Asian Boxing C’ships: Vishvanath Suresh stuns World No. 1; Ankushita, Narender advance to semis

Photo credit: Asian Boxing

Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), (IANS) Havaldar Vishvanath Suresh delivered a remarkable performance in Indian boxing, defeating the reigning World Champion and World No. 1 Sanzhar Tashkenbay (KAZ) with a decisive 5-0 win. This victory propelled him into the semifinals of the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Vishvanath (Men’s 50 kg – Flyweight) has swiftly established himself as one of India’s most promising boxing talents, effortlessly progressing from a strong youth career to the top echelons of the senior ranks. Originating from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, his ascent signifies a notable milestone for boxing talent emerging from the region.

Heading into 2026, Vishvanath remains the reigning national champion after winning gold at the Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships 2026. In the final, he decisively defeated Rishi Singh with a unanimous 5-0 decision, cementing his status as India’s top boxer in the 50 kg category.

His rise has been supported by an outstanding youth career. Vishvanath initially gained international recognition with a gold medal at the IBA Youth Men's World Boxing Championships 2022, and then secured another gold at the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships 2022, demonstrating his dominance on both world and continental stages.

As he advanced in his career, Vishvanath consistently impressed against tougher and more seasoned opponents. He earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian U-22 Boxing Championships and later won another gold medal at the BFI Federation Cup 2025 in Chennai.

Vishwanath is technically sharp and tactically astute, renowned for his speed, agility, and ring intelligence. His skill in controlling distance, along with his quick, precise combinations, establishes him as a formidable figure in the fast-paced flyweight division.

After his national victory, he was selected to compete at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships and played a vital role in India’s efforts. During the tournament in Ulaanbaatar, he caused a significant upset by defeating the reigning world champion and World No. 1, securing his place in the semifinals.

Vishvanath is developing into a strong international medal contender, thanks to training at the Army Sports Institute, with support from the Boxing Federation of India.

Vishvanath Suresh, who began as a decorated youth champion and rose to India’s top-ranked flyweight, demonstrates a trajectory of consistent growth, rapid advancement, and the potential for continued international success.

In the women’s 65kg category, Ankushita Boro secured a decisive 4-1 victory against Laura Yessenkeldi (KAZ), demonstrating poise and dominance to reach the semifinals. She will now compete against Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen, the 2025 World Boxing Finals gold medalist and Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, in an important semifinal match.

In the men’s division, Narender maintained his momentum with a 5-0 win against Orkhan Aghayev (UAE), moving into the semifinals. He will next face China’s Bayikewuzi Danabieke, a bronze medalist at both the 2022 Asian Games and the 2025 World Championships.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 65kg category, Aditya was eliminated following a 0-5 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Abdulloh Madaminov in the quarterfinals.India’s campaign at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 continues to gain momentum in Ulaanbaatar, with standout performances and several semifinal appearances. Asian Boxing C’ships: Vishvanath Suresh stuns World No. 1; Ankushita, Narender advance to semis | MorungExpress | morungexpress.comt

Read More........ → April 10, 2026

India Deep Tech Accelerator announced to help scale up IIT startups

(AI image/IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) and the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Tuesday announced the launch of the India Deep Tech Accelerator, a 10‑week programme designed to help IIT‑affiliated deep‑tech startups scale internationally.

The initiative, led by Polsky Center, is developed in collaboration with leading Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) innovation networks and incubators, including SINE at IIT Bombay, FITT at IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras Research Park, a statement said.

The programme, aimed at supporting India’s emerging deep tech startup ecosystem, will run from April through June 2026 and will be structured for a cohort of up to 15 startups through targeted workshops, coaching, and strategic customer and investor connections.

The accelerator will also include "an India showcase and a Bay Area showcase for top-performing companies in June," the statement said.

The initiative builds a structured, repeatable pathway connecting startups from India’s premier technical institutions with the potential for fundraising and the Polsky Center’s deep experience in venture creation, startup acceleration, and international market access.

The accelerator will run from April through June 2026 and take a cohort of up to 15 startups through targeted workshops, coaching and investor and customer connections. Top performers will be showcased at an India event and a Bay Area showcase in June.

The India Deep Tech Accelerator aims to support globally ambitious, IIT-affiliated startups for near-term commercializsation and financing milestones in the United States and other global markets.

IDTA will provide strategic guidance and founder support, while Aroa Venture Partners has committed up to $2,00,000 per startup for select companies emerging from the accelerator. Several other venture capital firms have committed to contribute to workshops, office hours, selective mentoring, and may provide potential investment support to cohort startups.“India’s IITs produce world‑class engineering and research, but too many deep‑tech breakthroughs still struggle to cross the last mile into scalable commercialisation,” said Sriram Viswanathan, Founding Managing Partner, Celesta Capital, and Founding Executive Committee Member, IDTA. India Deep Tech Accelerator announced to help scale up IIT startups | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → April 05, 2026

Sonam Kapoor welcomes her second son: Elder brother Vayu is overjoyed

(Photo: Sonam Kapoor/ Instagram)

Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Sonam Kapoor has embraced motherhood for the second time. She welcomed her second son with husband Anand Ahuja on Sunday.

Sharing the exciting news on social media, Sonam wrote on the Insta handle, "With immense gratitude and hearts full of love, we are delighted to announce the arrival of our baby boy on the 29th of March 2026. Our family has grown and with his arrival, our hearts have expanded in the most beautiful way. (sic)"

The 'Raanjhanaa' actress revealed that Vayu is extremely thrilled to be an elder brother.

"Vayu is overjoyed to welcome his little brother and we feel deeply blessed by this precious new life who has filled our home with happiness and grace", she further wrote.

"Sonam and Anand are grateful to begin this beautiful new chapter as a family of four." the post concluded.

Soon after the announcement was made, congratulatory messages started pouring in for the couple.

Kareena Kapoor wrote, "Congratulations Sona and Anand".

Maasi Rhea Kapoor reacted to the post with several heart-eyed emojis.

Sonam's uncle, Sanjay Kapoor, also shared red heart and evil eye emojis.

Dia Mirza and Huma Qureshi dropped red heart emojis in the comment section.

Refreshing your memory, Sonam announced her second pregnancy back in November this year.

Taking to social media, the 'Neerja' actress dropped a photo of herself dressed in a striking hot-pink pure wool suit featuring oversized padded shoulders and a softly curved shoulder line. Lovingly holding on to her blossoming baby bump, she simply captioned the post, “MOTHER.”

Sonam tied the knot with businessman Anand Ahuja in a grand wedding ceremony in May 2018. The couple was in a relationship for several years before taking the plunge.The lovebirds welcomed their first child, a baby boy in August 2022. Sonam Kapoor welcomes her second son: Elder brother Vayu is overjoyed | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → March 31, 2026

Lisa Ray says midlife is not a crisis but ‘the most important act of a woman’s life’

(Photo : IANS/Lisa Ray/insta)

Mumbai, (IANS) Actress and model Lisa Ray, on Tuesday, opened up about the realities of midlife for women through a reflective post on social media that spoke about ageing, self-worth, and finding inner peace.

The actress shared a post featuring a picture of herself dressed elegantly in a sari. She reflected on how growing older has helped her become more grounded and comfortable with her authentic self.

Sharing the post, Lisa wrote, “What no one tells you about Midlife…

When estrogen drops, so does people-pleasing.

Self-doubt gets quieter.

Peace gets louder.

Standards rise.

Boundaries hold.”

She added, “Midlife: when the hormones exit

and the nonsense goes with them.

Less apologising.

Less auditioning.

More self-worth.

More no.

More peace.

Midlife isn’t a crisis.

It’s the main character energy.

Act Two — and finally, it’s ours.

Call it what it is —

the most important act of a woman’s life.”

The actress has always spoken her heart out over sensitive issues and also on health, ageing, self-acceptance, without mincing words.

On the professional front, Lisa Ray has had a diverse acting career across Indian and international cinema.

She gained prominence with films such as Kasoor and also in critically acclaimed projects including Water, directed by Deepa Mehta.

Over the years, she has worked in Hindi, Tamil, and international productions, and also has appeared in television and digital projects.

On the personal front, Lisa inspired many by putting a brave front against her battle with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer, in 2009.She had undergone treatment and later announced that she was cancer-free. Lisa Ray says midlife is not a crisis but ‘the most important act of a woman’s life’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → March 16, 2026

Global trends, fading roots: What the Korean wave means for India

New Delhi, (IANS): Recent incidents and growing concerns around excessive online influence and cultural obsession among adolescents have renewed national debate on how foreign cultural content is being consumed by young Indians, and whether adequate guidance and balance are being provided at the family and institutional level.

At the heart of this discussion lies a broader and more complex issue -- India's cultural confidence and the way its youth relate to their own language, traditions, and identity in an increasingly globalised world.

Over the past decade, South Korean popular culture -- popularly known as the Korean Wave or Hallyu -- has gained remarkable traction among Indian youth.

Korean pop music, television dramas, online games, fashion trends, food preferences, and even language expressions have become deeply embedded in adolescent and youth lifestyles, particularly in urban and semi-urban India.

While cultural exchange is a natural and often enriching process, concern arises when admiration for another culture begins to replace, rather than complement, one's own cultural foundations.

The contrast between South Korea and India is particularly striking.

While a country like South Korea, with a population of around 50 million, is consistently promoting its culture, language, traditions, and music not only within its own borders but across the world, India -- despite having a population of nearly 1.4 billion -- appears to be gradually distancing itself from its own cultural roots.

Many observers note that Indian youth are increasingly forgetting their language, traditions, food habits, and cultural practices, while enthusiastically adopting foreign lifestyles and trends.

South Korea's cultural success is not driven by blind admiration for other nations, nor by rejection of globalisation. Instead, it is built on deep confidence in its own identity.

Korean youth do not abandon their language or traditions while engaging with the global community.

On international platforms, Koreans confidently use their native language, promote their music and cinema, support domestic brands, and project a strong sense of national belonging. This mindset is anchored in the concept of "Woori Nara", meaning "my country", which reflects collective responsibility, cultural loyalty, and pride.

Wherever Koreans go -- whether for education, employment, or travel -- they consciously carry their identity with them. They speak Korean among themselves abroad, prefer Korean airlines, support Korean-made products, and actively promote Korean food, games, music, dramas, and technology.

Importantly, Korean youth are not seen abandoning their cultural values in the name of global trends, nor do they display excessive fascination with foreign cultures at the cost of their own traditions.

In contrast, a section of Indian youth appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Increasingly, young Indians openly express discomfort or dislike toward Indian food, show hesitation in using Indian languages in public spaces, and associate modernity, sophistication, or global status primarily with foreign cultural markers. While interest in global cultures is not problematic in itself, concern arises when such interest is accompanied by embarrassment, detachment, or disregard for one's own heritage.

India has historically been an emotionally open and inclusive society, readily absorbing external influences. This openness has been one of the country's greatest strengths. However, inclusiveness without cultural grounding can lead to imbalance. The issue is not about rejecting Korean culture -- or any foreign influence -- but about the absence of discernment: understanding what to learn, what to adapt, and what not to imitate blindly.

Cultural thinkers emphasise that true nationalism in a globalised world does not mean isolation or hostility toward other cultures. Rather, it means possessing the confidence to celebrate, protect, and promote one's own language, traditions, food, knowledge systems, and products while engaging respectfully with the world. South Korea's example demonstrates that strong cultural pride and global integration are not contradictory, but complementary.

The role of families, schools, and educational institutions is critical in this context. Cultural awareness and identity formation cannot be left solely to digital platforms, algorithms, or entertainment content. Children and adolescents require consistent guidance to understand their heritage, language, history, and values so that their engagement with global culture becomes additive rather than substitutive.

At the policy level, there is a growing need for initiatives that encourage Indians to use their languages confidently on international stages, openly acknowledge national achievements, and support domestic products without hesitation. Cultural confidence must be reinforced through education systems, media representation, youth programmes, and institutional messaging that normalise pride in Indian identity rather than treating it as outdated or secondary.

As India continues to assert its place on the global stage -- economically, technologically, and diplomatically -- the challenge is not to resist global culture, but to engage with it from a position of self-respect and clarity. Learning from South Korea is valuable, but the most important lesson lies not in imitating entertainment trends, fashion, or lifestyle choices. It lies in adopting the confidence with which a nation carries its identity into the world.In the end, cultural exchange should expand horizons, not erase roots. Global trends, fading roots: What the Korean wave means for India | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → March 11, 2026

'Wishing you both a very happy married life': Raina congratulates Arjun-Saaniya after wedding

'Wishing you both a very happy married life': Raina congratulates Arjun-Saaniya after wedding

Mumbai, (IANS) Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has congratulated Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandhok after their wedding and wished the couple a happy married life.

Arjun Tendulkar, son of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, tied the knot with entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok in a ceremony attended by several prominent personalities from the cricketing fraternity on Thursday.

Raina shared a congratulatory message for the newly married couple, while also extending his greetings to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali Tendulkar. The 39-year-old also shared a photo of the wedding on Instagram in which the cricketer turned commentator, Aakash Chopra, was also seen posing with the newly wed couple.

“Congratulations @arjuntendulkar24 & Sanya! Wishing you both a very happy married life! Congratulations, paji @sachintendulkar & Anjali bhabhi,” Raina wrote.

Other than Raina, big personalities in Indian cricket, including former India captain MS Dhoni, ex-head coach Rahul Dravid, legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad, among others, have blessed the couple on their special day.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Jay Shah also came to Mumbai to attend the wedding and give his blessings to the couple. He is expected to attend the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final clash between India and England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening.

Arjun and Saaniya previously got engaged in a private ceremony in August 2025, attended by close family members and friends.

Arjun's Wedding festivities began earlier this week with a series of traditional ceremonies and celebrations. Pre-wedding events, including mehendi and sangeet functions, were held in Mumbai, with several former and current cricketers in attendance.Arjun's wife, Saaniya, is a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who comes from a prominent business family and is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group. She has built a career in the pet-care and animal welfare sector and is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur. 'Wishing you both a very happy married life': Raina congratulates Arjun-Saaniya after wedding | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → March 05, 2026

Anusha Dandekar is grateful for a beautiful life, even through the hardest battles

(Photo: Anusha Dandekar/Instagram)

Mumbai, (IANS): Actress and television personality Anusha Dandekar, who turned 44 on Friday, marked her birthday on a deeply emotional note as she reflected on life, growth and the people who shaped her journey.

Sharing a cherished throwback video from her childhood in pigtails, Anusha spoke about staying connected to the fearless, happy-go-lucky little girl she once was.

She wrote: “The bridge between who you were and who you are becoming, seems like it should be so different but I kinda disagree, that little fearless, happy go lucky, loving little me, is exactly who I want to be, so coming back to that is all you can ever ask for.”

“I’ve lived a really beautiful life with so much to be grateful for, even through the hardest battles.”

Anusha said that she has learnt so much and here “I am still wanting to sing and dance my way through life! Can’t ask for anything more.”

“Ps. Thankyou @sulabha.dandekar my Birth Giver! You and me in Sudan, 44 years ago. Love you. That’s my Daddy in the background saying Action, as you can see I had parents who let me fly from day one! And yes that’s me in the pink top with pigtails!”

She conlcuded: “THANKYOU FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES AND LOVE! I feel so special beyond! You made my heart explode Also I know the songs hit differently when you finally understand the words hahahahaha”

Anusha’s sister Shibani Akhtar shared the same video to wish her sister, whom she lovingly called her “chicken”.

Shibani had written: “Happy bday chicken. I love you endlessly my little superstar Dream big, shine bright and stay as beautiful as you are always @anushadandekar.”

Talking about Anusha, on the work front, has been a successful Indian television host, VJ, actor, and model. She became a household name with hosting shows like MTV Dance Crew, MTV Love School, and MTV Teen Diva. Apart from television hosting, she has also appeared in Bollywood films such as Mumbai Matinee, Viruddh, and Delhi Belly.

Meanwhile, Shibani is an Indian actor, singer, model, and television host and is known for her work in Bollywood films and digital content. She began her career as a VJ and later appeared in movies like Roy, Shaandaar, and Naam Shabana.The actress is also a singer and part of the music band Shibani Kashyap Project. The actress has been in the spotlight of late for her relationship and marriage to Farhan Akhtar in 2022. She is the daughter-in-law of ace writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar, Honey Irani and Javed’s second wife and veteran actress Shabana Azmi. Anusha Dandekar is grateful for a beautiful life, even through the hardest battles | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → February 20, 2026

Ankita Lokhande recalls the toughest chapter of her life that broke her completely

(Photo: Ankita Lokhande/ Instagram) IANS

Mumbai, (IANS) Joining the "2026 is the new 2016" trend, a popular name in the television industry, Ankita Lokhande remembered 2016 as 'the toughest chapter of my life'.

She looked back at the time that broke her completely and changed her forever.

Refreshing your memory, 2016 was the year Ankita and late actor Sushant Singh Rajput reportedly broke up after years of being together.

Although Ankita did not mention anything clearly in her post, it is possible that she is hinting at her heartbreak after parting ways with Sushant.

Looking back at what she referred to as the toughest chapter in her life, Ankita shared on her Instagram, "2016 ki yaadein...The toughest chapter of my life…A year that tested me, broke me quietly, and changed me forever..And today, I only feel grateful and proud of how far I have come from there to here..(sic)."

The 'Laughter Chefs' contestant further reminisced about some other memories from 10 years ago, like her first-ever Insta post.

"My first ever Instagram post..Realising I’ve always been a family girl.. then, now, forever…, " she added.

Ankita also thanked her late furry friend, Scotch, for always being by her side.

She shared, "Scotch my biggest support my strength, my dog, my constant, my home..Thanking him always for being there through every low, every tear, every silent breakdown.. I miss him dearly, my biggest happiness and the only one that year who kept me going.."

For the unaware, Ankita and Sushant first met on the sets of their popular show "Pavitra Rishta," where both played the lead. Soon, the two fell for each other and got into a relationship. They were together for a long time before going their separate ways.

On 14 June 2020, in a shocking update, Sushant was found dead in his Bandra house in Mumbai at the young age of 34.Going by the official postmortem report, he died of asphyxia due to hanging. Ankita Lokhande recalls the toughest chapter of her life that broke her completely | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → February 19, 2026