Top News
Serena Williams continues to win in BNP Paribas Open
Indian Wells (US), March 11 (IANS) The comeback of Serena Williams, 36, continued with a victory over world No. 29 Kiki Bertens at the BNP Paribas Open here.
Fourteen months after her last tournament, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has won her second match of the WTA Premier Mandatory event in straight sets, beating Bertens 7-6 (5), 7-5 in less than two hours on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency.
Serena Williams now faces her elder sister Venus Williams, who has won over No. 35 Romania’s Sorana Cirstea on the same afternoon. The two will meet in the third round.
“She’s playing really well and just honing her game. When she’s missing, it’s not by much. Obviously I have to play better than her and see how the match goes,” Venus told the media after her victory.
Unseeded Serena beat Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan in the opening round, a round that she would normally skip.
Serena, who gave birth to her first child six months ago, has not played a full tournament since the 2017 Australian Open when she was in the early stages of her pregnancy with daughter Alexis.
The new mom is aiming to become the first woman to win three singles titles in Indian Wells, adding to her trophies from 1999 and 2001.
No woman has won more than twice in Indian Wells ever. And Williams isn’t alone. Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka (2012, 2016) will also chase for a record third title in the desert.
Australian Open champion and current world No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki is chasing her first Indian Wells title in seven years. No. 1 seed Simona Halep has won a title at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2015.
–IANS
sam/ksk
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.