EXCLUSIVE: 'I'm in an extraordinary position,' says QPR coach Tailor
By Sattwik BiswalJul 13, 2021
QPR coach Manisha Tailor has been breaking down boundaries her entire life, but even she admits it's 'extraordinary' that she has been promoted to assistant head of coaching for the club's under-9s to under-16s - making her the first woman and first person of South Asian heritage to hold such a position.
The 40-year-old will assist head of coaching Chris Ramsey, who has been a mentor and big supporter in Tailor's journey.
"I am looking forward to continuing to learn from senior staff and assist Chris Ramsey in enforcing and disseminating the philosophy at the academy. This is quite an extraordinary position to be in, as a woman and as a south Asian woman. I hope that it inspires change so that we see more women from different backgrounds in these types of roles," she told Eastern Eye.
Manisha Taylor with mentor Chris RamseyPhoto: Lucille Flood for The FA
Her time at QPR has been life-changing for Tailor and she is proud to be associated with a professional football club, which is "inclusive and diverse".
"The club has been instrumental in my development, especially Chris Ramsey, who took me under his wing in 2016 when I first began to volunteer at the club. His mentoring and guidance has fostered my learning in helping me to develop a greater understanding of the landscape within professional football.
"I was initially encouraged to contact Chris by Andrew Impey (former QPR footballer & current U23 head coach). I had met Chris in 2014 and we reconnected in 2016 at a Kick it Out event - we were both invited to be mentors by Troy Townsend, the rest I guess is history! I am in a great place, with senior staff who are incredibly welcoming and open to helping me learn. I am proud to work at an inclusive and diverse football club," she said.
Initially, when Tailor joined QPR in 2016 and started to travel with the team for away games, she would be perceived as a physio by the rival teams, a stereotype she is determined to break down.
She said: "There is now a bit more familiarity, but there have been times recently where I would be assumed to be the physio. However, I and others can help to change this by creating greater visibility, through the job that I am in. I must play my part in breaking down these stereotypes."
Manisha Taylor coaching a session with U13 boys at QPRPhoto: Lucille Flood for The FA
She reveals it required tremendous “persistence and resilience” on her part to break the glass ceiling and to some extent gender stereotypes in a male-dominated professional sport.
"There were inevitably challenges and it required persistence and resilience to manage my emotions within an incredibly competitive environment, maintain focus on my journey and be adaptable and open to learning. Chris [Ramsey] helped me to better understand the environment, which I believe for me has been key. In addition to this, developing relationships and trust within an organisation is also important."
She added: "I think there are a number of initiatives that are certainly holding clubs to account. Although we are seeing change, I think this change needs to be a little more radical. I say this because we have people from the south Asian community to do these jobs - they need equality and access to opportunities and to be treated on a level playing field. We are beginning to see change which is great and I hope this inspires others from the community to pursue their dreams in football."
How can there be a change to make football more inclusive and diverse? Tailor, who was awarded an MBE in 2017 Honours List, says: "Greater accountability will help to ensure that clubs are adhering to ethical and equitable processes when they recruit. We need to challenge and question why there are few black and Asian coaches in senior positions?...they are qualified, but not being provided with the same or similar access to jobs, than others. Here, we must see change."
Much of Tailor's resilience and grit comes from her twin brother, Mayur, who was diagnosed of mental illness at the age of 18, which she says was "a result of trauma and extreme bullying at school".
In 2011, she left her role as a deputy school teacher and embarked upon a journey in football, with her brother becoming a driving force.
"I was inspired by not only my brother, but influenced by my love and passion for the game and working with young people. Through my experience of becoming a young carer I saw the importance of using sport to engage with those who have mental health issues."
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has put mental health in focus like never before, and Tailor says it affects us all.
"We need to create greater conversations around mental health to assist in breaking down any associated stigma and taboo. Mental health affects us all and in my opinion, it's about recognising our emotions and learning how we manage our feelings in different situations.
"Open and honest dialogue can prevent isolation, fear of failure, stress and anxiety, simply because individuals would be more willing to share their thoughts, this could be in person, through voice notes or journalling - all of which can relate to sport and life," she said.
In pursuit to become the best in her new role and as a coach, she is currently doing her A Licence course and simultaneously working on her second book, which profiles south Asian trailblazers in football.
Aamir Khan will be seen in a special cameo as Dahaa in Coolie, starring Rajinikanth.
First look dropped on 3 July, showing Aamir in a rugged, pipe-smoking avatar.
Khan said he agreed to the cameo instantly because he’s a longtime Rajinikanth fan.
Coolie releases in IMAX on 14 August and will clash with War 2 at the box office.
Bollywood star Aamir Khan has joined the cast of Rajinikanth’s highly anticipated action film Coolie for a special cameo. The makers revealed Aamir’s first look on 3 July, and fans have been buzzing ever since.
In the poster, Aamir appears as ‘Dahaa’, a gritty, sharp-looking man in a sleeveless vest, glasses, and pipe in hand. The black-and-white image, released by Sun Pictures, presents a darker, edgier version of the actor not seen in recent years. The caption on the post read: “Introducing #AamirKhan as Dahaa, from the world of #Coolie. #Coolie is all set to dominate IMAX screens worldwide from 14 August.”
Aamir Khan sports a rugged look with pipe and vest in Coolie cameoInstagram/cooliemovieofficial
Aamir Khan plays Dahaa in Coolie
Although it’s just a cameo, Aamir’s intense look has left fans expecting a memorable twist. Speaking in an interview, the actor revealed he didn’t even ask for the script before saying yes. “I really enjoyed doing it. I’m a huge fan of Rajini sir. When Lokesh told me he wanted me for a cameo in Rajini sir’s film, I said, ‘Done. I’m doing it,’” he said.
This marks Aamir’s second on-screen appearance post his comeback film Sitaare Zameen Par, which is currently running successfully at the box office.
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Rajinikanth and Lokesh team up for a pan-India action drama
Directed by Kaithi and Vikram maker Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie stars Rajinikanth in the lead, alongside Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Soubin Shahir.
The film is said to revolve around high-stakes action with a strong emotional core, typical of Lokesh’s filmmaking style. It has reportedly been made on a massive budget of £35 million (₹375 crore), making it one of the most expensive Indian films this year.
Coolie is set to hit cinemas on 14 August, right before India’s Independence Day, which is a prime release window. But the film will face stiff competition from YRF’s War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani.
Both films are releasing in multiple languages and aiming for a pan-Indian audience, setting the stage for one of 2025’s biggest box office battles.
Aamir’s latest appearance as Dahaa follows his return to films after a three-year hiatus. His last full-fledged role was in Sitaare Zameen Par, which co-stars Genelia Deshmukh and ten newcomers. The film has earned over £12.6 million (₹135 crore) in India and continues to draw audiences with its emotional storyline.
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Swiatek battles back: Iga Swiatek overcame a shaky start to defeat American Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 and reach the third round at Wimbledon.
Early scare: McNally, ranked 208, came from 1-4 down to take the first set, capitalising on Swiatek’s struggles on grass.
Swift turnaround: Swiatek raised her aggression in the second set, dominating the rest of the match and losing just three more games.
Grand Slam consistency: The 23-year-old became only the third woman this century to reach the third round in 22 consecutive Grand Slams.
Familiar foe: Swiatek and McNally were former junior doubles partners, winning the French Open girls' title together in 2018.
Iga Swiatek may not love the grass but relishes a battle whatever the surface and showed all that fight and bullish determination as she recovered to beat American Caty McNally 5-7 6-2 6-1 and reach the Wimbledon third round on Thursday.
McNally, the world number 208, looked poised to cause an upset when she clawed her way back from 4-1 down to take the first set against the five-times Grand Slam champion.
At that point Swiatek's mediocre record at the All England Club, where the Pole has never gone past the quarter-finals, seemed to be weighing heavily on her shoulders.
But rather than shy away from the scrap, the former world number one flicked a psychological switch that saw her come out for the second set transformed, upping her aggression and playing with a ferocity McNally simply could not handle.
She broke early in the second set and never looked back, losing only three more games to set up a clash with another American Danielle Collins.
"I started the match well so I knew that my game was there," said Swiatek. "I knew that at the start of the second set I had to be more accurate. I just tried to improve and I'm happy it worked."
The eighth seed may have her sights set far higher than the third round, but by reaching the last 32 she underlined her consistency on the big stage.
The 23-year-old is the third player this century to reach the third round in 22 consecutive women’s singles Grand Slams after Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams.
DIFFICULT SURFACE
Whether such milestones are enough to persuade Swiatek she can excel on a surface that has so far proven difficult to master is yet to be determined.
With four French Open titles to her name, another at the U.S. Open and two semi-final appearances in Australia, her unspectacular Wimbledon record stands out like a sore thumb.
A run to the Bad Homburg final in the grasscourt warm-up event showed her game is not entirely unsuited to the surface, though there was a period in the first set against McNally where she may have wondered if this tournament was simply not for her.
Having broken early and raced into a 4-1 lead, the wheels briefly came off as McNally did everything to push Swiatek out of her comfort zone.
The American pushed right up to the baseline to receive serve, trying to give Swiatek less time to react to the return and for a while it worked.
McNally spurned four break points in the seventh game before finally taking her chance at the fifth attempt before breaking again for a 6-5 lead when Swiatek swiped a backhand long.
When the Pole fired a wild forehand off target to hand McNally the opener, everything seemed to be going the American's way. But that was as good as it got.
DOUBLES PARTNERS
Swiatek knows McNally's game well - the pair were doubles partners in their youth, clinching the junior title at Roland Garros in 2018 - and set about dismantling it in double-quick time.
She broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set and again to level the contest at one set each.
Swiatek then did the same at the start of the third set, breaking to go 2-0 ahead, with a forehand swiped cross-court, while another forehand winner saw her break again to move 4-0 up.
It was then straightforward for the Pole, although she did have to save five break points before wrapping up victory with an ace.
As well as earning her spot in the next round, the match against her old playing partner offered a pleasing trip down memory lane.
"It's pretty funny because I remember these matches pretty well," she said of her junior days.
"We know each other pretty well ... She's one of the people who make you feel like you are not only rivals on tour but that you can also respect each other and like each other."
Reuters
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Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together in Cardiff for the first time since 2009
• Oasis begin their global reunion tour in Cardiff on 4 and 5 July. • Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together for the first time since 2009. • More than 14 million fans tried to buy tickets for the UK shows. • Fans travelled from Chile, Colombia, and the US to attend the Cardiff gig.
For the first time in 16 years, Liam and Noel Gallagher shared a stage on Friday night, kicking off Oasis’s long-awaited reunion tour at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. With fans flying in from across the globe and massive demand crashing ticketing sites, the atmosphere was electric as one of Britain’s biggest rock bands returned to the spotlight.
Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher at "Che Tempo Che Fa" Italian TV ShowGetty Images
Thousands descend on Cardiff for historic Oasis concert
Cardiff turned into a sea of bucket hats, parkas, and Mancunian pride this weekend as Oasis fans poured into the city ahead of the band’s reunion shows. The Principality Stadium welcomed 62,000 fans each night, with supporters camping outside since Wednesday to secure a prime spot.
Some had travelled vast distances, like 38-year-old Janneth Dueñas from Bogotá, Colombia, and Matt Pope from California, while others, such as Manchester student Jasmine Griffins-Jones, had queued for days. The excitement wasn’t just about the music, but the moment: the return of Liam and Noel Gallagher, who hadn’t shared a stage since their explosive split in 2009.
Global demand crashes sites and sends prices soaring
Demand for tickets was nothing short of astronomical. Over 14 million people attempted to secure one of just 1.5 million available UK spots, with Cardiff’s dates selling out within minutes. Frustrations followed as many fans encountered crashed websites and inflated prices due to dynamic pricing. Some standard tickets jumped from £148 (₹15,600) to £355 (₹37,500), sparking public outcry and drawing the attention of the UK’s competition watchdog.
Despite the chaos, excitement has remained sky-high, with stadium staff describing the gig as “possibly the most hyped event” in the venue’s history.
For many, attending the gig was deeply personal. Diana Vesely, who first saw Oasis in Mexico in 1998, flew in from Chicago to be at the first reunion show. Meanwhile, journalist Orlando Silva Vargas from Chile arrived in Cardiff without accommodation, hoping to trade traditional spices for a place to sleep. “It might not be smart financially, but I’d regret missing this forever,” he said.
From reunions to first concerts, fans from all generations were united by one thing: a lifelong connection to Oasis’s music.
Following the Cardiff shows, Oasis will perform across the UK, including Manchester’s Heaton Park, Wembley Stadium, and Dublin’s Croke Park, before heading to Asia, South America, and the US. The tour will also tie in with a new film by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
Liam and Noel Gallagher formed Oasis in 1991, quickly rising to fame with albums like Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. Hits like Wonderwall and Live Forever became anthems of a generation. Their last album, Dig Out Your Soul, came in 2008, just before the infamous backstage fight in Paris that ended it all.
My and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.
According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”
Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel, along with digital collections of historical newspapers and journals. He examined all of her published works in both French and English, even uncovering essays written under a pseudonym that had not been seen since 1905. He traces her early life within the vibrant world of Belle Époque Paris (1871–1914), where she moved in artistic and esoteric circles.
Heehs describes two principal approaches to biographyAMG
Born in 1878 into a moderately wealthy Sephardic Jewish family – her father was Turkish-Egyptian, her mother Egyptian-Jewish – Mirra Alfassa grew up in an intellectually rich and cosmopolitan environment. Tutored at home, she later studied painting at the prestigious Académie Julian and exhibited at the Paris Salon. Her first husband, Henri Morisset, was a painter of the Intimist school, more traditional than contemporaries like Henri Matisse, Édouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard. Though he never gained their level of fame, he moved in similar artistic circles, and Mirra herself knew and associated with figures like Auguste Rodin.
At the same time, she was deeply engaged in the French occult revival, serving as managing editor of the Revue Cosmique, an esoteric journal. Her spiritual journey intensified when she encountered the Bhagavad Gita under the guidance of Indian lecturer G N Chakravarty and later engaged with eastern spiritual teachers such as Inayat Khan and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
In 1910, her second husband, Paul Richard, travelled to Pondicherry and met Sri Aurobindo. In 1914, Mirra joined him in India, and together with Aurobindo, they launched the monthly review Arya, which published most of Aurobindo’s major writings. The First World War forced their return to France, followed by a sojourn in Japan. They returned to Pondicherry in 1920, after which Paul Richard departed. Mirra remained and became Aurobindo’s closest spiritual collaborator.
Heehs describes two principal approaches to biography. The first – the contingent approach – follows the subject’s life chronologically, attending closely to verifiable facts. The second – the teleological approach – interprets the subject’s life as an inevitable progression towards a destined goal. “I took the contingent approach when dealing with the Mother’s early life,” Heehs explained, “and continued to do so even after Sri Aurobindo declared her to be an incarnation of the divine Shakti. As a historian, my role is not to make theological pronouncements but to present the facts of her outer and inner life, insofar as she spoke about them.”
When asked about the Mother’s lasting contributions, Heehs emphasised: “She established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, founded its school – the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education – and launched the international utopian city of Auroville. At the same time, she oversaw both the inner and outer lives of the ashram’s members.”
Aurobindo Ackroyd Ghosh – the polymath Indian philosopher, freedom fighter and revolutionary yogi – was educated in England at St Paul’s School and King’s College, Cambridge, where he was trained in the Classics. Long before the term “Asian century” became popular, Aurobindo had already envisioned Asia’s re-emergence on the world stage. Today, countless volumes have been written about his extraordinary life and complex philosophical legacy.
Although it may sound like a modern geopolitical thesis, Aurobindo proclaimed in 1918: “Asia is once more rising; she is throwing off the torpor of centuries. She is recovering the pride of her past and the faith in her future... It is through the recovery of the deeper self of Asia that the world will find its balance.”
His collaborator, Mirra Alfassa, widely known as the Mother, dedicated her life to actualising this prophetic vision.
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Akash Deep gave away 12 runs in his first over but returned to bowl a double-wicket maiden in his second. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA captain Shubman Gill scored his first Test double century as India posted 587 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Thursday. England were 77-3 at stumps, trailing by 510 runs.
Gill’s 269 was the foundation of India’s innings, before stand-in fast bowler Akash Deep removed two England batters in consecutive balls. Deep is playing in this match as Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, is being rested. Bumrah is set to play only three of the five matches in this series due to a back injury.
Deep gave away 12 runs in his first over but returned to bowl a double-wicket maiden in his second. He dismissed Ben Duckett, who had made 149 in the first Test, by inducing an edge to third slip where Gill took the catch. The next delivery saw Ollie Pope fall for a golden duck, edging to second slip where KL Rahul held on at the second attempt.
Joe Root survived the hat-trick ball.
England lose early wickets in reply
England were soon 25-3 when Mohammed Siraj got Zak Crawley caught at first slip by Karun Nair. Root, on 18, and Harry Brook, on 30, then added 52 runs in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand to steady England slightly.
The day, however, was dominated by India, and in particular Gill, who broke multiple records with his innings.
His 269 surpassed Virat Kohli’s 254 against South Africa in 2019 as the highest score by an India Test captain. It also went past Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 at Sydney as the highest score by an India batter in a Test outside Asia. Gill also beat Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 at the Oval in 1979 as the top score by an India player in a Test in England.
‘Looking at the results, they are working for me’
"I worked on a few things before the series as well, that I thought might be important for me going into Test cricket," Gill told Sky Sports. "Looking at the results, they are working for me."
He added, "Fielding was definitely one of those things we spoke about as a team, and it's great to see that come off so far."
England assistant coach Jeetan Patel acknowledged the challenge faced by the home side. "One hundred and fifty overs in the dirt in any scenario is pretty tough," he told reporters.
"Credit must be given to Shubman with the way he's batted over two days. It was a masterclass in how to bat on a good wicket," said Patel.
Big partnerships and record-breaking innings
Gill shared key stands of 203 and 144 for the sixth and seventh wickets with Ravindra Jadeja (89) and Washington Sundar (42) respectively. He batted with few mistakes until his dismissal.
Gill attacked spinner Shoaib Bashir, driving him for fours and lofting him for six. Bashir ended with figures of 3-167 in 45 overs. Fast bowler Josh Tongue gave away 119 runs for two wickets. Gill reached his double century with a hooked single off Tongue and acknowledged the crowd with a bow.
His innings lasted 387 balls, included 30 fours and three sixes, and spanned over eight-and-a-half hours. It ended when he pulled a delivery from Tongue straight to Pope at square leg.
England players shook Gill’s hand as he walked back with India at 574-8.
India had resumed the day at 310-5, with Gill on 114 and Jadeja on 41. On a sunny day ideal for batting, the pair extended the total further, mindful of India’s previous collapses at Headingley where they lost 7-41 and 6-31.