9.6 per cent for 2021 calendar year, from its earlier estimate of 13.9 per cent, and said faster vaccination progress will be paramount in restricting economic losses to June quarter
In its report titled 'Macroeconomics India: Economic shocks from second COVID wave will not be as severe as last year's', Moody's said high-frequency economic indicators show that the second wave of COVID-19 infections hit India's economy in April and May. With states now easing restrictions, economic activity in May is likely to signify the trough.
"The virus resurgence adds uncertainty to India's growth forecast for 2021; however, it is likely that the economic damage will remain restricted to the April-June quarter. We currently expect India's real GDP to grow at 9.6 per cent in 2021 and 7 per cent in 2022," Moody.....