Daily Briefing: Vinesh Phogat announces retirement; proposed changes to Waqf Act; and more | Live News

‘My courage is broken… goodbye, wrestling’

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s story of resilience is one to be told for generations to come. Which is why her announcing her retirement is perhaps as painful—if not more—as the news of her disqualification from the Paris Olympics. The wrestler had a billion hearts cheering her on as she became the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic wrestling final on Tuesday. She was forced to rest her medal dreams after she failed a weigh in on Wednesday morning by a mere 100 gms.

“The fact is the 50kg Olympic podium wouldn’t have Phogat. The reason: She weighed more than others. By how much? Walk to your dining table, lift the salt-sprinkler, to get an idea. Take a pinch from it and gulp down a glass of water to push the lump down your throat.”

In his Opinion piece, our national sports editor Sandeep Dwivedi writes of Vinesh Phogat’s conviction, and the people who failed her.

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Phogat competed in the 53 kg event. So, what made her switch to the 50 kg category? Antim Panghal had won a bronze at the 2023 World Championships, thus getting India a Paris Olympics quota in the 53 kg category. While Phogat wanted a shot at her preferred weight category (53 kg) through a trial, it didn’t happen, despite a promise from the ad-hoc committee running wrestling at the time. Why? Well, a change of hands in the Wrestling Federation of India.

Festive offer

Panghal, who lost her bout in the 53 kg event at Paris Olympics, now also faces deportation. Panghal is accused of “smuggling” her sister inside the Olympic Village, which is a major violation of the rules.

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There may still be a happy—albeit inadequate— ending to all this. Phogat could win a joint silver medal if the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules in favour of the Indian contingent. The decision is expected on Thursday morning.

Also, one to keep an eye out for today is the javelin throw event, where Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and World Champion, is hopeful of a medal.

Only in Express

In the ongoing series by The Indian Express, marking the five years since the abrogation of article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, we take a look at the many cases, which are a part of the security clampdown in, but have left families in the lurch – employment terminated, passport revoked, or police verification denied.

In an interview with The Indian Express, J&K Director General of Police Rashmi Ranjan Swain speaks about the terror challenge in Jammu, and attacks on outsiders in the Union Territory.

From the Front Page

From giving the government a big say in regulating waqf properties, redefining how a property is deemed to be in the possession of waqf to changing the composition of waqf boards in states, and even allowing a non-Muslim Chief Executive Officer and at least two non-Muslim members to be appointed by the state government to the waqf boards — here’s what the Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to achieve.

Must Read

Writing on the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, M R Shamshad, a senior Supreme Court advocate, writes: “From a reading of the draft Waqf (Amendment) Bill, it would appear that the government has forgotten that Waqf properties are the private and self-acquired properties of the followers of Islam, except those which non-Muslims may have donated.”

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We’re early into the post-Hasina era in Bangladesh with the Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus-led interim government set to take oath today. Sheikh Hasina, as we know, is in a safe location in India, as she awaits her next moves (asylum requests and beyond). But what really happened in Bangladesh, and what explains the political storm that led to Hasina’s overnight ouster on Monday? Sanjib Baruah, an expert on the matter, helps us make sense of it.

And Finally…

Kremlin dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza was freed from a Siberian jail as part of Russia’s historic prisoner swap with the USA on August 2. In this exclusive interview, he speaks about the effects on his health from “two poisonings” organised by Russia’s ‘assassin squad’, his conversations with his minder on a plane out of Russia and why he will always be watching over his shoulder.

Delhi Confidential: Whose reporting to whom became a bone of contention in Parliament on Wednesday when Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, while accusing the Centre of weaponising the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department against the Opposition asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman whether the said agencies report to the Finance ministry or the Home ministry. Intervening in a lighter vein, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the former chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes, however, reports to him.

🎧 In today’s edition of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, we take a deep dive into all that has been happening in Bangladesh over the past few weeks. Our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy discusses what led to the protests, how the Sheikh Hasina government reacted, and the challenges that Hasina’s resignation and her taking refuge in India pose for New Delhi.

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Until tomorrow,

Sonal Gupta and Rounak Bagchi

Business as Usual Business As Usual by EP Unny



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