New Delhi: Athletics coach Purshottam Rai died due to a cardiac arrest on Friday, a day before he was to be conferred with the prestigious Dronacharya Award.

"He took part in the rehearsal for the National Sports Awards but later suffered heart attack and passed away," a top source from AFI told PTI. He was 79.

The awards ceremony will be held virtually on Saturday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Tehran: A senior member of the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is being quoted by Iranian media amid conflicting reports about his status in the ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States.

According to Iranian media reports, the official said, “Ayatollah Khamenei is steadfast and resolute, and is actively commanding the field.” The remarks were made in response to widespread unverified reports circulated in some foreign media that claimed the supreme leader had been killed in recent US–Israeli strikes on Iran.

The statement counters reports suggesting a change in Iran’s leadership after the military escalation. There has been no independent confirmation of Khamenei’s status.