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Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
National jumper Tia Rozario earns first SEA Games berth after reuniting with coach Valeri Obidko
Tia Rozario (right) and national jumps coach Valeri Obidko started working together in 2013 before a hiatus of more than a decade PHOTO: COURTESY OF ZHONG CHU HAN SINGAPORE – When Tia Rozario was in her early teens, the national jumper was already outleaping her rivals, clearing 5.5 metres with her long jumps and dominating school competitions. Recognising her potential, Valeri Obidko, her jumps coach at the Singapore Sports School then, set her a target of 6m. More than 10 years later, with coach and protege reunited, Rozario, 24, has finally hit that target and in doing so, qualified for her first SEA Games by meeting the 6.02m qualifying mark. At the Thailand Open Track & Field Championships on June 22, Rozario shattered her previous personal best of 5.95m. At the National Athletics Centre in Pathum Thani, she leapt an impressive 6.16m, just two centimetres shy of the national record set by Eugenia Tan in 2015. Rozario, who cleared 6m thrice, earned the silver medal, while Sri Lanka's Madushani Herath (6.37m) won the gold and Thailand's Supawat Choothong (6.01m) bagged the bronze. Rozario said: 'I'm definitely very excited to have qualified for the SEA Games for the first time. But I think I was more excited to finally hit the 6m milestone... We've waited close to 10 years for this moment so it's really special and feels like a full circle moment that I got to hit six metres with coach by my side.' Obidko was appointed the national jumps coach by Singapore Athletics in January 2024. It marked a return to the sunny island for the Georgia-born Singaporean, who had two stints as SSP jumps coach (2004-2009 and 2013-2015), sandwiching his tenure as national jumps coach from 2009 to 2013. Rozario and Obidko worked together from 2013 till 2015, when he left to become coach of Thailand's national jumpers. They reunited last July when Rozario returned to Singapore after completing her master's degree in biomedical science at Duke University in the United States. 'Linking up with coach Valeri is definitely vital,' said Rozario. 'He has a lot of passion for the sport and his athletes, his belief in me and my teammates has been what has been encouraging us to give our best every day at training and in competitions.' Proper training commenced in September as the pair started off with gym sessions and looked into biomechanics to improve her technique. It has paid off but Obidko, 61, believes there is more to come. 'She is a very fast learner and she picks up new techniques well. We are strengthening her and we have seen good progress,' said Obidko. 'So we will continue the same way towards the SEA Games. I am also hoping she can win a medal at the SEA Games.' Rozario, who set the outdoor triple jump national record of 13.01m in 2024, also clinched a triple jump silver in Thailand with her attempt of 13.27m (+3.0m/s). But that distance cannot be used for records, personal bests or qualifying standards as it exceeded the maximum allowable wind assistance of 2.0 metres per second (m/s). Herath (13.58m) secured gold and Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu-Ting (13.26m) was awarded bronze. In the men's high jump, Andrew Pak leapt to a personal best of 2.05m – 10cm below the SEA Games qualifying mark – to win Singapore's third silver medal at the June 22-25 Thailand Open. While Rozario is still some way off the SEA Games qualifying distance of 13.46m for the triple jump, Obidko said she may eventually get the nod for it as well, as her 12.89m effort set in Hong Kong in May is just five per cent off the qualifying mark, which puts her on the long list for nomination. Having already had a taste of winning medals in Thailand, Rozario wants to repeat the trick on a grander stage at the Dec 9-20 SEA Games. The last Singaporean woman to win a long jump medal at the biennial Games was Foo Hwei Fen, who earned a bronze in 1989. There has never been a medallist for the Republic in the women's triple jump. At the last Games, Indonesia's Maria Natalia Londa won the long jump gold with a 6.28m attempt, ahead of Vietnam's Bui Thi Thu Thao (6.13m) and Bui Thi Loan (6.02m), while Thailand's Parinya Chuaimaroeng – another Obidko protege – won gold in the triple jump with a 13.60m effort. Rozario said: 'I've spent so many years in this sport, gone through ups and downs, broken so many national records and won championships and travelled all around the world to compete. But the feeling of getting to represent Singapore at the SEA Games is going to be different, it is going to be very special. ' The SEA Games is really important to Singapore and to do it with the backing of my family and friends is something I am really looking forward to. I hope to medal at the SEA Games and then work towards the Asian Games next year.' Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Parag Jain, 1989 batch IPS officer, appointed R&AW secretary
Jun 28, 2025 01:08 PM IST The Narendra Modi government on Saturday appointed Parag Jain, a 1989 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre, as the next Secretary (Research and Analysis Wing) for a term of two years. He succeeds Ravi Sinha who completes his rather lackadaisical tenure on June 30. Parag Jain, a 1989 batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, takes over from Ravi Sinha on Monday. Parag Jain was currently heading the Aviation Research Centre, which played a vital role during Operation Sindoor, by collecting intelligence about Pakistani armed forces. Jain has served as SSP Chandigarh in the past and has served in Canada and in Sri Lanka as Indian representative. Parag Jain has been posted in Jammu and Kashmir and has played an important role in counter-terrorism strategy of the Centre in the strife torn UT. He takes over from Sinha on Monday.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Drunk 17-year-old misses target; man dies as plot to frame GF's kin goes awry
Representative image. MEERUT: Harsh Kumar didn't plan to die that night. He planned to make a statement—loud, painful, and staged. Somewhere between desperation and drunkenness, the 21-year-old convinced a teen friend to help him pull off a bizarre scheme: get shot, survive, and blame it all on his girlfriend's family—people who he believed were standing between him and the woman he loved. 'Shoot me in the stomach. I want to frame her family for resisting our relationship,' he allegedly told the 17-year-old friend and drinking companion late on Tuesday. But the bullet didn't follow the script. It struck his chest. On Wednesday morning, Harsh's bullet-hit body was found in an agricultural field in Meerut's Ganga Nagar area, with a country-made pistol lying nearby. SSP Dr Vipin Tada said, 'We rushed to the spot, identified the body, and informed his family.' Harsh's family, residents of the same locality, immediately pointed fingers at the woman's relatives. 'They were against the relationship. They must have done this,' the family claimed. However, six hours later, the story unravelled. The Class 11 boy broke down during questioning. 'On the night of the incident, Harsh, who was unemployed, called him to the field after buying alcohol. Both drank together. Harsh wanted the juvenile to shoot him in a way that wouldn't be fatal. But the bullet hit his chest instead of the stomach. He died on the spot. The boy was drunk when he pulled the trigger,' the SSP said. The minor panicked and discarded the pistol near the body, tossed Harsh's phone onto the roof of a nearby tubewell, and fled—perhaps hoping the story would end there. 'The boy has been booked under BNS section 103 (murder) and sent to a juvenile home. Harsh and the woman were in a relationship for over two years,' Tada said.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Protests Erupt In UP Over Tonsuring Row, 20 Detained As Stones Thrown At Cops
Etawah: Days after the alleged caste-based tonsuring of a Bhagwat Katha preacher and his aide in Etawah's Dandarpur village, tensions escalated on Thursday as members of Yadav groups staged protests demanding the arrest of all accused and withdrawal of the case registered against the victims. According to police, large crowds began gathering near the Agra-Kanpur highway and at the village in the Bakewar area in the afternoon. Purported videos showed unidentified persons pelting police personnel with stones even as the latter brandished firearms in the air to warn the protesters on a narrow village road. In Lucknow, UP minister Jaiveer Singh accused Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav of giving the tonsuring incident a "casteist spin" and blamed him for stoking the violence. Etawah Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava said, "Information was received via social media that some groups were preparing to protest against the incident that occurred in Dandarpur village three days ago. Accordingly, police deployment was made in the town, on the highway and in the village to ensure law and order." "Around 1:30 pm, a sizeable crowd started gathering on the Agra-Kanpur highway. While most were convinced to disperse, a few tried to enter Dandarpur village forcibly, which created a situation that could have disrupted peace," he said. SSP Srivastava confirmed that 19 individuals were detained, and 13 vehicles were seized. "Necessary legal action is being taken under relevant sections. Law and order are under control, and the situation is normal," he added. Earlier in the day, hundreds of members from Yadav groups reached Bakewar police station to gherao it in protest against alleged police action against the victims and to demand the arrest of the accused. SP (Rural) Sreesh Chandra told reporters that police attempted to stop the advancing crowd, but a heated exchange followed. When protesters continued pushing forward, police used lathis to disperse them. The crowd reportedly retaliated by throwing stones at police personnel, damaging the windshield of a police jeep. Some protesters fled towards the Agra-Kanpur highway. The incident that triggered the unrest took place on the night of June 22-23 in the village. Two Bhagwat Katha preachers, Mukut Mani Yadav and his aide Sant Singh Yadav, were allegedly tonsured and humiliated by "upper-caste" men after it was found that they belonged to the Yadav caste. A video of the incident, which went viral on social media and was also shared by the SP chief, showed the accused purportedly saying, "You are getting punished for coming to the village of Brahmins." The victims alleged they were interrogated about their caste, forced to show identification and subjected to humiliation. "I was tortured all night. My head was shaved, and they sprinkled urine on me, saying it was to purify me," said Sant Singh Yadav. Following the video's circulation, four accused - Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi and Manu Dubey - all residents of the village, were arrested and booked. Akhilesh condemned the incident, calling it a gross violation of constitutional values and warned of a large-scale movement if action was not taken within three days. In response to Etawah violence, Singh in the evening emphasised the administration's swift response and affirmed the government's commitment to take strict measures moving forward. Based on the initial probe, four individuals were arrested, followed by the detention of 15 more people involved in the violence perpetrated by the protesters, the minister said. "The incident appears to be the result of a well-planned conspiracy, and the government is determined to uncover the truth and take strict action against those responsible," Singh said. He assured that anyone taking the law into their own hands, regardless of caste or community, will not be spared. Accusing Akhilesh of giving the incident a "casteist angle," the minister said the former UP CM, without verifying the facts, made reckless statements which incited violence. "It has always been the SP's strategy to divide society along caste and class lines for political gain. This is condemnable and unacceptable," Singh said. He added that the BJP respects Sanatan culture, not casteism.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tensions in UP's Etawah over tonsuring row: stone pelting on cops, 19 detained
Days after the alleged caste-based tonsuring of a Bhagwat Katha preacher and his aide in Etawah's Dandarpur village, tensions escalated on Thursday as members of Yadav groups staged protests demanding the arrest of all accused and withdrawal of the case registered against the victims. According to police, large crowds began gathering near the Agra-Kanpur highway and at the village in the Bakewar area in the afternoon. SSP Srivastava confirmed that 19 individuals were detained, and 13 vehicles were seized. (PTI) Purported videos showed unidentified persons pelting police personnel with stones even as the latter brandished firearms in the air to warn the protesters on a narrow village road. In Lucknow, UP minister Jaiveer Singh accused Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav of giving the tonsuring incident a "casteist spin" and blamed him for stoking the violence. Etawah Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava said, "Information was received via social media that some groups were preparing to protest against the incident that occurred in Dandarpur village three days ago. Accordingly, police deployment was made in the town, on the highway and in the village to ensure law and order." "Around 1:30 pm, a sizeable crowd started gathering on the Agra-Kanpur highway. While most were convinced to disperse, a few tried to enter Dandarpur village forcibly, which created a situation that could have disrupted peace," he said. SSP Srivastava confirmed that 19 individuals were detained, and 13 vehicles were seized. "Necessary legal action is being taken under relevant sections. Law and order are under control, and the situation is normal," he added. Earlier in the day, hundreds of members from Yadav groups reached Bakewar police station to gherao it in protest against alleged police action against the victims and to demand the arrest of the accused. SP (Rural) Sreesh Chandra told reporters that police attempted to stop the advancing crowd, but a heated exchange followed. When protesters continued pushing forward, police used lathis to disperse them. The crowd reportedly retaliated by throwing stones at police personnel, damaging the windshield of a police jeep. Some protesters fled towards the Agra-Kanpur highway. The incident that triggered the unrest took place on the night of June 22-23 in the village. Two Bhagwat Katha preachers, Mukut Mani Yadav and his aide Sant Singh Yadav, were allegedly tonsured and humiliated by "upper-caste" men after it was found that they belonged to the Yadav caste. A video of the incident, which went viral on social media and was also shared by the SP chief, showed the accused purportedly saying, 'You are getting punished for coming to the village of Brahmins.' The victims alleged they were interrogated about their caste, forced to show identification and subjected to humiliation. "I was tortured all night. My head was shaved, and they sprinkled urine on me, saying it was to purify me," said Sant Singh Yadav. Following the video's circulation, four accused — Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi and Manu Dubey, all residents of the village, were arrested and booked. Akhilesh condemned the incident, calling it a gross violation of constitutional values and warned of a large-scale movement if action was not taken within three days. In response to Etawah violence, Singh in the evening emphasised the administration's swift response and affirmed the government's commitment to take strict measures moving forward. Based on the initial probe, four individuals were arrested, followed by the detention of 15 more people involved in the violence perpetrated by local miscreants, the minister said. "The incident appears to be the result of a well-planned conspiracy, and the government is determined to uncover the truth and take strict action against those responsible," Singh said. He assured that anyone taking the law into their own hands, regardless of caste or community, will not be spared. Accusing Akhilesh of giving the incident a "casteist angle," the minister said the former UP CM, without verifying the facts, made reckless statements which incited violence. "It has always been the SP's strategy to divide society along caste and class lines for political gain. This is condemnable and unacceptable," Singh said. He added that the BJP respects Sanatan culture, not casteism.
