Gujarat Breaks Own Record, 9 Athletes Earn India Call-Up For Asian Games 2026

Gujarat has scripted a new chapter in Indian sports, with a record nine athletes and one reserve player earning selection to represent India at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The achievement marks a remarkable rise for the state, which had only three representatives at the 2014 Asian Games. Twelve years later, Gujarat has tripled that number, underlining its emergence as one of India's fastest-growing sporting hubs Calling it a proud moment for the state, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the achievement reflects the long-term investments made in sports development.

"Former Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid a strong foundation for sports in Gujarat through initiatives such as Khel Mahakumbh and the Shaktidoot Yojana. The results of those efforts are now visible. Gujarat is steadily emerging as a global sports powerhouse," Sanghavi said.

The state's sporting success is being credited to sustained investments in grassroots development and athlete support over the past decade. Initiatives introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, including the Shaktidoot Yojana and Khel Mahakumbh, created pathways for identifying and nurturing sporting talent across the state.

The current government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has continued to strengthen that ecosystem through enhanced infrastructure, athlete support programmes and high-performance training.

Highlighting the state's sporting ambitions, Harsh Sanghavi said Gujarat is focused on building a world-class sporting culture.

"Our goal is not just to train athletes but to build an entire ecosystem that enables them to excel on the international stage and bring glory to the nation," he said.

He also noted that Gujarat is preparing on a war footing to develop world-class sports infrastructure ahead of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Over the past decade, Gujarat has consistently increased its representation at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, reflecting the state's steady transformation into a multi-sport powerhouse.

With a record-breaking contingent set to compete in Japan, all eyes will now be on Gujarat's athletes as they look to make their mark on one of Asia's biggest sporting stages. The nine selected athletes represent a wide range of disciplines, highlighting Gujarat's growing contribution to Indian sport beyond its traditional cricketing identity. The contingent comprises a blend of experienced international performers and promising young talent.

The selected athletes are:

Elavenil Valarivan - Shooting

Harmeet Desai - Table Tennis

Manav Thakkar - Table Tennis

Manush Shah - Table Tennis

Aniket Patel - Soft Tennis

Aryan Nehra - Swimming

Ankita Raina - Tennis

Vaidehi Chaudhari - Tennis

Devyani Zala - Athletics (Sprint)

Meanwhile, Jil Desai has been named as a reserve player in tennis.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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"Goal Is Gold": Judoka Harsh Aims To Script CWG History In 1st Attempt

Indian judoka Harsh Tokas is aiming to script history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with the 81kg competitor setting his sights on becoming the first Indian to win a judo gold at the Games. The 23-year-old, who will be making his Commonwealth Games debut, said he has left no stone unturned in his preparations and is looking forward to competing on one of the biggest stages of his career. "The preparation is going really well. It has been at a next-level intensity for the past 2-3 months. I have given it my absolute 100% effort. This is the first time I've played at this level; it's going to be a unique experience. I am competing in the 81kg category. As for the challenges, I'll only find out the specifics once I'm there, but the plan is to play freely. The goal is definitely gold. No one from our country has ever won gold in this event at the Commonwealth Games, so bringing back gold would create history and be a wonderful achievement for the nation," Tokas told ANI.

Tokas has risen through India's age-group judo system after making his mark on the Asian circuit. He won a bronze medal at the 2018 Macau Cadets Asian Cup before recording a top-eight finish at the Asian Cadet Championships later that year. He also finished among the top five at the 2019 Asia-Oceania Cadet Championships.

Having progressed into the senior 81kg category, Tokas secured his place in India's Commonwealth Games squad through the national selection process and will be part of a six-member men's judo team competing in Glasgow.

India heads into the Games looking to secure its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo. The country's best performance in the sport came at the 2014 Glasgow Games, where Indian judokas claimed four medals, including two silver and two bronze.

The Indian judo team will depart for Glasgow on July 27, with competition beginning on July 31 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).

India's original 14-member judo contingent has been reduced to 12 athletes following the withdrawal of men's 73kg judoka Arun Kumar after a positive out-of-competition anti-doping test and Birmingham 2022 silver medallist Tulika Maan due to a provisional suspension over whereabouts failures.

Despite the setbacks, Tokas remains one of India's promising medal hopefuls as he prepares for his maiden Commonwealth Games appearance with the ambition of creating history.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Indian Epee Fencers Make History, Record Best-Ever Performance In World C'ships

Indian fencing achieved its best-ever performance on the global stage as Epee fencers Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan concluded their individual campaigns at the Senior World Fencing Championships 2026 in Hong Kong. Both athletes became the first Indian women's Epee fencers to qualify for the Main Table of 64 (Direct Elimination Round) at a Senior World Championships, competing in a field of over 180 athletes at the Asia World Expo. In the final standings for Women's Individual Epee, Taniksha Khatri placed 43rd overall, registering India's highest-ever individual rank in the event at a Senior World Championships.

Her teammate Prachi Lohan finished 58th, giving India two fencers in the top 60. Rounding out the Indian squad in the same event, Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer ranked 143rd, and Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari ranked 150th.

Expressing his support for the athletes, Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Confederation of Asia and the Fencing Association of India, said: "I am immensely proud and delighted to witness this historic achievement by Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan.

Their qualification for the Main Table of 64 at the Senior World Fencing Championships is a landmark moment for Indian fencing and reflects their exceptional talent, dedication, and perseverance. This remarkable feat is a testament to the growing standard of Indian fencing and will inspire many young athletes to excel on the international stage. I congratulate both fencers, their coaches, and the entire support team on this memorable success."

In the Men's Individual Foil event, Sachin finished as the top Indian fencer in 107th place, followed by Aditya at 137th, Sanasam Hemash Singh at 143rd, and Tejas Manoj Patil at 149th.

The tournament continues on Sunday, with the final stages of the Women's Individual Epee and Men's Individual Foil events, before transitioning into the team competitions.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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DCB Bank Q1: Profit Jumps 36% To Rs 213 Crore As Asset Quality Improves, Provisions Fall

DCB Bank Ltd. reported a 35.5% year-on-year rise in first-quarter net profit as lower provisions and improving asset quality offset pressure on margins.

The private lender posted a net profit of Rs 213 crore for the quarter ended June 30, compared with Rs 157 crore a year earlier, according to an exchange filing on Friday.

Net interest income rose 17.7% to Rs 684 crore from Rs 581 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Asset quality improved sequentially, with the gross non-performing asset ratio easing to 2.43% from 2.45% at the end of March, while the net NPA ratio declined to 0.84% from 0.89%.

ALSO READ: DCB Bank Q4 Results: Net Profit Jumps 16% To Rs 206 Crore; Dividend Declared

Provisions more than halved to Rs 57 crore from Rs 115 crore a year ago and fell from Rs 69 crore in the preceding quarter, supporting earnings growth.

The bank said advances grew 17% year-on-year, while deposits increased 20%, reflecting continued business momentum. Capital adequacy remained healthy at 17.03% under Basel III norms as of June 30.

"The growth momentum over the year on both deposits and advances continue to be strong. There has been marked improvement on most levers of profitability, resulting in 36% increase in profit after tax, compared to previous year," Managing Director and CEO Praveen Kutty said in the company's press release.

ALSO READ: Q1 Results Live Updates: DCB Bank Profit Jumps Over 35%, SBI Life Profit Up 22%; Bank of Baroda In Focus

Kutty added that lower credit costs and improving portfolio quality helped the bank deliver its highest-ever quarterly profit for the fourth consecutive quarter, alongside an improvement in return on equity.

DCB Bank Q1 FY27

• Net profit up 35.5% to Rs 213 crore from Rs 157 crore YoY
• Net interest income (NII) up 17.7% to Rs 684 crore from Rs 581 crore YoY
• Gross NPA improved to 2.43% from 2.45% QoQ
• Net NPA improved to 0.84% from 0.89% QoQ
• Provisions down to Rs 57 crore from Rs 115 crore YoY
• Provisions down to Rs 57 crore from Rs 69 crore QoQ

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"Karan Kundrra Kissed Me, Then Slapped Me": Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum Co-Star

Actor Saanvi Talwar has spoken about one of the most controversial incidents from her television career, revisiting her experience of working with Karan Kundra and sharing her version of events years after the controversy made headlines.

In an interview with Telly Masala, the actress alleged that Karan Kundra had shown interest in her and also recalled an on-set incident that, according to her, left her deeply shaken.

"He Was Interested In Me, Not Me In Him"

Addressing long-standing speculation about their equation, Saanvi claimed that it was Karan Kundra who was interested in her.

"He was interested in me, not me in him," Saanvi said.

She also revealed that certain scenes during the shoot made her uncomfortable.  According to the actress, a bathroom scene was particularly difficult for her, prompting her to seek help instead of staying silent.

Saanvi said she approached Karan Kundra's then-girlfriend, Anusha Dandekar, and spoke to her about how she was feeling.

"After this, Anusha started coming to the set and keeping an eye on things herself."

Saanvi Opens Up About The Alleged Slap Incident

Saanvi also revisited the alleged slap incident, which became a major talking point at the time.

Recalling the sequence of events, she said a kissing scene between her and Karan Kundra was being filmed when he allegedly kissed her before the director had called for the shot.

She said, "I was very depressed. Then one day we had a kissing scene between Karan and me, and Karan kissed me before the director's cue. So, that was a wrong move, wasn't it? When the director didn't say anything like 'we have to do it now,' how did you do that? So, I slapped him (Karan)."

The actress further alleged that Karan later returned and slapped her in front of the crew.

"After that, he left. Then he came back 10-15 minutes later and slapped me so hard in front of everyone. A girl's hand... a boy's hand is much heavier than a girl's hand. And he slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground, and there wasn't a single person there... not from the crew, not from the direction team, not a single person supported me in any way."

"I Thought I Don't Want To Work Anymore"

Speaking about the aftermath of the incident, Saanvi said she felt devastated and decided to leave the set.

She shared, "At that time, he abused me; he abused my parents, and at that time I took my car and went to my home, and I thought I don't want to work anymore."

The actress also claimed that producer Ekta Kapoor later reached out to her and apologised on Karan Kundra's behalf.

She added, "After that, Ekta Ma'am apologised to me on Karan's behalf; I received a message from her. She then personally called me to her office, where we had a one-on-one conversation, and I respect Ekta Ma'am a lot. She told me that whatever you want will happen, but the show must go on."

Saanvi further claimed that the director of the show was replaced following the incident.

Karan Kundra has not publicly responded to Saanvi Talwar's latest claims yet. 
 

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Q1 Results Updates: Waaree Renewables Profit Up 34%; NTPC Green Profit Rises 38%

Q1 Results Today Live Updates: Hello and welcome to NDTV Profit's live coverage of Q1 earnings on July 22, 2026! Stay tuned to our live blog as we bring you all major updates on April-June quarter earnings for the current fiscal (Q1FY27) and company announcements throughout the day. Several majors such as Adani Green, BPCL, IndusInd Bank, Dr Reddy's, JSW Energy, Nestlé India and others are in focus today as the companies will reveal their Q1 scorecards.

At least 60+ companies are scheduled to report their earnings on Tuesday. Following the results, companies will hold earnings calls with investors and analysts to discuss their performance and future plans. Watch this space for all the action from India Inc earnings reports.

Stay tuned to NDTV Profit for all back-to-back live updates of Q1 Results and company announcements on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

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Christopher Nolan Says "Buy A Ticket" As He Hints At Horror Film After Odyssey

Christopher Nolan has sparked fresh excitement among his fans, hinting at a horror film being on the cards. The Academy Award winner, whose latest release The Odyssey is making waves at the box office, and working on the film has only made him more interested in exploring horror.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the director was asked if audiences could finally stop asking him to make a horror film, considering The Odyssey includes several dark and unsettling moments. Responding with a laugh, he said, “I was going to say that. They don't need to beg me to tell a horror story anymore. Just buy a ticket.” 

While The Odyssey may have touched on horror, Nolan made it clear that it had not ended his interest in the genre. In fact, the experience pushed him closer to it. 

“It very much whets my appetite for more. But I've always believed that horror as a genre has to be approached very carefully from a conceptual point of view. In other words, you have to have an amazing idea.”

For Christopher Nolan, a horror film is not about technical tricks or visual effects. He feels the story always comes first. Explaining what inspires him, he referred to Brian De Palma's Obsession.

“When you go see a film like Obsession, that's an amazing idea. That movie works like a mo********er. It's not about the technical side. It's not about what technical itches I would have to scratch. It's about a story. So I'm always looking.”

Apart from its action and mythical world, The Odyssey also explores the idea of Zeus' law, often linked to the Golden Rule of treating others the way you want to be treated.

Sharing his thoughts, the director said, “The fact that we have mutual respect is what, to some extent, defines civilization. I don't think that's something that can be entirely imposed by, for example, a religious framework. I think it has to be innate in us for that to be as prevalent and as effective as it has been over thousands of years.”

Based on Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who faces a dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. The film also features Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, and Travis Scott.

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