Prime Minister Narendra Modi Archives - Page 18 of 75 - Lokmarg

First Flight To Bring Back 230 People From Israel By Friday: MEA

By LokMarg 12th October 2023

A charter flight is expected to reach Israel’s capital city Tel Aviv by this evening and return to India with around 230 passengers on board by Friday morning, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said today.

“As announced by EAM yesterday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back. The first charter flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning,” the external affairs ministry spokesperson said while addressing a media briefing here today.

“We are keeping a close watch on the situation in Israel,” Bagchi said.

The MEA spokesperson also said that there were no Indian casualties so far.

“We haven’t heard of any casualty so far,” he said.

“Around 18,000 Indians are in Israel. There is conflict going on and it is a matter of concern. Indians advised to follow advisories issued by our mission,” Bagchi said.

“Operation Ajay” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel who wanted amidst the war between Hamas and Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday.

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance.

“A charter flight will reach Tel Aviv today later in the evening. It is expected to get 230 passengers onboard. We have all options, but the role of IAF (in evacuation) can’t be ruled out: the MEA spokesperson said on ‘Operation Ajay.’

Yesterday, the MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

Earlier today, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired a meeting to review preparations for “Operation Ajay”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to Israel when they had infiltrated various parts of South Israel last weekend.

In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, “Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization. Hamas is worse than ISIS.”

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7 has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media reports. The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostages who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

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IAF On Standby To Bring Back Indians From Israel

By LokMarg 12th October 2023

The Indian Air Force has kept its aircraft on standby in case there is a requirement to bring back Indian citizens from Israel amidst the war with Hamas, Indian Air Force officials said on Thursday.

According to the officials, the IAF transport aircraft fleet includes the C-17 and IL-76 heavy-lift transport planes along with the C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft which have been used in the past for such evacuation operations.

“Operation Ajay” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel amidst the war between Hamas and Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday.

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance.

“A charter flight will reach Tel Aviv today later in the evening. It is expected to get 230 passengers onboard. We have all options, but the role of IAF (in evacuation) can’t be ruled out,” the MEA spokesperson said on ‘Operation Ajay.’

Yesterday, the MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

Earlier today, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired a meeting to review preparations for “Operation Ajay”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to Israel when they had infiltrated various parts of South Israel last weekend.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7 has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media reports. The fate of an es-timated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostag-es who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

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Modi Will Not Become PM In 2024: Raut

By LokMarg 12th October 2023

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction leader Sanjay Raut has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not become PM again in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a Press Conference, Raut said “The INDIA Alliance has been formed especially for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and discussions related to 2024 elections take place in the alliance meeting. I say with certainty that the BJP government will not be formed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Modi ji will not be the Prime Minister in 2024, BJP government will not remain at the centre.”

“Congress is a big party in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. So Congress will decide whom to take along and whom not to take,” Sanjay Raut added.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Working President Supriya Sule on Wednesday stated that discussions regarding seat allocation within the INDIA alliance are in progress.

“The seat-sharing talks are underway for several states and it has not stopped. Every state has its own permutations and combinations. The work is going on,” Sule said while talking to reporters.

Earlier, the opposition parties, united under the banner of the INDIA on August 31-September 1, concluded their third meeting in Maharashtra and adopted resolutions to collectively contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections while announcing that seat-sharing arrangements would be finalized as soon as possible through a spirit of give-and-take.

After a two-day meeting of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance coalition four main committees were formed in which members of all the political parties were included.

INDIA alliance is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress and the parties have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by PM Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Elections will be held in the five crucial states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram between November 7 and 30, and the results will be declared on December 3. (ANI)

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Even If Rahul Contests In Rajasthan Polls, BJP Will Win: Rajyavardhan

By LokMarg 11th October 2023

After Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot claimed that the Bhartiya Janta Party had accepted defeat in the upcoming state polls, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore reacted sharply to Gehlot’s statement, saying that even if Congress brings Rahul Gandhi as a candidate in Rajasthan, the BJP will still win.

On Tuesday, the Rajasthan CM, while addressing a rally in Churu, asserted that PM Modi keeps visiting states again and again. After the election, will he come and open colleges here? Will he come and make roads here? What will PM Modi do?, he questioned.

He further said that the BJP is having difficulty deciding a face for there party in Rajasthan. They have given tickets to MPs, and I consider this their biggest failure. “This means they have accepted defeat”, CM Gehlot said.

Responding to Ashok Gehlot’s statement, Rathore said, “Why is Ashok Gehlot so afraid… The election is between the political parties, so let the Congress contest with their best team, and we (the BJP) will contest with our best team. We are not questioning who Congress is contesting the elections with; let them bring Rahul Gandhi as well, and we will still win double the seats.”

He further went on to say that BJP has a strategy of its own; PM Modi will go into Lok Sabha with fresh faces, and there are some fresh faces in Rajasthan as well who are influenced by the way PM Modi works and have learned from it.

“Our strategy is to go with people who have zero tolerance for corruption and who know how to make every single person benefit from the government schemes,” said Rathore.

Further responding to Congress party members’ comments that BJP released the candidate list during Pitru Paksha (Kanagat) even when the party believes in Sanatan Dharma, Rathore said, “This is being said by a party that calls Sanatan Dharma dengue and malaria. The INDIA alliance in a meeting had said to end the Sanatan dharma.”

“A party that collapsed Ram Darbar in Rajasthan, collapsed a 300-year-old Shiv Mandir, caused the death of multiple saints, promotes separatists, says if Ram Navmi is carried on then Section 144 will be imposed, says that permission will have to be taken from CM Ashok Gehlot if bhajans are to be played and on the other hand supports a particular community and supports the march of PFI which is a banned organization,” added Rathore.

He further said that the Congress party has lost all its confidence.

On some BJP members expressing their displeasure with the candidate list, Rathore said that any human would be disappointed if he has got ambitions of his own and they are not fulfilled but I completely believe that anyone who is influenced by the BJP ideology and keeps the nation as priority will pull themselves together.

“Maybe this is a strategy that at present a party worker who is being asked to be patient today, may get even a bigger opportunity in future, and there are multiple such examples within the party, and maybe it is a test by the party that if certain workers can be patient or do they want to prioritize themselves before the nation and the people, he added.

The BJP leader further said, “I am sure that it is evident to the people as well that BJP will be forming government in Rajasthan and development will be only possible when the people who are focused towards development are voted.”

Responding to Gehlot’s comment that BJP has no face for CM in Rajasthan, Rathore took a dig at the Rajasthan CM and said that should there be a face in Rajasthan that made the state rank number one in crime against women, a face that promotes separatists, a face which got multiple papers leaked or should there be a face that has received the blessings of the public since the last 20 years whether it be as a CM or PM for last 9.5 years because such a face is a guarantee of development.

For us, the face is PM Modi, as his face clarifies what he stands for, and we will make Rajasthan a complete part of PM Modi’s vision of Amritkaal, a state with zero tolerance for corruption, zero tolerance for terrorism and 100 per cent committment towards development. (ANI)

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Modi To Visit U’khand On Oct 12, Will Meet Army, ITBP, BRO Personnel

By LokMarg 10th October 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uttarakhand on October 12 where he will offer prayers at Jageshwar Dham, have a ‘darshan’ of Adi Kailash, meet soldiers at the India-China border and address a public meeting in Pithoragarh.

The Prime Minister will reach Jollingkong in Pithoragarh, where he will perform pooja and darshan at Parvati Kund. He will also seek blessings from the holy Adi-Kailash at this place. The area is known for its spiritual importance and natural beauty,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

Prime Minister will reach Gunji village, Pithoragarh district at around 9:30 AM, where he will interact with the local people, and visit an exhibition highlighting local art and products. He will also interact with personnel of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

At around 12 noon, the Prime Minister will reach Jageshwar, Almora district, where he will perform pooja and darshan at Jageshwar Dham. Located at a height of about 6200 feet, the Jageshwar Dham comprises about 224 stone temples, it stated.

After that, PM Modi will reach Pithoragarh at around 2:30 pm, where he will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 4200 crore in sectors like rural development, road, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health and disaster management, among others.

According to the PMO, the projects that will be inaugurated and dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister include 76 rural roads and 25 bridges built in rural areas under PMGSY; 15 buildings of BDO offices in 9 districts; upgradation of three roads built under central road fund viz Kausani Bageshwar road, Dhari-Dauba-Giricheena road and Nagala-Kiccha road; upgradation of two roads on National Highways viz Almora Petshal-Panuwanaula-Danya (NH 309B) and Tanakpur-Chalthi (NH 125).

Meanwhile, three projects related to Drinking water viz 38 Pumping drinking water schemes, 419 Gravity water supply schemes and three tube wells-based water supply schemes; Tharkot artificial lake in Pithoragarh; 132 KV Pithoragarh-Lohaghat (Champawat) Power Transmission Line; 39 bridges across Uttarakhand and Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) building in Dehradun built under the World Bank funded Uttrakhand Disaster Recovery Project.

The projects whose foundation stone will be laid include a scheme for the construction of 21,398 playhouses, which will help in increasing the production of flowers and vegetables and improving their quality; a scheme for the cultivation of high-density intensive apple orchards; five projects for NH road upgradation.

Multiple steps for disaster preparedness and resilience in the state viz construction of bridges, upgradation of State Emergency Operation Center in Dehradun, steps for prevention of landslide in Balianala, Nainital and improvement in other infrastructure related to fire, health and forest; development of hostels and computer labs in 20 model degree college across the state; 100 bedded sub-district hospital at Someshwar, Almora; 50 bedded Hospital block in Champawat; Astroturf Hockey Ground at Haldwani Stadium, Nainital; Velodrome Stadium at Rudrapur; Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission Scheme for infrastructure development in temples including Jageshwar Dham (Almora), Haat Kalika (Pithoragarh) and Naina Devi (Nainital) temples; projects for provisioning of drinking water in Haldwani; construction of 33/11 KV sub-station work Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar, the PMO said. (ANI)

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Modi Interacts With India’s Asian Games Contingent

By LokMarg 10th October 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with India’s Asian Games contingent, which achieved a record medal tally, and said they had created history.

Prime Minister said women athletes have performed very well and it shows the capability of the country’s daughters.

“I am proud that our ‘Nari Shakti’ performed very well in the Asian Games. It tells about the capability of the daughters of India,” PM Modi said in his remarks.

He said there is an atmosphere of celebration across the country due to the performance of the Indian contingent.

” You have created history…I welcome all of you (athletes) on behalf of 140 crore Indians. Because of your hard work and achievements, there is an atmosphere of celebration across the country. We never had a dearth of talent in our country but due to several obstacles, our athletes weren’t able to convert their talent into medals,” he said at the event held at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here.

India crossed the 100-medal mark for the first and won medals in several new disciplines.

India finished their Asian Games campaign at Hangzhou in China with a record haul of 107 medals – 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze.

Shooting, athletics and archery contributed significantly to India’s tally. The cricket and kabaddi teams bagged two gold medals each while the men’s hockey team’s gold secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Squash gave India five medals, including two gold.

India won three medals in badminton including a historic gold in men’s doubles. (ANI)

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India’s Stand Significant In Global War Against Terrorism: Israeli Diplomat

By LokMarg 7th October 2023

The Consulate General of Israel to Midwest India, Kobbi Shoshani said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stand over the recent rocket attack by Hamas on Israel is really significant in the global war against terrorism and called the attack “unacceptable”.

“The stand of the Indian Government today is of significant importance in the global war against terrorism. Prime Minister Modi is a global leader and is very important to us as a state, as a friend, and as a brother. The situation of attacking the sovereignty of the state of Israel is not acceptable,” said Shoshani.

Earlier expressing solidarity with Israel over the rocket strikes launched by Hamas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that India’s thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families.

“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,” PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Mentioning the prevailing tensions between Hamas and Israel, Israel’s Consulate General reiterated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address after the attack that his “country is at war”.

He added, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it very clear that we are at war. We are at war against a terror organization that started 6:30 in the morning, against war against the State of Israel, in such a brutal way against innocent people. We are at war. We will act as if we are in a wall.”

Shoshani also condemned the attack which claimed the loss of infrastructure, and the lives of several people, adding that Israel would retaliate very strongly against the “unacceptable” move.

Shoshani said, “There is damage to the infrastructure and there is damage to buildings. But, the most important thing is the loss of human life. Dozens of innocent people have been killed. It’s the last day of the Israeli holiday. That was something unacceptable. We will retaliate in a very, very severe way because the state of Israel and the Israeli spirit cannot do something else.”

He added, “Hamas declared the war and Hamas will pay the price.”

Mentioning the support, he got from the people of India, Shoshani asserted that Israel is really strong to act against the attack and added that “We don’t need the help, but we need your support”.

He said further, “We need your support and understanding that today something happened, a declaration of war against the State of Israel. It’s something that we need support. The good people and the good states in the world and India is among them and this is very, very important for us.”

This comes after a barrage of rockets slammed into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning after Hamas launched a surprise attack.

Following the attack, red alert warning sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, located around 70 kilometres from the Gaza Strip, as well as, Sde Boker, Arad, and Dimona in the south.

In his first reaction after Hamas launched a “surprise attack”, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said Israel “was at war” and has ordered mobilization of reserves to give it back with the magnitude the enemy has not expected, asserting that they will “win it”.

In a video statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Netanyahu stated, “We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out.”

Netanyahu has ordered the mobilization of reserves. He called on people of Israel to adhere to the directives of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Home Front Command.

“At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war and we will win it,” Netanyahu said. (ANI)

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We Stand In Solidarity With Israel: Modi

By LokMarg 7th October 2023

Expressing solidarity with Israel over the rocket strikes launched by Hamas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that India’s thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families.

This comes after a barrage of rockets slammed into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning after Hamas launched a surprise attack.

Naor Gilon, Israel’s Ambassador to India said that the “situation is not normal” but “Israel will prevail”.

“Thank you@PMOIndia. India’s moral support is much appreciated. Israel will prevail,” Israel envoy posted on X.

According to the latest developments, at least 22 people have been killed in the attack and over 300 people are wounded, with over 70 being seriously injured, The Times of Israel reported.

Following the attacks, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols.

“In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant, and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters. For additional information, please see the Israeli Home Front Command website (https://www.oref.org.il/en or their preparedness brochure. In case of an emergency, please contact us at +97235226748, or leave a message a cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in. The Embassy personnel remain at your disposal for any further guidance,” the advisory read.

Naor Gilon, Israel’s Ambassador to India, appreciated the support of the people of India, adding “We stand firm in the face of terrorism.”

Hamas has also claimed to have kidnapped five IDF soldiers, however, IDF has not yet spoken on the report, according to The Times of Israel

Israel has already declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas fighters and missile attacks from Gaza.

The Israel Defence Forces launched Operation ‘Iron Swords’ in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, the Times of Israel reported. IDF is striking Hamas targets in Gaza.

The Israeli military is fighting Hamas terrorists in different locations in Southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip, including the towns of Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be’eri and the Re’im military base, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

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Modi Reviews Progress Of Announcements Made In His Red Fort Speech

By LokMarg 7th October 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held an important meeting to review the progress of announcements made by him in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort.

In his speech, PM Modi had mentioned ensuring affordable credit for poor and middle-class housing. In line with this announcement, the Prime Minister reviewed the preparations to implement this announcement.

Also in his speech, the Prime Minister mentioned ensuring solar power for households and the meeting reviewed preparations to execute the scheme.

The Prime Minister had announced on August 15 that the government is coming up with a new scheme that will benefit families living in rented houses in the cities.

“The weaker sections who live in the cities face a lot of problems. Middle-class families are dreaming of buying their own houses. We are coming up with a new scheme in the coming years that will benefit those families that live in cities but are living in rented houses, or slums, or chawls and unauthorized colonies. If they want to build their own houses, we will assist them with relief in interest rates and loans from banks that will help them save lakhs of rupees,” he said.

“If the income tax bracket for my middle-class families is raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, it benefits the salaried class, the middle class the most. Internet data was very expensive before 2014. Now we have the world’s cheapest internet data. Every family’s money is being saved,” he added.

The Prime Minister also spoke of India’s growing capabilities.

“During the coronavirus period, the world has seen our capabilities in the way India has propelled the country forward. When the world’s supply chains were disrupted, when there was pressure on big economies, even at that time, we had said that we have to see the development of the world. It should be human centric and humane; that is when we will be able to find the right solutions to the problems. And Covid has taught us or has forced us to realize that we cannot do the welfare of the world by leaving human sensibilities,” he said.

The Prime Minister had said that India’s prosperity and heritage are turning into opportunities for the world today. .

“Today India is becoming the voice of the Global South. With India’s participation in the global economy and the global supply chain and with the place that India has earned for itself, I can say with full confidence that the current scenario in India today has brought a guarantee of stability in the world. There are no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ now in our minds, or in the minds of my 140 crore family members, or in the mind of the world. There is complete trust,” he said. (ANI)

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Modi Hails India’s Asian Games Contingent As Medal Tally Hits 100

By LokMarg 7th October 2023

As India raced past its target of aggregating 100 medals in the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the Indian contingent on the “momentous achievement”.

Taking to his official handle on X, PM Modi congratulated and conveyed his best wishes to the Indian athletes for their stellar performances in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

With the Indian women clinching gold in the kabaddi final on Saturday, defeating Chinese Taipei, the country realised its quest for 100-plus medals in the multi-sport event.

PM Modi informed through his post that he will be hosting the Indian contingent in the Asian Games on October 10, adding that he will personally interact with athletes, who lit up the Hangzhou Games with dazzling individual and team performances to help the country reach the 100-medal mark in the 19th Asian Games.

“A momentous achievement for India at the Asian Games! The people of India are thrilled that we have reached a remarkable milestone of 100 medals. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our phenomenal athletes whose efforts have led to this historic milestone for India. Every awe-inspiring performance has made history and filled our hearts with pride. I look forward to hosting our Asian Games contingent on the 10th and interacting with our athletes,” PM Modi posted on X.

The women’s kabaddi team took a 14-9 lead against Chinese Taipei in the gold medal match at the Asian Games 2023 and kept their noses in front in the contest to eventually claim the yellow metal.

The two teams had played out a 34-34 tie in their campaign opener. The Indian raiders scored bonus points in the first half while Chinese Taipei took the lead in the second, scoring 16 points. The Indians trailed in the second half at 12 points.

However, Indian raiders scored two bonus bonus points in the second half to turn the tide in their favour.

Largely on the weight of their stellar performance in the first half, the Indian women clinched a 26-25 win over Chinese Taipei, claiming India’s 25th gold and taking the country’s medal tally to exactly 100. (ANI)

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