Discus thrower Vikas Gowda announces retirement
New Delhi, May 30: India's star discus thrower Vikas Gowda announced his retirement on Wednesday.
The current national record holder, who has represented India at the international level for 15 years, sent a letter to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), informing the national body of his decision to call it a day.
"@vikgo70 Vikas Gowda, #India's greatest discus thrower, Olympian, CWG2014 gold medallist retires from Athletics. Thanks, Vikas for serving Indian athletics & taking it to great heights. All the best Champ!" the AFI announced on Twitter.
The 34-year-old had set the current national record of 66.28 metre in 2012, when he had bettered the previous record held by Shakti Singh.
The most decorated Indian in the throwing events, Gowda had won gold medals at the Asian Championships in 2013 and 2015.
He became the only Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) when he took the title at the 2014 edition in Glasgow. He also took a silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
He had bagged silver at the 2014 Asian Games and a bronze at the 2010 edition.
He represented the country at the Olympics in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. His best performance came at the 2012 London Games where he finished eighth.
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'The Ba**ds of Bollywood’ mirrors my life, damages my reputation: Sameer Wankhede tells Delhi HC
New Delhi: IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has submitted his reply to the Delhi High Court in the defamation case he filed against Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan. The case pertains to the recently released series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, which Wankhede claims has defamed him.
In his statement to the court, Wankhede asserted that the show’s portrayal of a police officer is clearly based on him and has caused serious harm to his public image. He cited four key reasons supporting his claim.
First, he said the character in question bears physical similarities to him, including facial and body features. Second, he noted that the character’s working style and mannerisms closely resemble his own.
Third, Wankhede highlighted that the officer in the show is depicted making a high-profile arrest involving a major film personality, which he said directly mirrors his own involvement in the Aryan Khan drug case.
Fourth, he pointed out that the character frequently uses the phrase “Satyameva Jayate,” a motto he himself had used during media interactions in the course of that investigation. He argued that using the national motto in such a context cannot be dismissed as creative expression or humour.
Wankhede also referred to an interview in which Aryan Khan allegedly admitted that the show was “inspired by some real events.” This, he said, contradicts Red Chillies Entertainment’s claim that The Ba**ds of Bollywood* is purely fictional.
He further alleged that the tone and intent of the series indicate personal and institutional vendetta, aimed at discrediting and defaming him rather than engaging in artistic storytelling.
Wankhede informed the court that the fallout from the show has affected his family, with his wife and sister receiving abusive and vulgar messages online.
Rejecting Red Chillies’ argument that he is a “thin-skinned” officer, Wankhede said that a public servant cannot be expected to tolerate false and damaging portrayals simply because of his position. He emphasized that his legal action seeks to protect the constitutional rights and dignity of both himself and his family.
