Indian women's compound team secures gold medal at Asian Games
Hangzhou (PTI): Indian women's compound team rallied to down their Chinese Taipei rivals by one-point in a tense final to secure a second gold medal in archery at the Asian Games here on Thursday.
The top-seeded reigning world champion trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami and Parneet Kaur shot 60 out of 60 in a perfect final end to overcome their third-seeded rivals 230-229 in the last three arrows and seal their fifth medal in archery.
This was India's second gold in this edition of the continental showpiece after Jyothi and Ojas Deotale secured the top spot in the podium in the compound mixed team event on Wednesday.
With this, India have assured themselves of at least five medals in archery at the continental showpiece.
India have also bettered their best-ever feat that came at Incheon 2014 where they had a share of one gold, one silver and one bronze.
Deotale and Verma, by virtue of setting up an all-Indian final in men's compound individual, have assured of two medals, while Jyothi confirmed at least a silver by advancing into the women's compound individual summit clash.
Earlier, India had crushed their fourth-seeded opponents 233-219 to set up a gold medal clash against Chinese Taipei.
The top-seeded Indian trio also had an easy win in the quarterfinal eliminating lower-ranked Hong Kong 231-220.
The Indonesian team of Ratih Zilizati Fadhly, Syahara Khoerunisa, Sri Ranti had advanced into the semis with a tough 232-229 win over formidable Kazakhstan.
The Indians mounted early pressure with a perfect start, shooting all 10s in their first set of six arrows as their rivals slipped to 51 to concede a nine-point lead.
Indonesia failed to recover from thereon, while India's Parneet Kaur, their lowest-ranked qualifier stepped up in style as India capped a massive 14-point win.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
