<![CDATA[Neeraj Chopra to participate in THIS competition in 2025, it will be played in......]]>https://www.india.com/sports/neeraj-chopra-to-participate-in-this-competition-in-2025-it-will-be-played-in-7810820/Fri, 09 May 2025 21:55:23 +0530Ankit Kumarhttps://www.india.com/?p=7810820New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medalist in javelin throw, will participate in the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet in the Czech Republic on June 24th. This will be his third attempt at the competition, having withdrawn from the previous two due to injuries.

Neeraj Chopra, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, withdrew from the 2023 and 2024 competitions due to injuries. Last year, Neeraj Chopra attended the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet as a guest. This year, he will compete in the prestigious event, held in the Czech Republic, the home country of his renowned coach, Jan elezn .

An announcement has been made regarding participation in this year's Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, described as a renowned track and field competition. The participant notes the event's significance, highlighting the involvement of their coach, Jan elezn , a multiple past champion and current director of the competition.

Neeraj Chopra will not participate in the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, scheduled for May 27-31.

The Golden Spike javelin throw competition will feature a strong lineup of athletes, highlighted by the participation of Jakub Vadlejch, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist from the Czech Republic.

Neeraj Chopra has firmly established himself as one of India's greatest sporting icons with an exceptional list of achievements in javelin throw. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he made history by winning the gold medal, becoming the first Indian track and field athlete to win Olympic gold. He followed this up with a silver medal at Paris 2024, making him the most successful individual Indian Olympian to date.

On the global stage, Chopra's dominance continued at the World Athletics Championships, where he won gold in Budapest 2023, earning the title of world champion, and a silver medal in Eugene 2022. His consistency at major events is further highlighted by his performances in the Asian Games, where he clinched gold medals in both Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, as well as at the Commonwealth Games, with a gold in Gold Coast 2018.

Neeraj's rise began early when he won gold at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz 2016, where he also set a new under-20 world record. He has also shone in professional athletics circuits, notably winning the Diamond League finals in Zurich 2022. His personal best throw of 89.94m, achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022, stands as one of the finest in the sport.

Beyond medals, Chopra has broken and improved India's national record multiple times and was deservedly recognized with the Padma Shri award in 2022 for his Olympic heroics. His journey is a blend of perseverance, excellence, and national pride, making him a true legend of Indian sport.

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<![CDATA[Dara Singh was madly in love with THIS actress, their relationship didn't last long, actor was heartbroken after losing her, blamed..., her name is...]]>https://www.india.com/entertainment/dara-singh-was-madly-in-love-with-this-actress-their-relationship-didnt-last-long-actor-was-heartbroken-after-losing-her-blamed-bollywood-her-name-was-mumtaaz-7781793/Sun, 27 Apr 2025 13:27:36 +0530Onam Guptahttps://www.india.com/?p=7781793Ramayan that is remembered widely till date.

Though he had a daredevil personality of a wrestler, but still his heart was pure and gentle. Many might be unaware that Dara Singh was madly in love with actress Mumtaz, but unfortunately, their relationship didn't last long. Here's why!

Dara Singh first met Mumtaz on the sets of his second film Faulad, which was released in 1963. Although, Dara's first film was a success, still several top actresses refused to work with him. Mumtaz, who didn't become a leading actress at that time and was playing small roles in the movies, agreed to act alongside Dara.

Soon after filming began, speculations about their alleged relationship started riffing. They were often captured spending time together on set, and their evolving bond became a major topic of discussion.

After Faulad released, Mumtaz's career rose to another height. She started receiving many film offers, and it started affecting her relationship with Dara Singh. Due to her busy schedule, the couple didn't use to get much time together. Their growing distance eventually led to breakup, leaving Dara Singh heartbroken. He later blamed Bollywood for separating them. The world of glamour, fame and work pressure created distances in their relationship, and were the reasons why they couldn't be together.

Beyond acting and wrestling, Dara Singh also ventured into politics. In 1998, Dara joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and secured history as the first person from the sports category to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He died in 2012 due to cardiac arrest and left behind a remarkable legacy in films, sports and politics.

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<![CDATA[Virat Kohli rejected Rs 3000000000 Puma deal due to..., star India cricketer to now.....]]>https://www.india.com/business/virat-kohli-rejected-rs-3000000000-puma-deal-due-to-new-ownership-star-india-cricketer-to-now-invest-in-agilitas-sports-7766422/Sun, 20 Apr 2025 08:55:29 +0530Anirudha Yerunkarhttps://www.india.com/?p=7766422Virat Kohli has decided to end his eight-year association with Puma, despite being offered a Rs 300 crore. Kohli is prioritizing equity and entrepreneurial ownership rather than endorsement fees.

Virat Kohli has chosen to invest in Agilitas Sports, which is an Indian sportswear startup. Instead of just lending his name to a product, Kohli is trying to build and shape a brand from the ground.

Virat Kohli Earlier Deal With Puma

Back in 2017, Kohli signed a deal with Puma for Rs 110 crore. It was one of the most high-profile endorsements in Indian sports. This partnership wasn't just about commercials, but Kohli's brand, One8, was also launched under the Puma umbrella. Over the years, Puma One8 generated Rs 250 crore in business.

Agilitas Sports

After the Puma deal ended, Kohli chose to develop One8 as an independent brand under Agilitas Sports as its foundation. Agilitas, founded in 2023 by Abhishek Ganguly, the former Managing Director of Puma India and South-East Asia. The startup has secured Rs 600 crore in funding from Convergent Finance and Nexus Venture Partners and has acquired Mochiko Shoes.

According to media reports, Agilitas may launch physical stores and expand One8 into international markets like the US and the UK. Kohli won't be only a brand ambassador but also an investor in the company.

Not only Kohli but other Indian celebrities are changing their approaches towards endorsement. Earlier they used to be only endorsing brands and collecting fees. Now many of them are trying to get equity ownership and get involved in co-creation.

Global athletes like Roger Federer had become a stakeholder in the Swiss footwear brand On, rather than just a brand ambassador. ]]>
<![CDATA[Mukesh Ambani’s masterstroke, JioHotstar surpasses 200 million subscribers due to..., becomes world's third-largest…]]>https://www.india.com/business/mukesh-ambanis-masterstroke-jiohotstar-surpasses-200-million-subscribers-due-to-ipl-becomes-worlds-third-largest-video-streaming-service-after-netflix-amazon-prime-7749742/Fri, 11 Apr 2025 21:45:05 +0530Anirudha Yerunkarhttps://www.india.com/?p=7749742JioHotstar, India's largest streaming platform, has achieved over 200 million paid subscribers. It became the third-largest video streaming service globally after Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. This rapid growth is mainly because of its cheap pricing and also a multi-language live coverage of the IPL.

The announcement was made by Uday Shankar, Vice Chairman of JioStar. After the joint venture was formed between Reliance Industries Ltd and Walt Disney Co. bow they operate the JioHotstar platform.

"This makes us one of the largest streaming services in the world," Shankar said. Reaching 200 million paid users in such a short time was "deeply satisfying," he added.

Global Streaming Rankings

JioHotstar is now at the third position globally, just behind Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The competition among these platforms has grown in India's rapidly expanding OTT market.

While JioHotstar majorly gained subscribers due to sports events like the IPL, its competitors may also plan different strategies to deal with this new challenge. Netflix is already investing in Indian original content, and Amazon Prime Video is also partnering with platforms like Apple TV+ and Crunchyroll.

According to Shankar, the company's goal is to bring every potential streaming viewer in India onto its platform.

"Our ambition is to reach every potential customer in the country," he added that Jio wants both reach and content diversity. This approach was changed after the Disney-Reliance media merger named as JioHotstar.

As JioHotstar will stream in India with its affordable pricing, engaging sports content in upcoming years. So competition among Mukesh Ambani's company and global players like Netflix and Prime Video will be seen soon.]]>
<![CDATA[BMW Introduces Z4 M40i Pure Impulse Edition in India with Manual Gearbox]]>https://www.india.com/car-and-bike/bmw-introduces-z4-m40i-pure-impulse-edition-in-india-with-manual-gearbox-7746719/Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:24:34 +0530Ankit Dubey | samriddhi Kaushikhttps://www.india.com/?p=7746719

Buyers can choose between the newly developed manual transmission and the 8-speed Steptronic Sport automatic. The manual unit has been specifically tuned for the 3.0-litre inline-six engine, which delivers 340 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is claimed at 4.6 seconds for the manual and 4.5 seconds for the automatic version.

This edition introduces two new paint options Frozen Deep Green and Sanremo Green. It also debuts a staggered wheel setup on the Z4, with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels. Red M Sport brake calipers, black mirror caps, and extended Shadowline trims are part of the visual changes.

The manual variant features Cognac Vernasca leather upholstery with contrast stitching, available exclusively in this edition. The cabin includes electrically adjustable seats with memory, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and additional storage elements for improved practicality.

Infotainment is powered by BMW's Live Cockpit Professional, which includes twin 10.25-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and USB ports. Optional features include Parking Assistant, Driving Assistant, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a head-up display.

Performance hardware includes Adaptive M suspension, M Sport brakes, and an M Sport differential. Safety equipment includes multiple airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control, and other standard features. The new Z4 M40i Pure Impulse is aimed at those seeking a manual performance roadster with updated styling and driving enhancements.]]>
<![CDATA[Meet Harsh Jain, owner of Dream11, lives near Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani's Rs 15000 crore Antilia, Ambani is his…, net worth is Rs...]]>https://www.india.com/business/meet-harsh-jain-owner-of-dream11-lives-near-mukesh-ambani-nita-ambani-rs-15000-crore-antilia-ambani-is-his-net-worth-is-rs-67-crore-anand-jain-reliance-industries-dhirubhai-ambani-bhavit-sheth-7703231/Sun, 23 Mar 2025 16:23:13 +0530Gazi Abbas Shahidhttps://www.india.com/?p=7703231is currently facing serious legal trouble following allegations of financial fraud worth Rs 2400 crore, but did you know that his son, Harsh Jain is a millionaire entrepreneur who co-founded Dream11, the fantasy sports platform?

Who is Harsh Jain?

Born in 1986 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Harsh Jain is the son of Anand Jain, a close aide and trusted advisor of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani. An alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia Business School, Harsh Jain began his career as an intern at Microsoft before co-founding Dream11 in 2008 with Bhavit Sheth, which over the years, the fantasy sports platform has transformed into one of the most valuable startups in India.

Harsh Jain is the CEO of Dream11 and Groww -- an online financial services platform that offers investment opportunities-- both part of Dream Sports Inc, a leading sports technology company that also owns FanCode, a premier sports content and commerce platform, DreamSetGo, a sports experiences platform, Dream Sports Foundation (DSF), focused on grassroots sports development, Dream Game Studios, building next-gen AAA sports mobile games and Sixer, an innovative platform for buying and selling fantasy stocks in cricket players, according to its LinkedIn page.

But, Dream11, which is touted as the "world's largest fantasy sports platform," remains the crown jewel of Harsh Jain-led Dream Sports, and is currently valued at around Rs 65,000 crore.

Harsh Jain awards and recognitions

Harsh Jain has earned several accolades and awards recognizing his entrepreneurial success, including the 2022 AIMA Young Entrepreneur Award, and IMPACT Person of the Year (IPOY) Award 2022.

Additionally, in 2024, Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth ranked seventh on IDFC FIRST Private and Hurun India's Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia list.

Harsh Jain's luxury apartment near Antilia

Earlier this year, Harsh Jain purchased an uber-luxury apartment in Mumbai's posh Lodha Malabar project for a staggering Rs 138 crore, which is nearby to the Rs 15000 crore Antilia mansion owned by Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani.

Jain's lavish 9,546-square-foot apartment in the Lodha Malabar, an ultra-premium residential tower on Walkeshwar Road, is designed by famed architect Hafeez Contractor.

According to reports, the opulent apartment is priced at a whopping Rs 1.45 lakh per square foot and comes with six parking spaces. Jain reportedly paid Rs 8.30 crore in stamp duty alone.

Harsh Jain net worth

While there is no publicly available details about Harsh Jain's fortune, various reports have pegged his net worth at $8 million (approximately Rs 67 scores), based on his monthly salary of Rs 33 lakh from the company, and his shareholding worth Rs 696.7 crore, as of December 2024.

Anand Jain fraud case

Meanwhile, Harsh's father, Anand Jain, a well-known name in the business world, who heads Jai Corp Limited as its Chairman, is is facing allegations of financial fraud worth Rs 2400 crore and is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) following directions issued by the Bombay High Court to the CBI in January this year.

Anand Jain, who was once ranked 11th on the Forbes' list of 40 richest Indians, is considered a close aide of Mukesh Ambani, and referred by many as the "third son" of Reliance Industries founder Dhirubhai Ambani.]]>
<![CDATA['If India...': Virat Kohli gives cheeky response to come out of T20I retirement]]>https://www.india.com/sports/if-india-virat-kohli-gives-cheeky-response-to-come-out-of-t20i-retirement-7683561/Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:33:26 +0530Akshat Jainhttps://www.india.com/?p=7683561New Delhi: Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has jokingly hinted that he could come out of retirement from T20 internationals, but with a twist. After India's victory in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados, Kohli announced his retirement from the format.

However, in a playful comment, Kohli suggested he might return for one game if India makes it to the final of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics men's cricket tournament. For those unaware, cricket will return to the Olympic Games after 128 years at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

"For Olympics? no. If we are playing for a gold medal, I just might sneak in for one game, win a medal, and then return home," Virat Kohli said on the sidelines of Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, powered by Leaders.

At 36, Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the fittest cricketers globally. However, when he started his career, Kohli was a plump teenager. Reflecting on his fitness transformation, Kohli shared that his motivation for the change stemmed from the challenges he faced in his early days of international cricket.

"My transformations came after a few tough tours when I saw the guys lasting on the field longer than us. From the team point of view things were not tough but convincing my mum was tough. She thought I was looking sick. I told her that the world is talking about my training methods and I am not sick. I felt that I was able to do things much better," he added.

Kohli rejoined the RCB team on Saturday in preparation for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

In a video posted by the franchise on social media, Kohli is seen wearing an RCB jersey, accompanied by the caption: "The King is here and like always, he's 2 steps (sometimes a LOT more) ahead of everyone."

Kohli was in exceptional form during India's triumphant campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai last week. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team defeated New Zealand in the final to secure their third title.

The 36-year-old scored 218 runs across five matches, averaging 54.50. He played a match-winning knock of an unbeaten century against arch-rivals Pakistan and followed it up with a vital 84 against Australia in the semi-final.

For IPL 2025, RCB have appointed Rajat Patidar as captain after making significant changes to their squad in last year's mega auction.

RCB will begin their season by facing the defending champions KKR at Eden Gardens on Saturday.]]>
<![CDATA[Meet richest man in Lucknow, donates large amount of money to poor, no match for Mukesh Ambani, Adani; his business is..., net worth is Rs...]]>https://www.india.com/business/meet-richest-man-in-lucknow-manoj-bhargava-donates-large-amount-to-poor-no-match-for-mukesh-ambani-adani-his-business-is-5-hour-energy-drink-sports-illustrated-mens-journal-net-worth-is-rs-12000-crore-7681207/Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:06:34 +0530Gazi Abbas Shahidhttps://www.india.com/?p=7681207

Richest man in Lucknow

Indian-American businessman and philanthropist, Manoj Bhargava, the founder and CEO Innovations Ventures LLC (dba Living Essentials LLC), which is famous for its popular 5-hour Energy drink, is the richest man in Lucknow, as he was born in this iconic Indian city.

Who is Manoj Bhargava?

Born in Lucknow, UP in 1953, Manoj Bhargava's family moved to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States in 1967, where his father pursued a doctorate at the Wharton School of Business. Manoj Bhargava was 14 when his family moved to the US.

Since his early school years, Manoj displayed exceptional academic abilities and problem-solving skills, and in the US, he earned admission into the The Hill School, an elite private school, after winning a math scholarship.

After graduating high school, Manoj Bhargava attended Princeton University for a year in 1972, but returned to India, spending the next 12 years traveling to and from Hanslok Ashram monasteries. While moving between US and India, Bhargava worked several office and construction jobs.

Finally, Manoj Bhargava returned to the US where joined his parents' Indiana-based plastic injection manufacturing firm, Bhar Incorporated, and in 1990, bought a furniture company.

Manoj Bhargava career

However, Bhargava's big break came in 2003, when he established Innovations Ventures LLC, and launched the now-famous 5-hour Energy drink. The company witnessed a rapid rise, and by 2012, had recorded over $1 billion in retail sales.

Apart from Innovations Ventures, Bhargava has founded a variety of new ventures over the years, including MicroDose Life Sciences, Stage 2 Innovations LLC, a private equity fund called ETC Capital LLC, Plymouth Real Estate Holdings LLC, and Oakland Energy and Water Ventures.

Manoj Bhargava also has a 65% controlling stake in Arena Group Holdings Inc, a media conglomerate that owns renowned publications such as Sports Illustrated, The Street, and Men's Journal.

Manoj Bhargava net worth

While there is no credible information about Manoj Bhargava's current wealth, in 2013, Forbes had pegged his net worth at $1.5 billion. According to a 2015 documentary, Billions in Change, Manoj Bhargava has a net worth of over $4 billion, however, the figure is unverified.

Manoj Bhargava philanthropy

Apart from his remarkable success in the business space, Lucknow-born Manoj Bhargava is also famous for his philanthropic ventures, and in 2015, Bhargava pledged 99 percent of his wealth to improve the well-being of the less fortunate.]]>
<![CDATA[This star cricketer announces retirement from International Cricket after Champions Trophy setback]]>https://www.india.com/sports/this-star-cricketer-cricketer-announces-retirement-from-international-cricket-after-champions-trophy-setback-7677353/Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:24:56 +0530Akshat Jainhttps://www.india.com/?p=7677353New Delhi: Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. The 39-year-old had previously called time on his Test career in 2021 and concluded his T20I journey in October 2024. His final appearance for Bangladesh came in the recently-held Champions Trophy, where the Bangla Tigers were knocked out in the group stage.

"All praises only for the Almighty Allah. I have decided to retire from international cricket. I would like to thank all of my teammates, coaches & specially my fans who has always supported me," he posted on Facebook.

"A big thank you to my parents, my in laws specially my father in law & most importantly my brother Emdad Ullah who has been there for me constantly since my childhood as my coach & mentor. And finally thanks to my wife & kids who have been my support system through thick & thin. Not everything comes to an end in a perfect way but you say yes & move forward. Best wishes to my team & Bangladesh cricket," he further said in the post.

Mahmudullah had an underwhelming Champions Trophy performance, managing only 4 runs in the one game he played against New Zealand. He missed the opening match against India, and the match against Pakistan was abandoned due to rain.

The player has accumulated 5689 runs in 239 ODI matches, including 4 centuries and 32 half-centuries. With the ball, he has taken 82 wickets in the format. He ranks as the fourth-highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in ODIs, following Tamim Iqbal (8357), Mushfiqur Rahim (7795), and Shakib Al Hasan (7570).

He has also scored four centuries in major ICC tournaments, with three in World Cups and one in the 2017 Champions Trophy, the highest by any Bangladeshi player. The seasoned campaigner was also Bangladesh's top run-scorer in the 2023 Men's World Cup in India, amassing 328 runs.]]>
<![CDATA[Mukesh Ambani makes Big move ahead of IPL 2025, JioHotstar subscription plans out after JioCinema and Disney Hotstar merger, NO free streaming on…]]>https://www.india.com/business/ipl-2025-big-update-jiohotstar-subscription-plans-out-after-jiocinema-and-disney-hoststar-merger-no-free-streaming-mukesh-ambani-indian-premier-league-7665993/Sun, 09 Mar 2025 09:19:27 +0530Victor Dasguptahttps://www.india.com/?p=7665993New Delhi: JioHotstar, the newly formed joint venture between Viacom18 and Star India, was launched recently following the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. According to the company, the latest platform will bring nearly 3 lakh hours of entertainment and live sports coverage to its 500 million users. However, it is important to note that the free streaming of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will no longer be available.

As per a Reuters report, JioStar will only offer a limited portion of IPL matches for free, with users being allowed to watch a few minutes before being directed to a subscription page. The subscription plans will start at Rs 149, and fans will need to pay to access the full match after the free minutes expire.

JioCinema had been offering free streaming of IPL matches since acquiring the broadcasting rights for five years, starting in 2023, for USD 3 billion. However, with the launch of JioStar in 2025, fans will now need a subscription to watch the entire tournament.

"What sets JioHotstar apart is its elevated streaming experience featuring ultra-HD 4K streaming, AI-powered insights, real-time stats overlays, multi-angle viewing and range of 'culture' and 'special interest' feeds ensuring fans enjoy deeper, more immersive access to the sports they love," the company in an official release.

JioCinema and Disney Hoststar merger

The change in plan came after Mukesh Ambani's Reliance and Walt Disney merged their India media assets in an USD 8.5 billion deal last year. According to reports, the platform's subscription model will kick in once users become loyal to the platform after enjoying the free content. Each user may start their subscription at different times, the sources said, though they remained anonymous due to the confidentiality of the plans.

JioHotstar subscription plans

JioHotstar will offer a basic subscription plan starting at Rs 149, while an ad-free version will be available for Rs 499 for three months. The platform will host major sporting events, including ICC tournaments, IPL, WPL, and grassroots cricket leagues like the Indian Street Premier League. Apart from cricket, JioHotstar will also feature the Premier League, Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi, and ISL.]]>