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Indians in badminton quarters (Badminton Roundup)
Gold Coast, April 12 (IANS) India’s star singles shuttlers P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy entered the quarter-finals, while Satwik Rankireddy, Ashwini Ponnappa and N.Sikki Reddy also enjoyed a successful day as they reached the last-eight stages in both the doubles categories at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.
Rio Olympics silver medallist Sindhu whipped local girl Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen 21-15, 21-9, while London Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal advanced after the Isle of Man’s Jessica Li retired hurt while trailing 4-21, 0-2.
World No.3 Sindhu will on Friday take on Canadian Brittney Tam for a place in the top-four, while Saina will face Rachel Honderich of Canada.
In another women’s singles tie, Ruthvika Gadde overcame some resistance from Singapore’s Jia Min Yeo to eventually emerge victorious 21-10, 21-23, 21-10 in a 55-minute battle. She will face Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour in the next round.
In the men’s singles, top seed Srikanth thrashed Sri Lankan Niluka Karunaratne 21-10, 21-10 in just 33 minutes at the Carrara Sports Arena here, while Prannoy tamed Australian Anthony Joe 21-18, 21-11 in 35 minutes to enter the quarter-finals.
Srikanth will meet Singapore’s Ryan Ng Zin Rei in the quarter-finals, while Prannoy will look to go past Sri Lankan Dinuka Karunaratne.
In the men’s doubles, Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Mauritius’ Aatish Lubah and Christopher Jean Paul 21-8, 21-12.
The Indian pair will meet Malaysians Chan Peng Soon and Goh Soon Huat in the next round.
In the mixed doubles, the pairs of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwik, and Sikki and Pranaav Chopra advanced to the quarter-finals.
Ashwini and Satwik took just 25 minutes to thrash Canadian duo of Kristen Tsai and Nyl Yakura 21-10, 21-7.
In the quarter-finals, the Indian mixed doubles pair will be up against Malaysia’s Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, who got past Ghana’s Emmanuel Donkor and Stella Amasah.
Sikki and Pranaav edged past Singaporean pair of Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Jia Ying Crystal Wong 21-19, 21-13 in 34 minutes.
Sikki and Pranaav will next take on Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying for a place in the semi-finals.
Ashwini then paired up with Sikki to defeat Singapore’s Ong Ren-Ne and Jia Ying Crystal Wong 21-18, 21-13 for a place in the quarter-finals.
Ashwini-Sikki will take on Sri Lanka’s Hasini Ambalangodage and Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage for a place in the semi-finals.
–IANS
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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.