Ahmedabad down Hyderabad in PBL
New Delhi: Debutants Ahmedabad Smash Masters got the better of Hyderabad Hunters 4-3 in a Premier Badminton League (PBL) contest at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Friday.
The mixed doubles pair of Kamilla Ryter Juhl and Lee Reginald beat Satwiksairaj and Pia Zebadiah 4-15, 15-12, 15-8 to give Ahmedabad a 1-0 lead.
However, Lee Hyun II overcame Sourabh Verma 15-9, 15-11 to bring Hyderabad level 1-1.
Women's singles World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying then tamed Rasika Raje 15-5, 15-6 to make it 2-1 for the western outfit.
Ahmedabad's HS Prannoy extended his winning streak to nine matches in the PBL by beating Sai Praneeth 15-10, 15-8. It was Ahmedabad's 'Trump Match' and they got two points from the game, taking an unassailable 4-1 lead.
In the final game of the tie, men's doubles pair of Markis Kido and Yoo Yeong Seong won Hyderabad's 'Trump Match' against Kidambi Nandagopal and Lee Reginald 15-14, 15-11 as they bagged two consolation points.
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Ladakh leaders welcome Wangchuk's release, demand others' freedom
New Delhi (PTI): Leaders from Ladakh on Saturday welcomed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's release from Jodhpur jail and demanded the release of remaining detainees.
Wangchuk was released from prison on Saturday after the Union government revoked his detention with immediate effect.
Ladakh MP Mohamad Hanifa hailed his release and urged the government to accept their demands for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
"We welcome the release of Sonam Wangchuk. But others also need to be released, and the government should also take back the cases filed against people who participated in the protests," Hanifa told PTI.
The Union Home Ministry, in its statement, commented on the law and order situation in the Union Territory.
"... prevailing atmosphere of bandhs and protests has been detrimental to the peace-loving character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the community, including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators and tourists and overall economy," it said.
Hanifa, however, said protest is a Constitutional right, and urged the government to resolve the issue through dialogue.
"If our voice is not heard in any other way, then there is another way to protest. We have always protested peacefully from day one, and we believe in peaceful protests. This is to make our voice reach the government," he said.
"We have always said that we want a solution to these issues through dialogue," he said.
Kargil-based politician and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) member Sajjad Kargili, in a post on X, demanded the immediate release of Deldan Namgial and Smanla Dorjey, and appealed to the government to drop all charges against other detainees unconditionally.
"The revocation of NSA against Shri Sonam Wangchuk is a welcome move. However, our struggle of our legitimate rights continues," he said.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after protests over demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution rocked Leh.
More than 45 people, including 22 policemen, were injured in the protests.
