Home Blog

US-Iran Conflict Forces Shutdown of 100 Ceramic Units in Gujarat, 400 More at Risk

0
gujarat
gujarat

The fallout of the United States and Iran conflict is already visible in Gujarat’s Morbi district, where about 100 ceramic manufacturing units have been forced to shut down because of disruptions in fuel supplies.

According to Manoj Arvadiya, the situation could worsen in the coming days if propane supplies are not restored and suppliers fail to provide clear guidance.

He said that due to the current war-like conditions, propane gas has not been available for the past two days, forcing around 100 units that depend on the fuel to shut down operations. The remarks were reported by Press Trust of India.

Arvadiya warned that nearly 400 additional propane-powered units may also have to suspend operations within a week if the supply situation does not improve. He added that without clear guidelines on gas availability and a normalisation of supply, many more units could be forced to close by next week.

Morbi is among the largest ceramic manufacturing centres in the world and is home to hundreds of factories that produce tiles and other ceramic products for both domestic and international markets.

Arvadiya said factories that rely on gas supplied by Gujarat Gas are still operating at present. However, he noted that their future also appears uncertain due to the limited availability of gas. He also said that Bhupendra Patel has expressed concern over the developing situation.

Background of the United States and Iran conflict

The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28. The attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a broader regional conflict that has disrupted daily life and trade across West Asia.

Iran responded by launching multiple attacks on American targets in the region, including military bases and embassies. Iranian drones and missiles have also led to the shutdown of several oil and gas facilities in the region.

In addition, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s fuel supply, has become increasingly difficult.

These developments have disrupted global oil and gas supplies, contributing to a sharp rise in crude oil prices.

Delay in SEBI Listing Rule Reforms Could Postpone Jio IPO Timeline

0
Jio
Jio

Reliance Industries, the parent company of Jio Platforms, is reportedly waiting for the government to formalise regulatory changes before appointing bankers and filing draft documents for the company’s initial public offering. According to people familiar with the discussions, the company is aiming to submit its draft red herring prospectus before April, depending on the timing of the government notification.

Jio, which owns India’s largest wireless operator Reliance Jio, is considered one of the most valuable assets within the business empire of Mukesh Ambani. The proposed IPO would mark the first listing of a major Reliance subsidiary in nearly two decades and could become the largest public offering in India’s history. Investment bankers have suggested a potential valuation of up to 170 billion dollars, roughly ₹15.5 lakh crore, giving investors a chance to participate in one of the most significant growth stories in the global telecom and digital services sector over the past decade.

During the company’s annual general meeting in August 2025, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said that Jio Platforms would likely be listed during the first half of 2026.

At the higher end of the proposed valuation, the IPO could raise about 4.3 billion dollars even if the company sells only the minimum required stake. Such a valuation would place Jio among the largest companies in India by market capitalisation. In 2020, major technology firms Meta Platforms and Alphabet invested more than 10 billion dollars combined in Jio Platforms.

Sources said discussions about the IPO are still ongoing and that key details such as the size and timing of the offering could change. Reliance Industries declined to comment immediately, while representatives from the finance ministry also did not respond to requests for comment.

In September 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India approved amendments to its regulations allowing companies with a post issue market capitalisation exceeding ₹5 lakh crore to dilute as little as 2.5 percent of their equity in an IPO. Previously, companies were required to sell at least 5 percent.

The rule change could encourage mega listings such as Jio Platforms and the National Stock Exchange of India, although the measure still requires final approval from the government. It remains unclear why the notification has been delayed, and there is no indication that the hold up is specifically related to the Jio listing.

The next step involves the finance ministry formally incorporating the regulatory changes and publishing them in the Official Gazette. According to Sonam Chandwani, managing partner at KS Legal and Associates, this process can take several months depending on government deliberations.

Ankita Singh, founder of Sarvaank Associates, said that although the regulator has cleared the path for such listings, the industry is still waiting for the final gazette notification, which is expected during the first half of 2026.

Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange of India is continuing its preparations for its own IPO and could raise as much as 2.5 billion dollars. The exchange recently invited banks to pitch for roles in managing the share sale.

These two potential listings could provide a significant boost to the Indian capital markets, where IPO activity has slowed at the start of 2026 following two consecutive years of record fundraising.

‘Will bring down world economies’: Qatar Minister Flags Energy Shortage Risk During Middle East Tensions

0
Qatar
Qatar

Saad al Kaabi has warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could have serious consequences for the global economy. Speaking to the Financial Times in an interview, the energy minister said the war could significantly affect economic growth worldwide.

He said that if the conflict continues for several weeks, global GDP growth will be affected and energy prices across the world are likely to rise sharply.

The minister also predicted shortages of certain products as disruptions in supply chains begin to affect manufacturing. According to him, factories that depend on steady supplies of raw materials could struggle to maintain production, potentially triggering a chain reaction across industries.

The current conflict in the Middle East began after joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes from Tehran targeting American military bases in the region, including locations in Qatar.

Kaabi warned that crude oil prices could surge to as much as 150 dollars per barrel within two to three weeks if tankers and merchant vessels are unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway used for transporting large volumes of the world’s oil supply.

He also said natural gas prices could climb to 40 dollars per million British thermal units, nearly four times the levels seen before the conflict began.

Meanwhile, Brent crude rose to 87 dollars on Friday, its highest level since April 2024, with crude prices climbing about four percent during the day.

Gulf exporters may halt deliveries

Speaking about energy exporters in the Gulf region, Kaabi said several of them may soon declare force majeure, a legal clause that allows companies to avoid liability for failing to meet contractual obligations due to unforeseen circumstances.

He said exporters that have not yet invoked force majeure are likely to do so in the coming days. Otherwise, they could face legal liability for failing to fulfil their contracts.

Kaabi’s comments underline growing concern about the economic consequences of the conflict. The warning comes as Donald Trump and Israeli officials have suggested the war could continue for weeks as they pursue efforts to dismantle Iran’s ruling system.

Disruption to Qatar’s LNG supplies

Kaabi, who also serves as chief executive of QatarEnergy, also addressed the situation in Qatar, the world’s second largest producer of liquefied natural gas. The country declared force majeure earlier this week after a strike on its Ras Laffan Industrial City.

He said production in Qatar would not restart until hostilities fully cease. According to Kaabi, it could take weeks or even months for the country to return to normal delivery schedules after an Iranian drone strike damaged its largest LNG facility.

Although Qatar sends only a limited portion of its gas exports to Europe, the minister warned that European countries could still face serious challenges. He said buyers in Asia are likely to outbid European nations for available gas supplies in global markets, especially if other Gulf producers struggle to meet their existing contractual commitments.

Iran’s Pezeshkian Says Some Countries Have Begun Mediation Efforts in Conflict

0
pezeshkian
pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that “some countries” have begun mediation efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The conflict intensified last week after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian said some countries had begun mediation initiatives and stressed that Iran remained committed to lasting peace in the region. However, he added that Tehran would not hesitate to defend the nation’s dignity and sovereignty. He also said that mediation efforts should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and sparked the conflict.

The Iranian president’s remarks came as reports suggested that Iran had launched a fresh wave of attacks on Israel using ballistic missiles, including the newly developed Khorramshahr 4 missile.

Iran’s semi official Tasnim news agency quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as saying that the twenty second wave of Operation True Promise 4 had begun. The operation reportedly involved the launch of multiple Khorramshahr 4 missiles directed toward what it described as the heart of the occupied territories.

Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon on Friday afternoon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The report said the strike hit a floor just below the top level of the Maqassed building located near Al Siddiq Mosque in the city. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, although the scale of casualties and damage was not immediately known.

Earlier in the day, according to India time, the United States indicated that its military campaign against Iran would expand in the next phase of Operation Epic Fury. American and Israeli forces are preparing to intensify strikes aimed at dismantling Tehran’s military and missile infrastructure.

Speaking at United States Central Command headquarters in Tampa, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation had already caused significant damage to Iran’s military capabilities. He praised CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper and the more than 50,000 American service members involved in the mission.

Hegseth said that within just a few days of Operation Epic Fury, the campaign had delivered devastating and precise strikes that neutralised a large portion of Iran’s naval capability, disabled missile launch sites and established control over key air and maritime areas. He added that the United States was prepared for the conflict and determined to prevail.

Admiral Cooper said the campaign had entered its sixth day and was steadily weakening Iran’s military capacity. He noted that the mission aimed to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten American forces.

According to Cooper, United States air power had carried out extensive strikes deep inside Iranian territory. He said that over the previous seventy two hours, American bomber forces had targeted nearly 200 locations inside Iran, including sites around Tehran.

He also revealed that US stealth bombers had struck hardened missile facilities. Cooper said that within the previous hour, Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit aircraft had dropped dozens of two thousand pound bunker penetrating bombs aimed at deeply buried ballistic missile launchers.

American forces also targeted Iranian military infrastructure linked to space and missile operations. Cooper said the strikes had hit Iran’s equivalent of a space command centre, weakening its ability to threaten United States forces.

US officials said the campaign had significantly reduced Iran’s missile and drone attacks. Cooper stated that ballistic missile attacks had dropped by around 90 percent since the first day of the operation, while drone attacks had declined by 83 percent.

Naval operations have also intensified during the campaign. Cooper said that while earlier reports suggested 24 Iranian ships had been sunk or destroyed, the number had now exceeded 30 vessels.

He added that in the previous few hours, US forces had struck an Iranian drone carrier roughly comparable in size to a World War II aircraft carrier, which was currently on fire.

The next phase of the operation is expected to focus on dismantling Iran’s missile production capability. Cooper said the United States had been tasked with destroying not only Iran’s current missile systems but also its ability to rebuild its ballistic missile infrastructure.

India Beat England in Tight Contest Despite Jacob Bethell Fightback to Reach T20 World Cup Final

0

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi final between India national cricket team and England national cricket team was expected to be a high intensity clash, and fans anticipated a close finish at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The match delivered exactly that, as the packed Mumbai venue witnessed a run filled thriller where defending champions India secured a narrow seven run victory to book their place in the final. They will now face New Zealand national cricket team in the title clash at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

After India posted a formidable 253 for 7 in their 20 overs, many expected the hosts to dominate the contest. However, England mounted a strong response led by Jacob Bethell, forcing India to work hard for the win.

For the second consecutive match, Sanju Samson delivered when it mattered most, scoring a crucial 89 to anchor India’s innings in the knockout clash. He received valuable support from Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, helping India eventually hold their nerve and seal the victory.

Chasing 254, England suffered an early setback when Phil Salt was dismissed for five by Hardik Pandya in just the second over. Jos Buttler tried to rebuild the innings but his struggles with form continued as he was clean bowled by Varun Chakaravarthy for 25.

Bethell then emerged as England’s biggest threat, counterattacking aggressively and putting India under pressure. Alongside Will Jacks, he stitched together a 77 run partnership for the fifth wicket that briefly swung momentum in England’s favour. The turning point came when Axar Patel produced a brilliant effort in the deep to dismiss Jacks for 35.

At that stage England still needed 82 runs from 36 balls with five wickets in hand. Sam Curran joined Bethell and the pair blended caution with aggression. Bethell soon reached his maiden T20 international century and kept England in the hunt.

The pressure forced Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav to bring back Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah for the crucial 17th and 18th overs. The move proved decisive as England ultimately fell short, unable to score the required 39 runs from the final two overs and losing by seven runs.

Earlier in the match, India made a strong start after being asked to bat first by England captain Harry Brook. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed early for nine by Will Jacks in the second over, but India quickly recovered.

Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan launched an aggressive counterattack, taking on bowlers such as Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Jacks and Sam Curran during the powerplay. England’s problems worsened when Harry Brook dropped Samson off Archer’s bowling in the third over, allowing India to maintain their momentum.

Kishan and Samson added 97 runs for the second wicket before Adil Rashid dismissed Kishan for 39. Shivam Dube then joined Samson and the pair continued to accelerate the scoring.

Samson looked set for a century but chose to play aggressively for the team’s total and was dismissed for 80 while attacking Will Jacks. Suryakumar Yadav contributed 11, while Tilak Varma scored 21. Dube made 43 and Hardik Pandya added 27 as India finished with a massive 253 for 7 in their 20 overs.

Amid US–Iran Conflict, Sonu Sood Opens Free Accommodation for Stranded Travellers in Dubai

0
sonu sood
sonu sood

As tensions in the Middle East intensified following the United States and Iran conflict, several flights were cancelled, leaving many travellers stranded in Dubai and unable to return home. Actor Sonu Sood has now stepped forward to offer free accommodation to those affected and has urged stranded travellers to reach out if they need a place to stay.

Sonu Sood offers free accommodation to stranded travellers in Dubai

On Thursday, Sonu Sood shared a video message on Instagram addressing people stranded in Dubai. In the message, the actor said he would help those stuck in the city regardless of nationality by providing free accommodation.

He said that anyone stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing crisis could reach out, assuring them that arrangements would be made so they have a place to stay without any cost.

Sonu added that not only Indians but people of any nationality who are stranded in Dubai could contact him or send a direct message to Dugasta Property. He assured that they would receive free accommodation until they were able to return to their home country.

Along with the video, the actor wrote that the war had left many travellers stranded in Dubai and that anyone without a place to stay could receive safe and free accommodation. He stressed that the help would be offered without conditions and purely on humanitarian grounds, asking people to send a message on Instagram if they needed assistance.

Fans widely praised the actor’s initiative. Many called him a real hero of the film industry, while others expressed admiration for the values he was raised with. Some also highlighted that offering help to people of all nationalities reflected a strong sense of humanity. Sonu Sood had earlier received widespread appreciation for helping migrant workers return home during the nationwide lockdowns imposed after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated after joint military operations by the United States and Israel targeted Iran, reportedly causing heavy casualties among the country’s political and military leadership. Iran responded by launching attacks on United States military bases across the region.

The conflict disrupted air travel across several Middle Eastern cities including Dubai, leaving many travellers stranded.

Several Indian actors, including Sonal Chauhan and Esha Gupta, were among those stuck in Dubai along with other Indian nationals. However, the actors returned to India safely two days ago, and evacuation efforts for other Indian citizens are also underway.

Drone Attack by Iran Hits US Base in Iraq, Israel Urges People to Leave Beirut

0
iran
iran

ran’s army on Thursday said it had carried out drone strikes inside Israel, including an attack on a radar installation. According to the military, the strikes targeted locations in Tel Aviv as well as the Meron radar base in northern Israel.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, accused Iran of launching two drones into its territory, an incident that reportedly injured two people. Azerbaijani officials said one drone fell at an airport in Nakhchivan near the Iranian border, while another landed close to a school. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador and lodged a strong protest.

In a statement, Azerbaijan condemned the strikes, demanded an explanation from Tehran and said it reserved the right to take appropriate response measures.

The Israeli military is preparing for at least one to two more weeks of operations against Iran, with plans to target thousands of additional regime and military sites. The plan comes after several days of heavy bombing. By Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force said it had dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iranian targets since the conflict began, according to the Times of Israel.

Large explosions were reported on Thursday in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Reports indicated the blasts occurred near Bandar e Bahonar in the First Naval Zone of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iran also reported a fresh wave of strikes beginning around midnight. Loud explosions were heard in eastern Tehran and shockwaves were felt across parts of the capital, although the exact targets were not immediately confirmed.

Overnight strikes were also reported in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj, Saqqez and Bukan. Iranian authorities said that more than 150 cities across the country have come under attack since Saturday.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched a 19th wave of retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and United States bases in the region, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran fired a new round of missiles toward Israel on Thursday, according to the Israeli military and Iranian state media, triggering air raid alerts in several areas including Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said the launches followed a pause of more than seven hours in attacks. It added that its air defence systems were working to intercept the incoming missiles. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB also confirmed that the missile launches had taken place.

United States President Donald Trump described Iran as a country that was “out of control,” saying pre emptive strikes had been launched to stop Tehran from attacking Israel first. He said Washington was now in a strong position against Iran and claimed that those who attempted to become leaders in the country often ended up dead.

The United States also said it had destroyed more than 20 Iranian vessels, including one of Tehran’s most advanced submarines, during the ongoing operations. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the development during a briefing on Wednesday.

Iranian state media reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli and United States strikes that began last weekend. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, several members of his family and a number of senior Iranian officials were also killed in the attacks after diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran failed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country had attempted to pursue diplomacy to avoid war but was forced to respond after what he called American Zionist military aggression. Speaking with leaders from neighbouring Gulf states, he said Iran respected their sovereignty and believed regional security should be achieved through collective cooperation.

A member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts said the process of selecting a successor to Khamenei was nearing completion. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami told state television that the new Supreme Leader would be identified soon, although the current wartime situation meant the process remained sensitive.

Iranians were expected to begin paying their respects to Khamenei from 10 pm on Wednesday at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Musallah, where a public mourning ceremony would allow citizens to bid farewell to the late leader. Authorities said additional mourning events would follow in the coming days.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched about 40 missiles at United States and Israeli targets on the fifth day of the war. In a statement broadcast on state television, the Guards said the attack was carried out as part of the seventeenth wave of Operation Honest Promise 4 by its aerospace forces, although further details were not provided.

The conflict also spread to Lebanon. An Israeli air strike targeted Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut early Thursday after residents had been warned to evacuate the area.

Two other Israeli strikes on vehicles along Beirut’s airport highway killed three people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Officials said at least 72 people had been killed and more than 83,000 displaced since the latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began.

Israel said it and the United States had achieved significant progress in the war against Iran. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the latest strike was necessary because Iran was attempting to rebuild its nuclear weapons programme using new underground facilities.

Turkey said NATO air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched from Iran that was travelling toward Turkish airspace through Iraq and Syria. Officials did not specify the missile’s intended target. Iran has been striking locations across the region in retaliation for United States and Israeli attacks on its territory.

Trump praised the military campaign and said Iranian leaders were being eliminated, adding that operations would continue. Speaking to technology executives, he said the United States was performing well in the conflict.

Spain rejected a claim from the White House that it had agreed to allow United States operations against Iran to use Spanish bases. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Spain’s position on the conflict and the use of its military bases had not changed.

The White House said Trump was considering the role the United States might play in Iran after the military campaign concludes. Leavitt said the issue was being discussed with the president’s advisers and national security team.

Tensions across the region continued to grow. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Iran of attempting to draw neighbouring countries into the conflict during a call with Tehran’s foreign minister. Turkey also summoned the Iranian ambassador after a missile believed to be heading toward a base in Cyprus landed inside Turkish territory.

Global shipping disruptions have intensified. Danish shipping company Maersk suspended new bookings in the Gulf following a security assessment. The company had already halted routes through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil shipments. Several other shipping firms have taken similar steps.

The Omani navy said it rescued 24 crew members from a container ship that was struck by missiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces later claimed they had taken complete control of the strait, a day after Trump said the United States Navy was prepared to escort oil tankers through the waterway.

Sri Lanka also reported that its navy had recovered 87 bodies after a United States submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off its coast. Search operations were continuing for others who were still missing.

Amid Iris Dena Sinking Fallout, Iranian Tanker Busheir at Colombo Port Under Watch

0
Dena
Dena

After a United States Virginia class nuclear attack submarine sank the Iranian corvette Dena on the high seas about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, attention has now shifted to the Iranian military tanker Busheir, which is anchored roughly 10 nautical miles from the outer anchorage of Colombo Port. While Dena was destroyed by a torpedo with a range of about 20 nautical miles fired from a submarine in international waters, Busheir is currently positioned within Sri Lankan territorial waters.

As Iran attempted to target United States strike groups and oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, IRIS Dena and 17 other warships, including Russian built Kilo class submarines, were reportedly destroyed by the United States Navy in an effort to weaken Iran’s maritime threat to both warships and global shipping. For retired naval officers and commentators who argue that India should have protected IRIS Dena in international waters, the reality remains that India has no legal standing in the matter since it is not at war with either the United States or Iran. After Iran began targeting ships with kamikaze drones launched from warships and tankers, Dena effectively became a legitimate military target.

A retired admiral said that the situation has escalated into a full scale conflict between Iran and the United States, adding that the vessel would have been aware of the risks. He noted that while Iranian forces have targeted civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries, including airports, the loss of life in such incidents remains unfortunate.

Following the decimation of its top leadership on February 28, the weakened Iranian regime has attempted to widen the conflict by targeting Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and even Turkey for hosting United States military bases. In effect, Tehran and its allied groups are presenting Sunni countries with a stark choice of either facing attacks for supporting the United States or expelling American forces from their territory. Iran has tried to make an example of the United Arab Emirates because of its proximity and growing strategic influence in the region. However, these attacks have largely failed as the UAE and other Gulf states have managed to intercept many Iranian drones and missiles, whose numbers are reportedly declining as Tehran’s stockpile diminishes.

Although the United States and Israel have carried out extensive strikes on Iran using missiles and precision guided bombs, the prospect of regime change in Tehran remains uncertain. Populations often turn more nationalistic when attacked by foreign powers. In addition, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force continue to remain active, as seen in ongoing air operations and air defence activity within Iran. Iran has also continued launching missiles and drones toward countries such as Turkey and Cyprus, suggesting that the IRGC has decentralised its command structure and prepared multiple contingency plans for missile units even before the first Israeli strikes on February 28.

The most likely outcome of the ongoing conflict, which could continue for several weeks, may be a return to negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding limits on Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Iran currently has limited strategic options, as its two key partners, China and Russia, have so far confined their support to statements and have avoided direct involvement in the conflict. China currently has a naval task force operating near the Gulf of Aden, while Russian vessels including frigates, corvettes and tankers are expected to enter the Indian Ocean region next month. So far, neither country has intervened militarily on Iran’s behalf.

Lakshya Sen Topples Defending Champion Shi Yuqi in Nail-Biting All England Thriller

0
Sen
Sen

India’s Lakshya Sen showcased exceptional mental resilience and physical endurance as he outclassed China’s Shi Yu Qi in a thrilling three game battle on Tuesday, a contest defined by fine margins and relentless intensity.

Lakshya secured a 23 21, 19 21, 21 17 victory, earning his first win over the former world number one in a BWF World Tour event. He had previously beaten the Chinese star during the 2023 Asian Games team championships.

Coach Vimal Kumar praised Lakshya’s composure, saying he remained calm throughout and forced Shi to work hard for every point from the outset, eventually wearing him down. He admitted Lakshya appeared slightly fatigued at one stage in the second game but commended his recovery and attacking display, calling it a significant confidence-boosting triumph.

Lakshya began sharply, racing to an 11 7 advantage at the mid-game interval in the opener with crisp, angled smashes and swift net interceptions. He extended the lead to 17 12 by consistently breaking Shi’s defence with steep cross-court winners and tight net exchanges.

The match took a dramatic turn when Lakshya let slip leads of 18 12 and 19 16. Shi mounted a spirited comeback, leveling at 20 20 after saving multiple game points. In a tense finish, Lakshya finally converted his fifth opportunity with a decisive cross-court smash to claim the opening game.

Shi responded strongly in the second game, entering the interval with a three-point cushion after capitalising on a few errors. The rallies grew longer and more punishing as both players pushed each other physically, with the outcome hinging on small but crucial moments.

Trailing 13 19 at one point, Lakshya staged a determined fightback to close the gap to 18 19. However, Shi produced a powerful body smash to earn game point and sealed the second game 21 19 to force a decider.

Lakshya’s performance stood out for its balance of attacking flair, disciplined defence, and sharp net play. His relentless retrieving forced Shi to take greater risks, often aiming closer to the lines under sustained pressure.

In the deciding game, the players were level at 6 6 before Lakshya edged ahead to take an 11 9 lead at the final interval. He raised his intensity thereafter, capitalising on errors and striking winners to move 16 11 ahead, later extending the margin to 18 14 with a powerful down the line smash.

Shi briefly stayed in contention after a successful challenge confirmed his shot had clipped the line. Lakshya responded confidently, moving to 19 16 and earning four match points. Although he missed one opportunity, he wrapped up the match when Shi sent his return long.

Elsewhere, Malvika Bansod went down 11 21, 6 21 to China’s Chen Yu Fei. In mixed doubles action, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto recorded a 21 17, 21 19 victory over Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin.

Pakistan Imposes Airspace Restrictions for Military Training Involving Jets

0
Pakistan
Pakistan

Pakistan has temporarily closed certain routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions at designated times due to military exercises involving Pakistan Air Force fighter jets, according to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Airports Authority.

The spokesperson said that the authority issued a Notice to Airmen on Monday announcing the closure of specific routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions during scheduled hours.

He explained that the decision was taken in light of anticipated military drills by the Pakistan Air Force, during which several sectors within the two Flight Information Regions will remain closed to commercial air traffic.

As per the notification, the affected air routes will not be available for commercial operations from March 3 to March 31, between 9 am and 3 pm each day. During these hours, civilian flight operations will not be permitted in the designated airspace.

Pakistan has been engaged in conflict with Afghanistan since February 27.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq against the Afghan Taliban following what he described as unprovoked firing from across the border last week.

He stated on Monday that Pakistan’s armed forces have destroyed 182 Afghan Taliban posts, captured 31 positions, and that 415 Afghan Taliban personnel have been killed while more than 580 have been injured since the start of the operation.