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Indian Fed Cup team delivers Women's Day 'gift'

THE Indian women's tennis team created history on Saturday (7) by progressing to the Fed Cup World Group play-offs for the first time ever, with Ankita Raina leading the side to a 2-1 win over Indonesia at the Asia-Oceania Group 1 tournament held in Dubai.

Ankita pulled off a crucial singles win against talented Aldila Sutjiadi to lock the tie 1-1, after Rutuja Bhosale was beaten by Priska Madelyn Nugroho, ranked 15th on the ITF junior circuit.


Ankita, who lost her previous two singles, demolished Sutjiadi's challenge 6-3 6-3.

She then combined with seasoned Sania Mirza to beat Sutziyadi and Nugroho 7-6(4) 6-0 to seal India's place in the play-offs in April, when they will take on either Latvia or the Netherlands.

The duo overcame a sluggish start as they were trailing 1-4, but regrouped to dominate the decisive set.

India finished second in the six-team group with four wins in a row, after losing the opening tie to China, which remained unbeaten in the tournament.

Since earning their place back in Asia-Oceania Group I in 2016, India has remained in the regional group.

With the rise of Ankita, things began to improve.

“I had dreamt of this and believed but after the tie I couldn’t actually believe, I asked Rutuja twice if we actually qualified [for the World Group],” Ankita toId PTI from Dubai.

“I would say it’s a gift for all the Indian women from Team India on Women’s Day.

“It’s just great to be a part of something so special that’ll be recorded in history and it’s an honour to have a chance to do with Sania, especially after her pregnancy.”

Sania's return to Fed Cup after four years also helped, as her inspirational presence and guidance helped the side immensely.

Rutuja also played a key role as she provided winning starts in a few ties, sharing the burden with Ankita.

“It is such an honour to play for the country. And for me it really means so much because I am coming off an injury and have struggled with it so much last year which restricted me to play good tennis," she said.

“It is a very good exposure for me as it will help me in the rest of the tour.”

India's non-playing captain Vishal Uppal is delighted with the result.

"It's a historic moment and to be part of it feels surreal. I am proud of each and every member of our team -- the players, physio, coach, manager. We all came together and worked towards a common goal," said Uppal.

"The key was to do the fundamentals well and keep it simple on court. As a team everyone stepped up one day or the other which is very important. I hope this win will give a big boost to women's tennis in India."

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Saif Ali Khan’s first interview since home invasion: What he revealed amid controversy & conspiracy theories

Saif Ali Khan opens up about the harrowing night he fought off an armed intruder in his Mumbai home

Saif Ali Khan’s first interview since home invasion: What he revealed amid controversy & conspiracy theories

In a shocking turn of events, Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan found himself in a real-life thriller when an armed intruder broke into his Mumbai residence in the dead of night. What was supposed to be just another peaceful evening in the Khan household turned into a night of horror, leaving Saif with multiple injuries and raising serious questions about celebrity security in India.

It all began when Saif, in his kurta-pyjama, heard unusual noises near his son Jeh’s room. What followed was a violent struggle with an intruder armed with two knives. “I didn’t realise it was a knife at first,” Saif recalled. “There was too much adrenaline. He was slashing at my neck, and I was blocking it with my hands. My palms, wrists, and arms were cut, but I didn’t feel the pain immediately.”

Speaking to Times of India, the actor shared how his quick reflexes and the sharp presence of mind of his househelp, Geeta, saved the day. “I was praying someone would get him off me,” Saif admitted. “Geeta was incredible. She shoved him away, and we managed to close the door.”

Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan sprang into action, ensuring their children, Taimur and Jeh, were safe. “Kareena was shouting, ‘Take the kid out!’” Saif shared. “She got Jeh out of harm’s way while I was still grappling with the intruder.”

What makes this story even more astonishing is the extent of Saif’s injuries. A knife had penetrated his back, nicking his spinal cord and causing spinal fluid to leak. “The doctors said it was a millimetre away from paralysis,” Saif revealed. “It’s a miracle I can walk.”

Despite the severity of his wounds, Saif remained remarkably composed. “I told Kareena, ‘I’m fine. I’m not going to die.’ Taimur asked me the same thing, and I reassured him too,” he said. The family’s decision to take an autorickshaw to the hospital made the situation feel all the more unreal. “The rickshaw driver saw the blood but stayed calm. He even took shortcuts to avoid bumps,” Saif recalled with a laugh.

While the physical scars are healing, the emotional impact lingers. Saif’s children have reacted in their own ways. “Jeh gave me a plastic sword and said, ‘Keep this by your bed for the next time the chor comes,’” Saif shared with a chuckle. Taimur, ever the composed one, has shown concern about security but remains unfazed.

As for the intruder, Saif harbours no hatred. “Taimur said he should be forgiven because he might have been hungry,” Saif said. “I understand desperation, but he crossed a line when he tried to kill me.”

Saif’s ordeal has sparked debates about celebrity security and urban safety. Yet, the actor remains unfazed. “I don’t believe in walking around with bodyguards. This wasn’t a targeted attack; it was a burglary gone wrong,” he insisted.

“It’s brought us closer as a family,” he admitted. “Kareena has been incredibly strong, and the kids have shown maturity beyond their years.”

This horrifying incident is more than just a celebrity scare rather, it’s a wake-up call. If someone as high-profile as Saif Ali Khan can be targeted in his own home, what does that say about the safety of the common citizen? The conversation around home security, particularly for public figures, is one that can no longer be ignored.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s this: never underestimate a man in a kurta-pyjama. Especially if his name is Saif Ali Khan!

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A recent leak has stirred up mixed reactions among Squid Game fans, revealing a possible episode count for the highly anticipated third season. While excitement for the final chapter of the hit series is palpable, disappointment is brewing over reports that the concluding season may only have six episodes.

According to a recent post on the fan forum Instiz, Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3 were filmed back-to-back, with a combined total of 13 episodes. Since Season 2, released in December 2024, consisted of seven episodes, this leaves Season 3 with just six episodes to wrap up the intricate storyline. Fans are worried that such a limited number of episodes might not do justice to the narrative, especially considering the complexity of the plot and characters. Some fans are hopeful that Netflix or director Hwang Dong Hyuk might announce additional episodes, but so far, no official confirmation has been given.

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On Monday morning, lawyers Ashish Rai and Pankaj Mishra filed a formal complaint with the Mumbai Police, alleging that the remarks were obscene and offensive. Authorities soon visited the Khar-based Habitat building, where the show was recorded, to investigate the incident. Deputy Commissioner of Police Dikshit Gedam confirmed that an enquiry is underway, though no FIR has been registered yet.

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