Shiva Thapa youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics

Shiva Thapa youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics

Teenage boxer Shiva Thapa qualified for the 2012 Olympics by entering the final of the 56 kg category at the Asian Olympic qualifying event here Wednesday, becoming the youngest Indian to do so.

Shiva defeated Japan's Satoshi Simizu, 2009 Asian Championship bronze medallist, 31:17 in the semi-finals. He had defeated Athens Olympics silver medallist and 2010 Asian Games winner Worapoj Petchkoon of Thailand in the quarter-finals,

At 18, he has now become the youngest Indian boxer to secure an Olympic berth, surpassing the 19-year-old L. Devendro Singh, who made the cut for the July-August Games last year. Debendra Singh competed as a 19-year-old in the 1996 edition at Atlanta.

Shimizu had a notable height difference and took complete advantage of it in the first round. The Indian who, had to defend more and work on counter attack, was able to get in a few good hits, just before the close of the opening three minutes of play. Shiva was still down a one point deficit (6:7) at the end.

In the second round though, Shiva shifted gears and settled into a good rhythm; he negated the Japanese boxer's height leverage with some great infighting - the right hand counter punch over the top, worked like a charm for him.

Shiva, 2010 Youth Olympics silver medallist, also threw in a series of left right combinations that yielded fine results. By now Shiva had taken complete control of the bout with a ten point lead (22:12). In the final round he eased off the throttle, but was still able to penetrate Shimizu's defence at will. The Assam lad went on to win the bout with a total score of 31:17.

Education is key to abolish child labour

Education is key to abolish child labour

 Child labour is a curse to our society and a crime against humanity. Children work when they are supposed to play or go to school. The sad thing is that they work under hazardous conditions. Though acute poverty is the main cause for child labour throughout the world, everybody - society, parents, government, individuals, low wages, unemployment, poor standard of living, deep social prejudices and backwardness are directly responsible for child labour in India.

Even 23 years after having banned child labour in India, the country continues to be home to the largest number of child labourers in the world — 17 million. On the World Day Against Child Labour, celebrated every year on June 12, there was a common consensus — moral outrage is the first step to eliminate child labour, and access to quality, equitable education for all children is imperative.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and action to eliminate it. Every year, the day links governments, employers' and workers' organisations, and civil society, among others, in the campaign against child labour.

This year, the focus was on the girl child and education being the key to empower her. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Childrens' Fund (Unicef) and other members of civil society met at a joint conference to highlight the importance of educating the girl child and ending child labour. According to ILO estimates, there are around 218 million child labourers worldwide of which 100 million are girls, and more than half of them are exposed to hazardous work.

SOMNATH DASGUPTA IS NEW ASSAM UNIVERSITY VC

SOMNATH DASGUTA VC OF AUS

Dr. Somnath Dasgupta has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Assam University, Silchar. It is to be noted that he will take over the office from Assam University whose term has attracted a lot of controversy as he held his post even when his term has ended on 26th March 2012.

Dasgupta is the director of the National Centre of Experimental Mineralogy and Petrology (NCEMP) under the University of Allahabad. He will be the fifth vice chancellor of the central varsity, which was established in 1994.

Dasgupta has also served as Director in the Geological Survey of India, Jadavpur University, Kolkata and in the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata. He has significant contributions in the field of Petrology and Geochemistry. He has published more than 85 research papers in International peer-reviewed Journals.

PRIME MINISTER AND SONIA GANDHI WILL VISIT ASSAM ON TOMORROW

UPA Chairperson Sonia with Prime Minister Monmohan

The recent floods and landslides claiming 77 lives and nearly 20 lacks people have also been displaced in the flood, Prime Minister Dr Monmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi scheduled to visit the flood affected area of Assam on tomorrow.

             They are expected to reach Jorhat by a special flight and conduct an aerial survey of Majuli Island, which has suffered serious damage in the flood. From there, they will come to Guwahati and holds talks with Ministers and seniors state government officials, before returning to Delhi.

             The 27 districts of the state are badly affected by this flood and nearly 20 lacks people still remain affected in Majuli, Asia’s largest river island in upper Assam Jorhat district, while also several animals lost their lives due to flood water in the Kaziranga National Park.