Bhatkal students explore career paths at INF Launchpad 2025
Bhatkal: Around 270 Class 10 students from five schools in Bhatkal participated in INF Launchpad 2025, a one-day career and leadership camp organised by the Indian Nawayath Forum (INF) on Thursday at Ameena Palace. The event aimed to guide students on career choices, scholarships, competitive exams, and essential life skills.
Through interactive sessions, multimedia presentations, and quizzes, the camp offered a lively and engaging learning experience. Every participant received a certificate of participation, adding to the sense of accomplishment among students.
The programme concluded with a valedictory ceremony at 4:45 p.m. Chief guest Mohammed Rafi Pasha, Deputy Commissioner of GST, Bengaluru, and author of several books on competitive examinations, praised INF for its commitment to nurturing young minds and assured continued support for similar student development initiatives.
Ameen-e-Mudassar, CEO of CIGMA and a leading career counsellor in Karnataka, commended the organisers for their meticulous planning and noted that the three months of preparation behind the camp reflected in its smooth execution.
Presiding over the event, INF President Aftab Husain Kola expressed concern over the low participation of Muslims in higher education, pointing out that they constitute only 6% of total enrolments and less than 3% among successful Civil Services candidates in 2024. “These numbers underline the urgent need for focused educational efforts,” he said.
Key sessions were led by Ameen-e-Mudassar, Suhail Babu, experiential educator and leadership facilitator from Tirur, Kerala, and Shamsuddin Usman Shaik, Taluk Minority Extension Officer, Bhatkal. All speakers appreciated INF’s initiative for blending learning with motivation.
The event began with a qiraat by Hafiz Mohammed Abyaan Akrami, followed by a welcome address by Mohammed Adil Nagarmath, INF General Secretary. Saalim Kola coordinated the event, with Tanveer Motiya serving as co-coordinator. A vote of thanks was proposed by Saalim Kola, marking the end of an inspiring day for Bhatkal’s young learners.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
