1. Tasnim Mir and Tharun Mannepalli Win Titles at Saint-Denis Reunion Open 2024
Tags: Sports
Indian badminton players Tasnim Mir and Tharun Mannepalli won the women's and men's singles titles, respectively, at the Saint-Denis Reunion Open 2024.
An Overview of the News
The Saint-Denis Reunion Open 2024 (3rd Edition) was held from 3rd to 7th July 2024.
The tournament took place in Saint-Denis, Réunion Island, which is a French department in the Indian Ocean.
The 3rd edition of the Saint-Denis Reunion Open featured a total prize pool of USD 25,000.
Tasnim Mir:
Secured her 3rd International Challenge title.
Won Iran Fajr International and India Chhattisgarh International in 2022.
First Indian to achieve world no. 1 in under-19 girls' singles BWF junior rankings in 2022.
Current world ranking: 63 in Women's Singles.
Tharun Mannepalli:
Secured his second international title in 2024.
Won Kazakhstan International Challenge in April 2024.
Current world ranking: 99 in Men's Singles.
Badminton Tournament Results
Men's Singles
Winner: Tharun Mannepalli (India)
Runner-Up: Yudai Okimoto (Japan)
Women's Singles
Winner: Tasnim Mir (India)
Runner-Up: Rakshitha Sree (India)
Men's Doubles
Winners: Julien Maio and William Villeger (France)
Runners-Up: Prakash Raj and Gouse Shaik (India)
Women's Doubles
Winners: Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe (Japan)
Runners-Up: Julia Meyer and Leona Michalaski (Germany)
Mixed Doubles
Winners: Julien Maio and Lea Palermo (France)
Runners-Up: William Villeger and Flavie Vallet (France)
About the Tournament:
Event: 3rd BWF Saint-Denis Reunion Open 2024
Level: Grade 3 international badminton tournament
Prize Pool: USD 25,000
Tour: Part of the Badminton Confederation Africa tour of the BWF
Organization: Managed at the continental level by member national associations
Location: Gymnase Champ Fleuri, Saint-Denis
Significance: Unique setting for international badminton in the Western Indian Ocean region
2. Wang Zhi Yi Clinches Malaysia Masters Title, P.V. Sindhu Settles for Runner-Up
Tags: Sports
Two-time Olympic gold medallist and world No. 15 in women's singles badminton, PV Sindhu was the runner-up in the women's singles category at the Malaysia Masters 2024.
An Overview of the News
She lost the final match to Wang Zhi Yi of China, who is ranked world number 7, at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Malaysia Masters 2024.
The tournament took place from May 21st to May 26th, 2024, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In the Men's Singles category, world number 1 Viktor Axelsen clinched the title, marking his first World Tour victory of 2024. Axelsen defeated Malaysian badminton player Lee Zii Jia in the final match.
The total prize money allocated for the Malaysia Masters 2024 BWF Super 500 badminton tournament amounted to USD 420,000.
About P.V. Sindhu
She claimed victories at the Singapore Open and Commonwealth Games (held in Birmingham) in 2022.
She secured the women's singles title twice before, in 2013 and 2016, distinguishing herself while Saina Nehwal took the title in 2017.
Additionally, she achieved the runner-up position at the Madrid Spain Masters in 2023.
Malaysia Masters 2024 Winners and Runners-up List:
Category | Men's Singles | Women's Singles | Men's Doubles | Women's Doubles | Mixed Doubles |
Winner | Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) | Wang Zhi Yi (China) | Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Denmark) | Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi (Japan) | Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai (Malaysia) |
Runner-up | Lee Zii Jia (Malaysia) | P. V. Sindhu (India) | Jin Yong and Na Sung-seung (South Korea) | Lee Yu-lim and Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (Indonesia) |
Malaysia Masters 2024 Highlights
Viktor Axelsen clinched his second Malaysia Masters men's singles title, marking his 29th overall victory on the World Tour.
Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen emerged victorious in the men's doubles, defeating South Korea's Jin Yong and Na Sung-seung.
Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan secured the women's doubles title by defeating South Korea's Lee Yu-lim and Shin Seung-chan.
Malaysia's Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai claimed the mixed doubles championship by defeating Indonesia's Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari.
Malaysia Masters 2024:
The 2024 Malaysia Masters was the 13th tournament on the BWF World Tour 2024.
Commencing in 2009, the event was initially categorized as a Grand Prix Gold tournament by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Since 2018, it has been classified as a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
About BWF:
President: Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen
Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3. Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Clinch Thailand Open 2024 Men's Doubles Title
Tags: Sports
Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy secured victory in the Thailand Open 2024 badminton men’s doubles final.
An Overview of the News
The match was held at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok.
They defeated their Chinese opponents Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi with a scoreline of 21-15, 21-15 in a 46-minute match.
Tournament Performance:
This win marked Chirag and Satwik's second title of the 2024 badminton season and their second Thailand Open title.
Previously, they lost in the finals of the Malaysia Open and India Open but claimed victory in the French Open in March.
Thailand Open holds significance for them as they won their first Super 500 title here in 2019.
The 2024 Thailand Open final was their fifth appearance in a BWF Super 500 summit clash, all of which they won.
Ranking and Points:
With 9200 ranking points from the tournament, Chirag and Satwik are expected to regain the world No. 1 rank next week.
Overall Achievement:
This victory marks their eighth title on the BWF World Tour.
In the previous year, they won titles at the Swiss Open, Indonesia Open, and Korea Open.
4. Indonesia's Christie and China's Wang Zhi Yi Triumph at Badminton Asia Championships 2024
Tags: Sports
Jonatan Christie, representing Indonesia, secured the gold medal in the men's singles category by defeating Li Shi Feng from China.
An Overview of the News
This victory marks Christie's consecutive second men's singles title.
Previously, in March 2024, he claimed his first All England Open Badminton Championships title by defeating Anthony Ginting, another Indonesian shuttler.
Women's Singles Champion: Wang Zhi Yi (China)
Wang Zhi Yi, ranked 9th globally, clinched the women's singles title at the championship by defeating her compatriot and Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei.
This win is her second title of the year and her first triumph over Yu Fei.
Earlier in January 2024, she won the Indonesia Masters Super 500 title.
China's Success at the Championship
China emerged as the most successful nation at the Badminton Asia Championships 2024, securing three gold and two silver medals.
About Badminton Asia Championship :
Organized by Badminton Asia to recognize top Asian badminton players.
Governed by Badminton Asia, which operates under the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Originally named the "Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships," organized by the Chinese Badminton Association with Badminton Asia's authorization.
Started in 1962, held annually since 1991.
The 41st edition was hosted at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Ningbo, China, from April 9 to April 14, 2024.
5. India's Ayush Shetty wins bronze medal at BWF World Junior Championships 2023
Tags: Sports
India's Ayush Shetty won a bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Championships held in Spokane, USA.
An Overview of the News
The 23rd edition of the BWF World Junior Championships was held from September 25 to October 8, 2023, in Spokane, United States of America (USA).
Indonesia's Alvi Farhan won the BWF World Junior Championships gold medal.
Ayush Shetty won the bronze medal in the competition, losing to Alvi Farhan.
Another semi-finalist, France's Alex Lanier, also won a bronze medal.
India has won 11 medals at the BWF World Junior Championships since 1992, including 1 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze medals.
Saina Nehwal's gold medal win in 2008 remains India's best achievement at the BWF World Junior Championships, and she also earned a silver medal in 2006. At the 2022 Championships in Spain, India's Shankar Muthusamy Subramanian won the silver medal.
BWF World Junior Championships:
The World Junior Badminton Championships, also known as the World Junior Badminton Championships, is an event organized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to determine the top junior badminton players worldwide.
This championship consists of two separate competitions: first, the mixed team championship known as the Suhandinata Cup, and later, the individual championship, known as the I Level Cup.
The predecessor of this prestigious competition was the Bimantara World Junior Invitational, which took place in Indonesia from 1987 to 1991.
In 1992, the International Badminton Federation, the former name of the Badminton World Federation, held the inaugural IBF World Junior Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In a significant development, the BWF decided to change the championship from a biennial event to an annual event, starting from the 2007 edition.
6. HS Prannoy won a bronze medal in men's singles at the BWF World Badminton Championships 2023
Tags: Sports News
Indian badminton player HS Prannoy won the bronze medal in the men's singles category at the BWF World Badminton Championships 2023.
An Overview of the News
HS Prannoy achieved the feat by winning his semi-final match against Thailand's Kunlavut Witidsarn in Copenhagen, Denmark.
World number nine HS Prannoy lost the match to world number three Kunlavut Witidsarn by 21-18, 13-21, 14-21.
The match lasted for one hour and 16 minutes at the Royal Arena.
HS Prannoy became the fifth Indian men's singles player to win a medal at the BWF World Badminton Championships.
Kidambi Srikanth is the only Indian to reach the men's singles final (in 2021) of the same event.
The 28th edition of BWF World Badminton Championships 2023, sponsored by TotalEnergies, was held at Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark from 21st to 27th August.
Copenhagen has been chosen as the host for the BWF World Championships for the fifth time.
About BWF World Championships
It was formerly known as the IBF World Championships and is also known as the World Badminton Championships.
It is a prestigious badminton tournament officially sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The inaugural tournament took place in 1977 and followed a triennial (once every three years) schedule until 1983.
The early years faced challenges as the World Badminton Federation (later merged with the IBF to form the Unified Badminton Federation) organized a similar tournament a year after the IBF World Championships, sharing similar objectives.
From 1985 onwards, the championship adopted a biennial pattern, taking place every two years until 2005.
From 2006 onwards, the tournament turned into an annual event on the BWF calendar.
7. RBI slaps ₹2,000 crore fine on major Indian PSUs for delayed reporting of overseas investments
Tags: National News
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on four major Indian public sector undertakings for delayed reporting of their overseas investments.
An Overview of the News
The companies that have been fined by RBI include ONGC Videsh Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, GAIL (India) Limited and Oil India Limited and the total amount of fine imposed by RBI is ₹2,000 crore.
Delayed reporting of overseas investments has led to restrictive measures by RBI, affecting further remittances and transfers till discrepancies are resolved.
One of the regulatory measures taken by RBI is to stop outward remittances. Authorised Dealer banks have been instructed not to facilitate any outward remittances or financial commitments by persons resident in India to foreign entities till the reporting issues are regularised.
Penalties for late submission have been imposed retrospectively, covering a significant number of overseas direct investment (ODI) remittances processed since 2000. The companies involved, including SBI, have reported all ODIs on the basis of documents provided by the remittance companies.
In an effort to prevent operational disruptions and comply with RBI regulations, the affected companies have sought an extension from the central bank. They aim to resolve late deposit charges with SBI ODI (Overseas Direct Investment) cell.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
The Reserve Bank of India was established under the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934. It started functioning from 1st April 1935
It was nationalised in 1949 and now the Government of India owns the RBI.
It has the power to regulate banks under the Banking Regulation Act 1949.
It has the power to regulate Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under the RBI Act 1934.
RBI is also the regulator of digital payment systems under the Payment and Settlement Act 2007.
Headquarters: Mumbai
Governor: Shaktikanta Das
8. SpaceX launches 'Jupiter 3', world's largest private communication satellite
Tags: Science and Technology International News
On July 27, 2023, SpaceX launched the world's largest private communications satellite 'Jupiter 3' using a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex-39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
An Overview of the News
The 'Jupiter 3' satellite, developed by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, holds the record as the largest commercial communications satellite ever built.
This upcoming launch marks the seventh mission of SpaceX's triple-booster rocket, the Falcon Heavy, which first attracted widespread attention during its debut in 2018.
About 'Jupiter 3'
Its size would be comparable to the wingspan of a commercial airliner, measuring between 130 and 160 feet (40 to 50 m). Its larger size will enable it to double current internet capacity to 500 Gbps, significantly improving connectivity in areas with limited cable and fibre options.
Hughes will integrate the 'Jupiter 3' into its existing satellite network, allowing HughesNet customers in the United States and Latin America to access high-speed satellite broadband at speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
The capabilities of satellites extend far beyond regular Internet access. It will support in-flight Wi-Fi, ensuring connectivity for passengers during air travel. It will also provide maritime connectivity, allowing internet access for ships at sea.
'Jupiter 3' will play a key role in enhancing enterprise networks, meeting the connectivity needs of businesses across North and South America.
Additionally, the satellite will serve as a reliable backhaul solution for mobile network operators (MNOs), ensuring smoother and more efficient data transmission within the region's mobile networks.
One of its essential applications is providing community Wi-Fi solutions, which help bridge the digital divide and extend Internet access to disadvantaged areas in North and South America.
About NASA
NASA was formed on July 19, 1948, under the National Aeronautics and Space Act, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarters - Washington D.C.
Administrator - Bill Nelson
9. Satwik-Chirag clinch their fourth title of the year with thrilling win at Korea Open
Tags: Sports News
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their fourth men's doubles title of the year by winning the Korea Open badminton tournament.
An Overview of the News
In a thrilling final of the Super 500 event, the Indian pair, ranked third in the world, defeated Indonesia's top-ranked pair, Fajar Alfiyan and Muhammad Riyan Ardiento, who are two-time World Championships bronze medallists.
The match lasted 62 minutes and India came back from 17-21 down in the first set to win 21-13, 21-14.
The win marked his first victory in a BWF World Tour Super 500 event, showcasing his exceptional performance in the tournament.
List of titles achieved by Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in 2023:
Date | Tournament | Level | Location |
21 to 26 March 2023 | Swiss Open | BWF World Tour Super 300 | Basel, Switzerland |
25 to 30 April 2023 | Asia Championships | Equivalent to BWF World Tour Super 1000 | Dubai, UAE |
13 to 18 June 2023 | Indonesia Open | BWF World Tour Super 1000 | Jakarta, Indonesia |
18 to 23 July 2023 | Korea Open | BWF World Tour Super 500 | Yeosu, South Korea |
10. NITI Aayog released 'Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022' report
The ITI Commission released the 3rd edition of 'Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022' for the States/UTs of India.
An Overview of the News
The report was released by Vice President Suman Berry and other officials.
It aims to promote India as a global export player by leveraging regional competitiveness and diversity.
The focus is on export performance both at the state and district levels.
Objectives of EPI 2022
Empowering state governments with sector-specific insights for decision making.
Identify strengths and address weaknesses to promote comprehensive development.
To promote competitive federalism among the States/UTs.
Four Pillars of EPI 2022
Policy pillar: Evaluates the adoption of the export-related policy ecosystem and institutional framework at the state and district levels.
Business Ecosystem: Assesses the business environment, supporting infrastructure and transport connectivity in the States/UTs.
Export ecosystem: Focuses on export-related infrastructure, business support and research and development (R&D) to foster innovation.
Export Performance: Measures the growth, concentration and global market footprint of a state's exports.
Ten sub-pillars - Export Promotion Policy, Institutional Framework, Business Environment, Infrastructure, Transport, Connectivity, Export Infrastructure, Trade Support, R&D Infrastructure, Export Diversification, and Growth Orientation
Top Performing States/UTs
Coastal states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat performed well in all categories.
EPI 2022 Rankings
Rank | State | Category | Score |
1 | Tamil Nadu | Coastal | 80.89 |
2 | Maharashtra | Coastal | 78.20 |
3 | Karnataka | Coastal | 76.36 |
4 | Gujarat | Coastal | 73.22 |
5 | Haryana | Landlocked | 63.65 |
6 | Telangana | Landlocked | 61.36 |
7 | Uttar Pradesh | Landlocked | 61.23 |
8 | Andhra Pradesh | Coastal | 59.27 |
9 | Uttarakhand | Himalayan | 59.13 |
10 | Punjab | Landlocked | 58.95 |