Secure 52-run win against South Africa to bag maiden women’s cricket WC title

Finally, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur can bid adieu to international cricket with an ICC World Cup Trophy, as India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to win their maiden title at DY Patil Stadium here.

The Proteas fought hard, but not hard enough to alter the course of India’s historic win. With 298 runs on the board, the trophy seemed to be slipping away from India at one stage. The 11-member South African team tried to silence the crowd of 45,000 during their chase, but the roar only grew louder as India sealed the victory.

Despite early setbacks, South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt carried her team’s hopes with a brilliant 101 off 98 balls, but found no support as their innings folded at 246.

India’s triumph, their first-ever World Cup title, felt nothing short of divine. To make it happen, destiny chose 21-year-old Shafali Verma from Haryana as she herself had said before joining the squad for the tournament’s final leg. Replacing injured Partika Rawal and returning to the ODI side after a year, Shafali made her World Cup debut against Australia and turned out to be India’s saviour in the final.

Spectacular win

A spectacular win by the Indian team. Showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. This historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports. Narendra Modi, PM

She emerged as the star of the evening, blasting 87 off 78 balls for a blazing start and later picking up two crucial wickets that rattled South Africa’s middle order. Her knock made her India’s highest-ever scorer in a World Cup final. The youngest player to represent India in all three formats, Shafali truly lived up to her promise.

straight out of Haryana’s domestic circuit, she had said before the tournament, “God has sent me for something good.” That “good” arrived tonight. Dropped on 76 by Anneke Bosch at deep midwicket, she punished the Proteas bowlers mercilessly thereafter. The lifeline given to her proved costly for the opponents as Shafali went after every bowler. A cramp in her left calf, however, broke her rhythm, and she was eventually caught by Sune Luus off Ayabonga Khaka. With her departure, the team’s run-rate also dropped, though Deepti Sharma (58) ensured a total of 298.

Chasing what seemed a manageable target considering the score posted in the last three matches, South Africa stayed in contention early on. But a fine Indian fielding changed the course. Tazmin Brits (23) was run out by Amanjot Kaur, opening the floodgates. While Laura played her best part, none of her teammates was able to support her in the chase. After Shafali’s twin strikes, Indian spinners tightened their grip, choking the South African innings. When skipper Harmanpreet Kaur caught Nadine de Klerk, it was all over. A new era began, with India crowned the new world champions of women’s cricket.

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Military units of 1965 war Maha Vir Chakra recipients to be felicitated at Literature Festival

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Units that included Punjab-based Armed Forces personnel decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra for gallantry during the 1965 India-Pakistan War will be felicitated by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The ceremony will take place at the ninth edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) scheduled to be held from November 7 to 9.

The Commanding Officers of 11 Army and Air Force units, along with their senior JCO, are expected to attend the event.

The family of Chaman Lal, a railway firefighter who was awarded the Ashoka Chakra during the war for battling a blaze that had engulfed an ammunition and petroleum train, will also be felicitated.

The Governor, who will inaugurate the festival, will also honour the veterans from Punjab who had participated in the 1965 war, the diamond jubilee of which is being commemorated this year, or their surviving kin.

Chairperson of the MLF Association, Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd), said that the theme of the event this year is “Heartland and Rimland Powers in Multi-domain Warfare and India”.

He further said that the western, southern and eastern edges of Eurasia have been categorised as Rimland, with central and northern areas being the heartland and this entire region has immense geo-strategic significance.

This year’s discussions will focus on contemporary national and international issues such as the conduct of Operation Sindoor and employment of air power in multi-domain warfare, multi-domain threats from Pakistan and China, challenges in the maritime domain, role of energy in the changing geopolitical scenario and changing dynamics in Af-Pak region and Iran.

Chief of Defence Staff to deliver keynote address

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, will deliver a keynote address on the concluding day. A British delegation will discuss the shared heritage between the militaries of India and Britain

Homage to martyrs, a bravehearts motorcycle rally, weapons and equipment display, exhibition of military paintings and stamps, screening documentaries, horse show and dog show are other events being organised.

Notably, the two 1965 war recipients of the highest gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra, Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore and Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid belonged to Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, respectively.

he Military-Civil Fusion Capsule (MCFC), an initiative by Indian Army at fostering synergy between armed forces, civil administration, BSF, police, CRPF, intelligence agencies among others, concluded on Wednesday.

The capsule was spread over 15 days wherein a series of structured engagements, including exchange of ideas and brain-storming sessions, familiarisation and cross-establishment visits, were undertaken.

Army spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said, “It was inaugurated on October 15 and witnessed wide participation from all the stakeholders with the objective of institutionalising coordination from operational to grassroots levels. The initiative was to know each other’s strengths, challenges and collaboration towards achieving seamless integration and coordination. Cross-establishment visits were undertaken to Army units, IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu, the Divisional Commissioner’s Office, Jammu Zone Police Headquarters and border outposts, encouraging first-hand experience and focusing on operational integration.

He said that specialised sessions during the capsule included deliberations on Perception Management and Information Operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), synthesis of intelligence inputs and joint police – Army coordination mechanisms.

An Agniveer jawan was injured after his service rifle accidentally went off following a practice session in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, officials said.

The incident took place in forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) after a firing practice in the district, they said.

The rifle went off while he was cleaning it, resulting in an accidental shot that hit his toe. He was given treatment at a nearby hospital, the officials added.

MoD/ Armed Forces
Extract

5. The Indian Army is increasing the number of Short Service Commission (SSC) officers to balance the ratio between SSC and Permanent Commission (PC) officers. Consequently, PC vacancies at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) have been reduced, while the number of officer cadets at the Officers Training Academies (OTA) in Gaya and Chennai has nearly doubled, with plans to reach 700–750. The A.V. Singh Committee (2004) had recommended a 4:1 ratio to improve promotion opportunities and balance the Army’s hierarchical pyramid structure_NBT.

The Kapurthala police, in coordination with central intelligence agencies, have dismantled an espionage network allegedly involved in leaking sensitive Army information to Pakistan.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kapurthala Gaurav Toora while confirming it said here today that three persons have been arrested for secretly photographing Army Cantonment areas and sharing classified military details across the border in exchange for money.

The accused were identified as Raja, a resident of Muskvad in Kapurthala, Jaskaran, a resident of Dharamkot Moga, and Gurnam Singh of Ferozepur.

The SSP said the operation began after Kapurthala police received credible intelligence that Raja, who was employed privately as a sweeper inside the Kapurthala Army cantonment, was establishing covert communication with Pakistani handlers.

Using his mobile phone, he allegedly clicked photographs of restricted Army installations and passed on sensitive information, including details linked to strategic military plans.

The information was shared with central intelligence agencies, following which a joint operation was launched. An FIR was registered at Kotwali police station, Kapurthala, on October 28 under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Raja was arrested the same day and taken into custody for interrogation.

During preliminary questioning, Raja confessed to sending secret photographs and classified information to Pakistan. He further disclosed that he was working on the directions of Jaskaran Singh, who facilitated the transfer of sensitive data in exchange for cash.

Jaskaran was named in the FIR and arrested on October 29. During interrogation, Jaskaran admitted that he had travelled to Ferozepur where he met Gurnam Singh.

Gurnam was also named in the case and arrested on October 30 from district courts, Ferozepur. Six mobile phones and digital devices have been seized from the accused and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.

Police records also indicate that Jaskaran and Gurnam had previous criminal cases registered against them in different districts.

Indian Air Force (IAF) has accepted the request of the Punjab Government to display MiG-21 fighter jets at five schools.

Education Minister Harjot Bains said the recently retired MiG-21 aircraft would be displayed at Schools of Eminence (SoE) at Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Nangal and Kharar.

According to IAF, the schools should be of senior secondary level, have at least 2,000 students and would have to maintain the air frames.

Bains said the formalities were being worked out and the designated schools would have the fighter jets soon.

The minister said the Punjab Government had planned to collaborate with the IAF for ceremonial deployment events at these schools to foster a spirit of excellence, besides igniting patriotism and fuel dreams of students. Last month, Bains had written to Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh stating, “Together, we can create a living tribute to the MiG-21 and ignite the spirit of service and patriotism in our future generations.”

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma visited forward areas along the Sino-Indian border in Ladakh and reviewed the operational and defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), officials said.

On Thursday, Lt Gen Sharma witnessed ‘Exercise AstraShakti’ in the icy heights of the high-altitude areas of the Union Territory, symbolising the readiness, innovation and indomitable spirit of the Northern Command, officials said.

“Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited forward posts in the Tangtse sector of Eastern Ladakh to review the operational readiness and defence preparedness on Thursday,” they said.

The Northern Army Commander, after being briefed about the prevailing security situation and ongoing developments, complimented the troops for their unwavering commitment, high state of readiness and professional excellence while operating in challenging terrain and extreme climatic conditions.

Reviews operational and defence preparedness