Paris 2024: Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem qualify for javelin final
Neeraj Chopra achieved a season’s best effort of 89.34m in his first attempt during the qualification round on Tuesday.
By EasternEyeAug 06, 2024
India's Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem have qualified for the men's javelin throw final at the Olympic Games.
Chopra achieved a season's best effort of 89.34m in his first attempt during the qualification round on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old crossed the automatic qualifying mark of 84m with his opening throw, securing the top spot in Group B. This effort, the second best of his career, alleviated concerns about Chopra's fitness, as he had been dealing with an adductor niggle before the Games. His personal best remains 89.94m, achieved in 2022.
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, also qualified for the finals with a throw of 86.59m in Group B. Grenada's Anderson Peters made the cut with a throw of 88.63m.
Kishore Jena, the other Indian competitor, did not qualify for the 12-man final on Thursday, managing a throw of 80.73m.
Chopra's performance was brief but impressive, effectively securing his spot with his first attempt. Jena finished ninth in Group A with a throw of 80.73m, which did not qualify him for the finals.
Athletes who throw 84m or more, or the 12 best performers from Group A and B combined, will advance to the final on Thursday. Jena's throws were 80.73m in his first attempt, a foul in his second, and 80.21m in his third.
Julian Weber of Germany topped Group A with a throw of 87.76m. Former world champion Julius Yego (85.97m) of Kenya and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch (85.63m) of Czechia placed second and third. Toni Keranen (85.27m) of Finland also surpassed the automatic qualification mark.
Jena secured his Olympic berth with an 87.54m throw for a silver medal at the Asian Games in October last year. Since then, he has crossed the 80m mark in only one out of six competitions before Tuesday.
LEPRA launched its first high-value giving network, the 100 Club, on June 26. The event was held at Quilon Restaurant in London and brought together philanthropists, business leaders and supporters of the charity’s work.
The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club. Remarks were delivered by Lepra’s Chair of Trustees Suzanne McCarthy and CEO Jimmy Innes, who spoke about the organisation’s ASPIRE project.
The project focuses on identifying undiagnosed cases of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis through community-based healthcare.
“The 100 Club offers a powerful way to support and scale-up this work,” said the organisers.
The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club.
The initiative features three membership levels and includes special recognition for founding members who join in 2025.
Lepra’s case-finding strategy involves door-to-door screening by trained teams, who identify symptoms and refer individuals for diagnosis and free multidrug therapy (MDT) treatment.
The charity said this approach has detected up to 300 per cent more leprosy cases compared to traditional methods, while using fewer human resources and reducing costs.
According to Lepra, the case detection programme costs £1 million annually and reached 61,215 people last year.
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Gill's 430 runs in the match made him only the fifth batter to score over 400 in a single Test. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA captain Shubman Gill became the first batter in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match, before Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep struck early to put India in control of the second Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Gill followed his first-innings 267 with 161 off 162 balls in the second innings. India declared at 427-6 after tea on the fourth day, setting England a target of 608 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
The highest fourth-innings chase in Test history remains West Indies’ 418 against Australia at St John's in 2003. England’s record is 378, achieved against India at the same venue three years ago.
At stumps on Saturday, England were 72-3, still needing 536 runs to win on the final day.
“Nothing is impossible,” England batting coach Marcus Trescothick told the BBC. “But 536 is a lot of runs... If we were to chase that down then it would be an epic day's play.”
Harry Brook, who made 158 in England’s first-innings total of 407, was unbeaten on 15.
Siraj and Deep strike early
Siraj, who took 6-70 in the first innings, dismissed Zak Crawley for a duck with a loose drive to backward point. Deep, playing in place of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, then bowled Ben Duckett for 25 and dismissed Joe Root for six with a full-length delivery that moved late.
"That's a pleasing sign from Akash, he is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot," said India bowling coach Morne Morkel.
The former South Africa pacer added: "Top-quality player, Joe Root, and to dismiss him in that fashion just shows the quality of Akash."
Gill crosses 400 in a match
Gill's 430 runs in the match made him only the fifth batter to score over 400 in a single Test. The 25-year-old has now scored three centuries in four innings since becoming captain, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket in May.
He was supported on Saturday by Rishabh Pant, who scored 65 after being dropped twice. Crawley missed a chance at mid-off when Pant was on 10. The wicketkeeper-batter hit eight fours and three sixes during his 58-ball knock, adding 110 runs in just 103 balls with Gill for the fourth wicket.
Gill, batting at number four in place of the retired Virat Kohli, hit Josh Tongue for three consecutive boundaries – a hooked six, a lofted four over mid-on, and a pulled four past Ben Stokes.
He later struck another hooked six off Tongue. Pant’s innings ended when he tried to hit Shoaib Bashir and lost control of his bat, which flew towards midwicket while the ball was caught by Duckett at deep mid-off.
India pile on after tea
After tea, Gill hit a straight six and two fours off Chris Woakes, then slog-swept Joe Root for six to reach 150. He was eventually dismissed for 161, giving a return catch to Bashir after hitting 13 fours and eight sixes.
With crowd chants of "Boring, boring India" heard as the visitors continued to bat, Gill eventually declared with Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 69.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs. (Representational image: iStock)
THE UK government has announced the nationwide rollout of Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority, aiming to support 500,000 more children by 2028.
The hubs are intended to offer easier access to family services and reduce pressure on parents.
Nationwide rollout and funding
Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs.
The new initiative, backed by over £500 million, will create up to 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028, with all local authorities expected to have a hub by April 2026.
Areas including Warrington, Leeds, Reading, and Somerset are among those to gain access.
The hubs will provide services such as early language support, parenting sessions, housing advice, breastfeeding support, mental health services, and debt and welfare guidance.
A new digital platform will also be launched to connect parents with local hubs and the NHS App.
Quotes from ministers and organisations
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “It’s the driving mission of this government to break the link between a child’s background and what they go on to achieve – our new Best Start Family Hubs will put the first building blocks of better life chances in place for more children.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “By bringing together early support services and investing £500 million in children’s development, we’re taking preventative action that will improve lives and reduce pressure on the NHS – a key part of our 10 Year Health Plan.”
Anna Feuchtwang, CEO of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change set out his ambition to improve outcomes in early childhood. Now the government has put its money where its mouth is and committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority.”
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Saif Ali Khan loses £1.4 billion crore royal inheritance after Madhya Pradesh High Court declares it enemy property
Madhya Pradesh High Court rejects Saif Ali Khan’s plea in the long-running Bhopal royal property dispute.
The estate, worth £1.4 billion (₹15,000 crore), has been declared “enemy property” due to links with Pakistan.
Trial court verdict naming Saif and family as heirs overturned; retrial ordered.
Government may soon initiate takeover of key Pataudi family properties in Bhopal.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dealt a severe legal setback to actor Saif Ali Khan and his family by striking down a previous court ruling that recognised them as legal heirs to a sprawling £1.4 billion (₹15,000 crore) royal estate in Bhopal. The court declared the property as “enemy property,” a classification that allows the government to take control of assets once owned by individuals who migrated to Pakistan.
Saif Ali Khan’s royal inheritance in Bhopal declared enemy property after court verdictGetty Images
High court overturns 2000 verdict favouring Saif’s family
In its latest order, the High Court dismissed a trial court ruling from 2000 that had recognised Saif Ali Khan, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and his sisters Soha and Saba as rightful inheritors of the estate of Sajida Sultan, daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan. The challenge came from other descendants of the Nawab, who argued that the property distribution should have followed Muslim Personal Law, not state-backed recognition. The court has now ordered a retrial, directing the lower court to conclude proceedings within one year.
Saif Ali Khan with family Getty Images
Declared ‘enemy property’ over Pakistan connection
The dispute took a sharp turn in 2014 when the Custodian of Enemy Property notified that several Pataudi properties in Bhopal, including the Noor-Us-Sabah Palace and Flag Staff House, would be classified under the Enemy Property Act. This decision stemmed from the fact that Saif’s great-grandmother, Abida Sultan, sister of Sajida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan post-Partition, renouncing her Indian citizenship. Under the Act, properties linked to such individuals can be acquired by the Indian government.
An exterior view of the Noor Us Sabah Palace now listed under enemy property Getty Images
Saif’s challenge fails as deadline passes
Saif Ali Khan had managed to secure a temporary stay on the government’s move in 2015. However, the court lifted the stay on 13 December 2024 and gave the family 30 days to appeal to the appellate tribunal. As no claim was filed within the stipulated time, the properties are now eligible for acquisition by the government. The Bhopal district administration may soon begin the takeover process.
Saif Ali Khan loses claim to Pataudi family properties as court cites Pakistan connectionGetty Images
Legacy of the Pataudi family under scrutiny
The estate at the heart of the dispute includes some of Bhopal’s most valuable landmarks, not just in monetary terms but also in heritage. This legal turn of events has reignited debate around the Enemy Property Act and how it continues to affect Indian families with cross-border ties. For Saif Ali Khan, whose royal lineage has long been part of his public identity, this verdict could be a deeply personal and legal setback.
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Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about Ferrari's chances at the 2025 British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton topped FP1 and finished third in FP2 at Silverstone
Ferrari's pace encouraging despite rivals bringing major upgrades
Hamilton targeting strong weekend, focused on car improvements
Charles Leclerc also positive on Ferrari's race pace ahead of F1 qualifying time
Silverstone qualifying 2025 set to be highly competitive
Hamilton leads strong start for Ferrari at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about Ferrari's chances at the 2025 British Grand Prix following an encouraging performance during Friday practice at Silverstone. The seven-time World Champion topped the timesheets in Free Practice 1 and secured P3 in the afternoon session, marking one of his best Fridays since joining Ferrari earlier this year.
“It was a really good day,” said Hamilton. “Great to see the crowd. Amazing to be out on track in a Ferrari here at Silverstone.”
Competitive despite rivals’ upgrades
Hamilton noted that both McLaren and Red Bull introduced upgrades ahead of the Silverstone weekend, yet Ferrari remained competitive. “It’s pretty incredible and also with McLaren and Red Bull having upgrades, so for us to be in the mix still is really positive,” he said.
The British driver, who has nine career wins at Silverstone, believes that Ferrari’s pace offers promise ahead of Sunday’s race. “I definitely feel like we can dream of having a strong weekend,” he added. “Executing and putting it all together is another thing but I’ll prepare myself the best I can to make sure we get the best result.”
Lewis Hamilton topped FP1 and finished third in FP2Getty Images
Hamilton finished fourth at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, equalling his best result for Ferrari so far. He stated he is becoming more comfortable in the SF-25 and continues to improve.
“I’m progressing a lot now with the car and much more comfortable knowing where it needs to be,” he said. “We still weren’t quite where we needed to be in FP2, but we know the changes we need to make.”
Leclerc confident in race pace
Charles Leclerc also showed strong form on Friday, finishing fourth in FP1 and second in FP2. While he acknowledged McLaren’s Lando Norris holds the edge in one-lap pace, Leclerc was confident about Ferrari’s race performance.
“McLaren is probably the car to beat at the moment,” he said. “But in race pace I was happy. I think we are very strong for Sunday. We’ve just got to find more in Qualifying.”
The Silverstone qualifying 2025 session is expected to be closely contested as teams aim to convert their practice form into pole position.