India beat SL by 10 wickets; Anurag Thakur declares tournament open
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New Delhi (PTI): India emerged victorious over Sri Lanka by 10 runs after former union sports minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday declared open the first-ever Women's T20 World Cup - Cricket for the Blind 2025 at the Modern School Ground here.
The ceremony commenced with the national anthem, presented in sign language by specially-abled students from the Delhi branch of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled.
Speaking at the inauguration, Thakur said, "I wish all the teams the best of luck for the World Cup. You may give your best and perform well. We are going to watch you on television."
Post the inauguration, India locked horns with Sri Lanka and began their campaign on a winning note.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were restricted to just 41 runs in 13.3 overs, as India's bowlers and fielders delivered a spectacular performance.
India's sharp fielding led to seven run outs, while Deepika TC, Ganga Kadam, and Jamuna Rani Tudu claimed a wicket each.
In reply, India chased down the modest target in emphatic fashion, reaching 43 without loss in just three overs.
Skipper Deepika TC led from the front, smashing 26 runs off 14 balls with four boundaries, while Anekha Devi made 15 off six balls, including three fours.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
