Sharath Kamal advances to 3rd round in Olympics; faces Ma Long next
Tokyo: Veteran Indian table tennis player A Sharath Kamal overcame a sluggish start to beat Portugal's Tiago Polonia in the second round to set up a clash with defending champion Ma Long in the Olympics, here on Monday.
The 39-year-old Sharath struggled in the first game but pulled himself up just in time to win 2-11 11-8 11-5 9-11 11-6 11-9 in the 49-minute second-round contest.
The Indian paddler now has a tough match ahead as he takes on the legendary Long, who is also the reigning world champion.
Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Long has won every singles title in the sport.
Sharath's compatriot G Sathiyan had lost his men's singles second round from an advantageous position on Sunday to exit the competition.
In the women's draw, Manika Batra moved to the third round with an upset win over world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska of Ukraine on Sunday.
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We want to turn Pakistan into a 'Hindu Rashtra', says Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane
Mumbai, Apr 3 (PTI): Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane on Thursday said his party wants to turn Pakistan into a "Hindu Rashtra".
Rane, who is fisheries and ports development minister, made the statement on social media platform X.
In the post, he said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah wants to make India a "Hindu Pakistan".
"But we want to turn Pakistan into a Hindu Rashtra. Keep this in mind and stay within your limits," Rane said.
The minister was apparently referring to Raut's recent weekly column written in Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana', in which he accused the BJP of spreading communal hatred and pushing India towards becoming a "Hindu Pakistan".
Rane recently demanded removal of the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb from Khultabad town in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Earlier, he had called Kerala a 'Mini Pakistan'.
अमित शाह यांना हिंदु पाकिस्तान बनवायचा आहे .
— Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) April 3, 2025
- संजय राजाराम राऊत
आम्हाला पाकिस्तान ला हिंदू राष्ट्र बनवायचा आहे !
लक्षात ठेव आणि लायकीत रहा !! @rautsanjay61
