Bajrang becomes Number #1 in world in 65 kg
New Delhi, Nov 10: Star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Saturday touched a new high in his career by achieving the number one rank in the world in the 65kg category.
The 24-year-old Bajrang, who has won five medals this season, including CWG and Asian Games gold and a silver at the World Championship, was placed atop the ranking table with 96 points in the UWW list.
It has turned out to be a remarkable season for Bajrang, who was also the only Indian grappler to be given a seeding at the Budapest World Championship.
Bajrang is comfortably leading the table and Cuban Alejandro Enrique Vlades Tobier is a distant second with 66 points. Bajrang had won a close semifinal against Tobier in the Budapest Worlds.
Russia's Akhmed Chakaev (62) is in third place and the new world champion Takuto Otoguro (56) is at number four, followed by Turkey's Selahattin Kilic Sallayan (50).
Interestingly, Bajrang is the lone male Indian to figure in top-10 but the country has five female wrestlers who are in top-10 bracket in their respective categories.
Pooja Dhanda, who became only the fourth Indian woman to win a World Championship medal, is now ranked sixth in the women's 57kg with 52 points. She had taken a bronze.
Ritu Phogat completes the top-10 in the women's 50kg, with 33 points.
Sarita Mor is ranked seventh in 59kg with 29 points while Navjot Kaur (32) and Kiran (37) are ninth in 68kg and 76 kg category respectively.
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Maktoob Media’s X account withheld in India after government legal request
New Delhi: Maktoob Media, an independent digital news outlet known for its coverage of marginalised communities and minority issues, announced on Thursday that its official X (formerly Twitter) account has been withheld in India following a legal request from the Indian government.
The media organisation said the action was taken without any prior notice or explanation to its editorial team. In a statement issued on other platforms, Maktoob condemned the move, calling it an attack on press freedom.
“We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action. It is an assault on press freedom,” the statement said.
Maktoob Media also reaffirmed its commitment to continue reporting, especially “at a time when truth is becoming a casualty.” The editorial team appealed to supporters to help amplify its journalism by sharing links from its website and other platforms.
“At this hour of crisis, we ask our allies to share links from our website to help people access our reporting. We are many, many more than them,” the statement added.
There has been no official comment from the government regarding the legal basis for the withholding of the account.
