Through this initiative, FFPL has positively transformed the lives of around 60,000 people across Pune (Maharashtra), Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Sitarganj (Uttarakhand), and Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), by enabling clean drinking water access and sanitation infrastructure, where previously these communities faced a lot of challenges. In two years, FFPL has built multiple R.O. plants, hand-wash stations, and toilets in specific schools and villages. Initially, it was very difficult for students to have access to even such basic facilities; with this initiative, FFPL has addressed and supported the cause.

The award was presented by the Chief Guest, Mr. Siddhartha Daga, Chief Impact Officer, Neomotion,  to the Fleetguard team, represented by Mr. Avinash Mane, Deputy General Manager – HR & IR, and Ms. Priyanka Chavan, Assistant Manager – CSR.

Fleetguard Filters has had a long history of undertaking impactful CSR projects across India, focusing on areas like promotion of art & culture, education, health & safety, rural development, and environment. This award reiterates the company’s position as a responsible corporate entity dedicated to holistic societal development.

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Set on a serene private island in the middle of Udai Sagar Lake, framed by the Aravalli hills, Raffles Udaipur offers a setting that feels at once cinematic and deeply personal. From majestic multi-day affairs to soulful, intimate unions, every celebration is imbued with the signature Raffles grace, care, and attention to detail.

said Rajesh Namby, General Manager, Raffles Udaipur.

With the recent unveiling of Raffles Udaipur Lakeshore, the hotel has seamlessly expanded its offering, now catering to celebrations of every scale. The addition of expansive manicured lawns and new event spaces along the lakeside has elevated the property’s capacity, making it a truly versatile canvas for destination weddings — whether opulent or understated.

The hotel’s dedicated wedding curators, bespoke culinary journeys, and legacy of service ensure that every occasion at Raffles Udaipur is not just memorable but deeply meaningful.

This recognition at WOW Awards Asia 2025 stands as a tribute to the hotel’s continued evolution as a modern palace of celebration, where heritage meets imagination and every moment is worthy of a story.

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PUNE:  Shoppers Stop, India’s leading fashion, lifestyle, and gifting destination, turned one customer’s wedding shopping journey into the experience of a lifetime. As part of its highly successful India Weds campaign, Shoppers Stop announced Mr. Arjun Chavhan from Pune as the lucky winner of a dream holiday to Europe.

The felicitation ceremony at Shoppers Stop, Westend Mall, Aundh was a thoughtfully curated affair that celebrated Arjun’s milestone with Shoppers Stop in style. Welcomed with floral décor and a red carpet, Arjun’s celebration featured a photo zone, cake-cutting, and the symbolic cheque reveal, making the moment unforgettable and reflecting Shoppers Stop’s thoughtful approach to marking customer milestones. It was a perfect embodiment of the India Weds campaign – a landmark initiative that positions Shoppers Stop as the one-stop premium destination for India’s wedding tribe. From Haldi to Reception, the campaign highlights how the brand walks alongside customers through every step of their wedding journey, offering curated fashion, beauty, and gifting all under one roof.

“At Shoppers Stop, we cherish every celebration with our customers. Through our ‘India Weds with Shoppers Stop’ initiative, we are excited to express our heartfelt gratitude by creating truly unforgettable experiences. This season, the love and trust of our customers have inspired us to redefine wedding shopping and offer rewards that exceed expectations – including a dream trip to Europe as our way of saying thank you,”

said Jiten Mahendra, Customer Care Associate and Chief Marketing Officer, Shoppers Stop.

With over 500 premium brands, Personal Shopper services, and loyalty benefits via its First Citizen Club, Shoppers Stop continues to lead the premiumisation journey in Indian retail, one elevated customer experience at a time.

This celebration in Pune is part of a Pan-India winner felicitation series, with similar moments planned across Hyderabad and Bengaluru, for winners of the India Weds with Shoppers Stop campaign.

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PUNE: In a moment of pride that resonates with this deeply held philosophy, VTP Realty has been honoured with the 16^th CIDC Vishwakarma Award for Excellence in Construction, Health, Safety, and Environment. This accolade for its landmark projects, VTP Bellissimo and VTP Sierra, in Pune, is more than an award; it is a powerful validation of the brand’s unwavering commitment to creating not just beautiful homes but healthier and safer ecosystems that nurture every aspect of life.

Following a meticulous evaluation process and on-ground inspection by the jury panel, the honour was conferred upon VTP Realty by the Board of Governors of the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) under the category of ‘Health, Safety and Environment’. The recognition was awarded for the developer’s exemplary practices demonstrated at VTP Bellissimo, Hinjewadi Phase 1, and VTP Sierra, Pashan-Sus Baner Road, both benchmark residential developments in Pune. These projects stood out among national entries for their well-integrated health and safety measures, environmentally conscious planning, and commitment to holistic community living.

The Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) advises the government on policy, standardises contracts, trains skilled and managerial manpower, and grades construction entities. This quasi-government organisation followed a stipulated method of scrutiny to announce VTP Realty as the winner. Upon nomination every real estate contender is required to share detailed presentations on sustainability measures undertaken, which is then audited by an experienced jury representing different government bodies and verified in presence of senior management of every real estate brand on various technical aspects such as green construction rules, project completion status, quality control, design, and related matters. This is followed by a surprise audit inspection, in which detailed scrutiny is done on-site. Acing at every level, VTP Realty stood victorious in this five-month-long, pan-India selection procedure amid top national players.  

Speaking about the achievement, Sachin Bhandari, Executive Director & CEO of VTP Realty, said, “This award from CIDC is a proud moment that reflects our relentless commitment towards responsible and future-ready development. This recognition reinforces our pursuit of building thoughtful spaces that enrich lives while upholding the highest standards of safety, health, and construction excellence.”

This prestigious honour from CIDC stands as a powerful testament to VTP Realty’s relentless pursuit of excellence across every facet of real estate development. Today, VTP Realty is not only recognised as Pune’s undisputed leader in the real estate industry but is also celebrated among the top real estate developers in India. With a sharp focus on innovation and customer-centric design, VTP Realty consistently sets new industry benchmarks. As the brand continues to shape Pune’s skyline with iconic developments and reimagine luxury living, it remains committed to building vibrant communities that inspire pride and elevate the lifestyles of the customers.

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The two-day festival showcased 34 short films and documentaries covering topics relating to mental health, breast cancer, organ donation, and the environment. Selected from 150 entries nationwide, these films highlighted critical health issues. The event concluded in the presence of renowned actress Madhurani Gokhale Prabhulkar. Prominent attendees included festival organizer Adv. Chetan Gandhi and Satish Kondhalkar, President- Flair Network Systems.

Speaking at the award function, Madhurani said, “Health is a critical issue, and conveying it through films is a powerful way to raise awareness. Mental health is a growing concern, with terms like depression and anxiety used rampantly. Social media plays a significant role in deteriorating mental well-being, and addressing these challenges is essential. Despite the dominance of shallow entertainment, It is commendable to see filmmakers creating meaningful, health-focused content as is seen in the movies in this festival.”

The awards presented included in the Short Film category 1st Prize went to ‘Drushtikon’ by Dr. Sameer Datar, 2nd Prize to ‘Paris’ by Mukund Khuperkar, and 3rd Prize was given to ‘Antarnaad (The Voice Within)’ by Parthaa Akerkar. Whereas, in the documentary 1st Prize was presented to ‘Jeevitham (The Life)’ by Ali Arikath, 2nd Prize was given to ‘Griha Aar Paibo Kotha (Where Shall I Find Home)’ by Vrushab Maitri, and the 3rd Prize was bagged by Right to Clean Environment’ by Dr. Balkrishna Damle (C.D.O.E., K.V.V. Karad).

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Face of India isn’t just another fashion event—it’s a cultural movement that elevates Indian fashion to an international scale. As the official gateway to the prestigious Asia Model Festival in South Korea, this event provides young Indian talent with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk on the world’s most coveted runways, showcasing the beauty, craftsmanship, and innovation of Indian fashion. Under Badal Saboo’s charismatic leadership, this glamorous platform is propelling models and designers alike onto the global stage, solidifying India’s reputation as a fashion powerhouse.

This year’s winners, Soma Samhitha and Harshvardhan Singh (Winners 1), alongside Samiksha Kopare, and Vikas Saran, (Winners 2), and the dazzling duo of Seema Dubey and Shubham Srivastava (Winners 3), are the qualifiers all geared up to dazzle on international catwalks, with exclusive opportunities awaiting them in South Korea. For these rising stars, Face of India has become the springboard to stardom, opening doors to elite global events and fashion weeks, further cementing the event’s status as a true launchpad for global fashion careers.

The runway was ablaze with jaw-dropping collections from India’s top designers, each one pushing the boundaries of creativity while honoring the country’s rich cultural heritage. BespokeWala led the charge with their signature blend of traditional artistry and cutting-edge design with the glamorous showstopper Hemal Ingale (Actress – Model), followed by Olive Fashion, whose exquisitely tailored creations left the audience in awe. D’lore wowed with their commitment to sustainable fashion, delivering pieces that were not only breath-taking but also ethically crafted. Sumit Dasgupta’s S by SDG took eco-luxury to new heights with Actor – Entrepreneur Shivendra Singh Rajput & Mr. Maharashtra Zarna Sanghvi as the showstoppers for his show, while Asif Merchant set the runway on fire with his glamorous red carpet and bridal couture with showstopper Sargam Kausha (Mrs. World 2022-23), making it clear that opulence is here to stay.

Amid the glitz and glamour, Bollywood sensation Simrat Kaur added her star power to the mix, leaving the audience spellbound. Known for her striking beauty and style, Simrat Kaur alongside Nischala Dharva (Face of India Winner 2023), Surbhi Choutaliya, and Badal Saboo judged the contestants of Face of India 2024. The judges also mingled effortlessly with the VIPs and fashion icons, cheering on the emerging talent and taking the glamour quotient of the evening to unprecedented levels.

Yet, this year’s Face of India wasn’t just about the spectacle—it also championed sustainability and innovation. With Shakir Shaikh, one of India’s most celebrated show directors, at the helm, the runway became a stage for eco-conscious luxury, offering a fresh take on the future of fashion. His nearly three decades of expertise shone through, elevating the show to new heights of excellence and sophistication.

“We are not just celebrating Indian fashion—we are redefining it on the global stage,” stated Badal Saboo, who, through his leadership, has seamlessly merged the worlds of fashion and real estate. His Pune Fashion Week & Face of India serves as a beacon of Indian culture, blending modern design with traditional values, offering an irresistible showcase for the world to see. Badal’s bold vision to bring together real estate and fashion is reshaping both industries, with Meriton Heights stepping in as the Title Sponsor, reflecting this luxurious fusion.

Hiten Chautalia of Meriton Heights emphasized the symbiotic relationship between fashion and real estate, remarking, “Just as we create inspiring, lavish living spaces, we are here to support and nurture India’s next generation of fashion icons.” Similarly, Pavan Ranpise from SolarEra, the Powered by Partner, underscored the event’s dedication to sustainability, saying, “Our partnership with Face of India aligns with our commitment to eco-friendly innovation, encouraging designers to embrace sustainable solutions as they redefine the fashion landscape.”

The energy in the room was palpable as Face of India 2024 turned into an overwhelming success, packed with influencers, fashion aficionados, and industry titans such as Mr. Rakesh Shukla – Suzlon, Mr. Manisha Bodas – Sharda group, Mr. Sanjay Kanekar – Aone group, Mr. Satish Kokate, Mr, Shubhangi Asabe, Mr. Mangesh Suryawanshi, Mr. Santosh Bhujbal – IUCCA Pune, Mr. Rajubhai Shewani, Mr. Aman Agarwal, Mr. Bharat Desadla, Mr. Sachin Lodha, Mr. Pritam Rathod, Mr. Girish Chheda, Mr. Bhikhabhai Chotaliya, Mr.Kiran Bhagia, Mr. Vikrant Indulkar, Mr. Deep Sen, Mr. Viraang Shah and many more. Pune, now firmly entrenched as a fashion capital, played host to this unforgettable evening where style, innovation, and luxury converged, leaving an indelible mark on the global fashion scene.

In a world where fashion and business continue to evolve, Badal Saboo proves Face of India 2024 is leading the charge—taking Indian fashion to unimaginable heights and placing it firmly on the international stage.

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CHENNAI: As the curtains went down for the 2024 season of IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Cup NSF250R, the young riders of Honda Racing India concluded the season with impressive performances, setting new benchmarks and gaining valuable experiences and learnings for the upcoming seasons.

Leading the entire season with an adrenaline rush was Malappuram’s Mohsin Paramban, who showcased exemplary performance and claimed victory this year. Throughout the season, Mohsin finished with seven wins in ten races.

In today’s final 8-lap race of the season, Mohsin got off to a strong start. However, his machine encountered a mechanical issue, causing him to slow down a bit. Savion Sabu then executed a decisive move and accelerated quickly to take the lead in the intense battle. Savion showcased a brilliant performance in the final race, crossing the chequered line in first position with a total time of 15:03.809 and his best lap time was 1:51.260. In his rookie year, Savion has emerged as one of the most promising riders in this category.

In the thrilling race, the battle for second and third positions intensified as Mohsin Paramban pushed his limits. With strong determination, he finished the race in second position with a total time of 15:10.876 and his best lap time was 1:52.171.

Following Mohsin was Beedani Rajender who maneuvered swiftly against all the other riders and claimed a podium finish by crossing the chequered line at the third position. He finished the race with a total time of 15:17.258 and a best lap time of 1:52.654.

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NEW DELHI: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and SP Jain Institute of Management & Research recently published a joint report, which objectively concludes that the effect of the user’s skill is significantly more than that of chance, in determining the winnability in a fantasy sports contest. The study, “Decision Support System for Policy-Making: Quantifying Skill and Chance in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)”, further proposes a data-driven approach to determine, through empirical evidence, whether any game is a game of skill or chance.

This is the second paper by Professor U Dinesh Kumar, which focuses on studying the statistical aspects of online games. This study goes beyond measuring the effect of skill and chance on a user’s performance. Also, it focuses on quantifying several other indicators of skill, such as the effect of user’s past performance, experience, and recent participation, which have not been studied previously.

This peer-reviewed study offers an integrated decision support framework that:

• Evaluates the relative importance of skill and chance,
• Studies a contestant’s observed and unobserved characteristics,
• Tests for other indicators of skill,
• It can be replicated in other games, subject to data availability.

The framework proposed in the study can help policymakers adopt a more science-oriented and quantitative approach to resolving the ongoing debate on skill and chance. The lack of such a standardized and objective approach to evaluating online games has led to inconsistencies in regulation and hurt the ease of doing business for legitimate gaming companies in India.

By analyzing performance data, the study helps identify how much of a player’s success is due to their skill and how much depends on chance, providing a clear picture of what drives success in fantasy sports. By analyzing users’ performances across 2,951 matches and 160,000 contests, the study concludes that the effect of users’ skill is significantly more than that of chance in determining winnability in fantasy sports. The study also quantifies other indicators of skill, like user’s past performance, experience, and recent participation, and finds that these significantly affect their performance in fantasy sports contests.

U. Dinesh Kumar, Professor, IIMB, emphasized the significance of these findings: “Thisresearchprovidesadecisionsupportsystemthatcanallowpolicymakerstoobjectivelyandquantitativelydifferentiatebetweengamesofskillandchance. The framework proposed in the study can be replicated for any online game, subject to data availability. We believe that such frameworks are key to formulating regulations based on data science and better suited to address the challenges stemming from emerging technologies and new age sectors, such as online gaming.”

Key findings from the study include:

• Experience improves winnability: There is a positive correlation between users’ experience and winning consistency, i.e., users with more experience exhibit higher winnability in fantasy sports contests.
  • This indicates that users learn from experience and improve their future performances. In a game of chance, on the other hand, experience will not affect a user’s winnability. 
• Consistent high-performers fare better: Users who consistently performed well in the past also perform better in the current fantasy sports contests.
  • This indicates that users’ capabilities matter in fantasy sports contests. In a game of chance, on the other hand, past performances would not determine a user’s present performance.
• Recency positively affects winnability: Users who participated recently in fantasy sports contests exhibit higher winnability.
  • This indicates that the score gap increases with an increasing number of days since the users’ last participation, i.e., users who participated recently exhibit higher winnability. This is also consistent with the concept of skill depreciation used in human capital theory.
• Choice of contest influences relative performance
• The variance of unobserved skill is higher than the variance of chance: The study found that the unobserved components of skill play a far greater role in determining winnability than pure random shocks.

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NEW DELHI: The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA)’s Women’s 5th T-10 National Cricket Championship for Deaf organised in Chandigarh concludes with a spectacular closing ceremony. The Chief Guest of the Ceremony, Sh. Sanjay Tandon, President – Union Territory Cricket Association Chandigarh. presented the winning trophy to the Maharashtra and the runner-up trophy to the Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Tandon, President, of UTCA said, “Not only does UT Cricket Association feel proud to associate with IDCA for this tournament but it’s been a privilege for Chandigarh to host a wonderful event of its kind. IDCA and Sumit Jain are doing a magnificent job of bringing such hidden talents to the cricket mainstream not only in India but overseas as well. I learned about the Bilateral Series being played in England wherein India emerged victorious by 5-2, which suggests that exposure to deaf cricket is just not confined to home but also overseas. My best wishes to Mr. Jain and his team for his future endeavors. Moving ahead, we, at UT Cricket Association would love to partner with IDCA to host more tournaments for the deaf.“

Addressing the gathering, Sumit Jain, President, IDCA said, “It was an exhilarating match that kept us on the edge of our seats from beginning to end. The players displayed their exceptional skills on the field and their passion for the game through their outstanding performance. This performance showcased how far they have come in terms of polishing their skills and their overall development. I congratulate all the winners and players who were part of this tournament and commend their dedication and hard work, which made the event a tremendous success. I would also like to thank our sponsors, without whom this tournament would not have been possible.“

Neelam Kini of Maharashtra was awarded the Player of the Match while Needa Shaikh of Maharashtra was awarded the Best Batter of the Tournament. Shraddha Vaishnav of Delhi was awarded the Best Bowler of the Series and Player of the Series titles.

Besides, Umpires Mr. Rozal Batra and Mr. Jitendra Kumar were also felicitated for their contribution.

Needa Shaikh, Captain of the Maharashtra said, “It was a great tournament. We had the chance to learn so much from other players and hone our skills to improve our game on the field. This victory belongs to all the players, our coach, our support staff, the team cricket association, and every individual who showed their faith in us. I am extremely grateful to IDCA for organizing the tournament.”

The match was held from August 06^th to 09^th 2024 in which especially abled women’s teams from ten states of the country competed to clinch the coveted champions trophy. The opening ceremony was held on August 06^th, 2024, at DAV Sr. Sec. School, Sector-8 (Lahore), Chandigarh.

Closing ceremony: –

Semi Final – 1

Maharashtra Vs Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh won the toss and elected to bowl

Maharashtra – 41/3 overs 3

Neelam Kini – 11(6) Jyoshna

Subrahmanyam – 1 wicket

Andhra Pradesh – 34/1 Overs 3

Kanthamma – 12 (18)

Woman of the Match – Jyoshna 8 (13) and 1 wicket

Semi Final – 2

Delhi Vs Punjab

Delhi won the toss and elected to bat

Delhi – 46/1 overs 5

Pooja Rani – 17 (20) Nisha – 1 wicket

Punjabi – 24/3 Overs 5

Nisha – 8 (10) Shraddha Vaishnav wickets 2

Woman of the Match – Shraddha Vaishnav 2 (2) and 2 wickets

Final

Delhi Vs Maharashtra

Maharashtra won the toss and elected to bowl

Delhi – 40/2 overs 5

Kajal Dhawan – 11(8) Dharya – 1 wicket

Maharashtra – 41/4 Overs 5

Neelam – 20 (12) Shradda Vaishnav wickets 3

Woman of the Match – Shraddha Vaishnav 10 (13) and 3 wickets

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Springbok Women head coach Louis Koen expressed his satisfaction with his team’s 55-0 victory over Cameroon in a windy Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar on Saturday, opening their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup account with a full house of points.

Koen had high praise for the way the team kept hammering away at their opponents despite the difficult conditions and applauded his bench players for exploiting the gaps when they finally opened up.

Lindelwa Gwala and Maceala Samboya scored hat-tricks for the Springbok Women (https://apo-opa.co/3UMu5WC) as they added six tries to their three in the first half for the comprehensive victory.

“We built an innings in the first half and the team deserve credit for the way they stuck to their tasks,” said Koen.

“The second-half effort proved the benefits of their hard work as the gaps opened up, and we could expose the tiring Cameroon defense.”

“It was difficult in the first half with the wind swirling around and we made some mistakes, but we never stopped trying. The two injuries in the half also had an impact and Cameroon deserve credit as they played well in the first half.”

The second half was a different affair due to the “slow poison” kicking in, the Bok Women coach said: “With them tiring and the replacements bringing fresh legs, we could get a couple of tries, some of them well worked on top of that.

“In the end, we got five points out of the game and overcame the first hurdle in our way. So, we are still on track.”

Koen said the two injuries – to Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen (prop) and Samantha Els (flanker) – will impact their planning for Wednesday’s game against Kenya.

“It is a short turnaround and the early injuries meant that the replacements played longer than we had planned, but we will adjust our plans accordingly and come Wednesday, will be ready for Kenya,” added Koen.

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