Parupalli Kashyap, Sai Praneeth knocked out of China Open
Fuzhou (China): Indian shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and B Sai Praneeth were both ousted in the second round of the men's singles event at the China Open here on Thursday.
Praneeth fought hard for one hour 24 minutes against fourth seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark. The world number 11 Indian went down 20-22 22-20 21-16.
Earlier Kashyap, ranked 25 in the world, ran out of steam after a decent start against seventh seed Victor Axelsen and went down 13-21 19-21 in a match that lasted 43 minutes. Praneeth's loss marked the end of India's singles campaign.
This is the second time Kashyap has lost to Axelsen this year. The former Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap, who reached the semifinals at India Open and Korea Open earlier this year, had lost to the world number six at the India Open in March.
It was the end of the road for the mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, too. The unseeded Indian duo lost 21-23 16-21 to the fifth seed South Korean combine of Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yujung.
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Abhishek attacks BJP over UCC impact, pending Kurmali language recognition
Jhargram (WB) (PTI): Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday attacked the BJP over the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the pending recognition of the Kurmali language, making the two issues central to his address at a rally in Gopiballavpur in Jhargram district.
Noting that the BJP promised in its manifesto to impose the UCC if voted to power in West Bengal, Banerjee claimed that it would adversely impact the members of the Scheduled Tribes by overriding their customs and practices.
He also accused the saffron party of trying to divide people along religious lines.
The TMC national general secretary also charged the central government with inaction on the demand to include the Kurmali language, spoken by a large number of people in several parts of the state including Jhargram district, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He said the TMC government in West Bengal had written to the Centre two months ago seeking its inclusion, but no steps had been taken so far by the Narendra Modi government.
In its manifesto for Bengal, the BJP also promised to include Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages in the Eighth Schedule. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also made the same pledge during a poll rally in Purulia district.
Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders were trying to exploit the Kurmi community's sentiments and mislead people with false promises.
He cautioned women against filling forms for a proposed monthly assistance of Rs 3,000, alleging that no BJP-ruled state has implemented such a scheme despite similar assurances.
In contrast, he highlighted the state's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which women receive Rs 1,500 (general category) and Rs 1,700 (SC/ST) per month, irrespective of the number of beneficiaries in a family.
Around 70,000 women in the constituency are availing the benefit in the Gopiballavpur constituency, he said.
Urging voters to back Trinamool Congress in the election, Banerjee said the party guarantees the continuation of welfare schemes, noting the state spends around Rs 38,000 crore annually on Lakshmir Bhandar.
Banerjee also claimed that over 11,000 poor families in the constituency have received Rs 1.2 lakh each under the Banglar Bari housing scheme, and alleged that the Centre had contributed "not even 10 paise" in this regard.
He added that farmers and youth have also benefited from state-run assistance programmes.
Attacking the Centre over inflation, he referred to the rising prices of essential goods like LPG cylinders, petrol and essential commodities, to allege that people were being burdened by increased costs since the BJP had taken over at the Centre.
He also promised direct transfer of pending old-age pensions and expansion of healthcare services through block-level health camps.
Calling the election a fight to "teach the BJP a lesson", Banerjee appealed to voters to turn out in large numbers and ensure a decisive mandate in favour of the Trinamool Congress.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
