Over 46 finalists participated in the competition, showcasing their skills across fashion, talent, and empowerment initiatives. Aarti Borole competed in the Silver Category and emerged as the winner, earning the prestigious title of Mrs Maharashtra 2025 Season 9. In addition to the main crown, she also won the Mrs Achiever Subtitle Crown and the Best Dress Crown.

Aarti returned to India from the United States in 2023 and has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry. She is currently working as a Senior Software Engineer at Apexon. Besides being a dedicated professional, fitness and dance are her passions, and she maintains a disciplined lifestyle, spending an hour daily at the gym.

Her journey to winning the title involved immense dedication and hard work. Aarti successfully balanced her professional responsibilities, family life, and rigorous pageant preparations. She often practiced late into the night, preparing for her introduction, talent rounds, and various stage segments. 

A big shoutout to my husband, Tushar! He’s been my constant motivation and support system alongwith my two children. I owe this crown to them, beams Aarti.

Expressing her gratitude further, Aarti shared that Anjana and Karl Mascarenhas, Founders of DIVA Pageants, were her strongest pillars of support throughout the journey.

My next goal is to participate in the Mrs India pageant and bring home the crown, smiles Aarti. 

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Sharing what inspired her to participate, Ridma said that pageantry had always been a long-held dream. “I have always believed in constantly evolving and challenging myself. Pageantry was not just about the crown for me, but about confidence, self-expression, and stepping out of my comfort zone. The desire to become a stronger, more confident version of myself is what inspired me to take this leap.”

Speaking about her support system, Ridma expressed heartfelt gratitude to her family, friends, and mentors. She credited her husband, parents, brother, bhabhi, and in-laws for being her strongest pillars of support throughout the journey. She also acknowledged the guidance and encouragement of the DIVA Pageants team, with special thanks to Anjana & Karl Mascarenhas, Founders, and Cicilia Ma’am. “Without their belief in me and constant motivation, this journey would not have been possible. They helped me stay grounded and confident, especially during moments of self-doubt.”

Describing her stage experience, Ridma shared that it was a blend of excitement and nervousness. “I was definitely nervous, but the moment I stepped on stage, that nervous energy transformed into confidence. It was an empowering experience that pushed me beyond my limits.”

A Software Engineer by profession, Ridma works in the IT industry and successfully balances a demanding tech career alongside her pageantry pursuits. “Managing both worlds has been challenging yet incredibly fulfilling. This journey has taught me discipline, resilience, and self-belief,” Ridma added.

Looking ahead, Ridma aims to continue growing both professionally and personally. She hopes to use her platform to inspire women to believe in themselves, embrace confidence at every stage of life, and pursue their dreams fearlessly. “If my journey encourages even one woman to step out of her comfort zone, it will be worth it.”

With her elegance, determination, and purpose-driven mindset, Ridma Kakani’s achievement stands as a powerful reminder that confidence and ambition know no limits. “I now look forward to making history at the India level!”, she signs off.

The post The Inspiring Story of Ridma Kakani: Tech Professional and 1st Runner Up at Mrs Maharashtra Season 9 appeared first on NRI News.

KOLKATA: Mumbai City FC beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium to emerge as the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 Cup Winners at the final in Kolkata tonight. The Islanders came from behind after Jason Cummings handed the Mariners a lead late in the first half. Second-half strikes by Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Bipin Singh, and Jakub Vojtus ensured that the Petr Kratky-coached side settled the scores against the home side in front of a capacity crowd to draw curtains on the landmark 10th season of the ISL.

In proceedings slightly identical to the final of ISL 2020-21, when both these teams had squared off in the summit clash, a similar hero came up, as Bipin Singh notched an 81st-minute strike to help his men avenge the loss that they succumbed to, in the title decider at this very venue. In the first-ever ISL grand finale held in Kolkata, Mumbai City FC returned the happier of the two teams winning their second ISL final, with both of them coming against the Mariners.

Both sides trod a cautious line in the opening half, focusing on holding their shape, playing to their strengths, and not giving away too much to work on for the opposition. However, Mohun Bagan Super Giant drew the first blood thanks to their fierce offensive duo of Dimitrios Petratos and Cummings.

Petratos hasn’t been afraid to test his luck from a distance often in this campaign. As the opening essay of the game was concluding, he unleashed a shot that caught Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa off-guard. The custodian fumbled the effort; with Cummings present right there like a fox in the box to bury the chance in the 44th minute and ensure that his team entered the break with a lead in hand.

The Islanders naturally decided to shake things up in the second half. They adopted newer courses of play, involving a long ball from Alberto Noguera to their Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Diaz eight minutes into the second half. Diaz’s sharp offensive instincts were right there on display, calmly bringing the ball down, steering it near Vishal Kaith, and slotting the ball into the back of the net to equalize the scores.

For a brief passage of play, it appeared that the game might head into the extra time, but an unfortunate knock picked by Diaz in the 72nd minute opened the floodgates for the comeback by the visitors.

As the striker was taken off the field, Slovak striker Vojtus replaced him and was central to both the goals that Mumbai City FC scored after that. Bipin’s one came through a scrambled effort where Vikram Partap Singh squared up a pass for Lallianzuala Chhangte at the edge of the box. Chhangte’s attempt at goal took a nick off Vojtus’ foot, but amidst a crowded situation, Bipin hammered in the ball to get his side the lead in the game.

The Mariners desperately sought to level scores in the added time of the second half, but they ended up exposing large chunks of space in the backline. Vojtus capitalized on one of those loose balls, getting control over the ball on the right side of the box and demonstrating impeccable efficiency to net his team’s third goal of the night.

Key Performer of the Match

• Jorge Pereyra Diaz (Mumbai City FC)
• Diaz completed 15 out of his 19 attempted passes and was buzzing in and around the Mariners’ backline to search for a breakthrough. His goal oozed all class and was instrumental in laying the foundation of Mumbai City FC’s triumph in this game.

ISL 2023-24 Season Awards

• Golden Glove – Phurba Lachenpa (Mumbai City FC)
• Golden Boot – Dimitrios Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC)
• Emerging Player of the League – Vikram Partap Singh (Mumbai City FC)
• Player of the League – Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

Brief Scores

• Mumbai City FC 3 (Jorge Pereyra Diaz 53’, Bipin Singh 81’, Jakub Vojtus 90+7’) – 1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Jason Cummings 44’)

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A nurse by profession, Dipa is also a passionate fitness freak who loves cycling, running, hiking, and dancing, including Bharatnatyam, Kathak, and Western styles. She was among the 50 confident, charming, and charismatic women from all walks of life who shared the stage, leaving the audience in absolute awe that night.

“I’m on a mission to spark a revolution of self-celebration among women. No more conforming – let’s embrace the quirks, the strengths, the extraordinary in each of us. Picture a canvas where every woman paints her own unique story unapologetically”, smiled Mumbai’s Dipa Aironi, Finalist at the Mrs Maharashtra 2023 pageant. This spark in her resulted in her walking away with 3 beautiful crowns – Mrs. Talented, Mrs. Beauty With a Purpose & Mrs. Digital Queen, in the Gold Category!

Dipa gives credit to her husband, Dr. Balaji Aironi, a Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon (Heart Transplant Surgeon), and her two lovely daughters for their unwavering support and cheer, without whom it would have been impossible for her to dare to dream.

The event was graced by celebrity guests Sarah Jane Dias, Akshay Waghmare, Virat Madake, and Vidhya Tiwari, adding glamour and inspiration to the proceedings. The esteemed jury panel, including Deepti Chacko Bangera, brought their expertise and insight to the challenging task of judging the contestants.

Dipa Aironi’s win at the Mrs Maharashtra 2023 grand pageant is a testament to her multi-faceted personality, passion for dance, and mission to spark a revolution of self-celebration among women. Her triple crown win is a remarkable achievement, and we wish her all the best for her future endeavors.

Dipa’s next dream is to contest at the DIVA Mrs India Empress of the Nation 2024 pageant. She thanks her mentors Anjana & Karl Mascarenhas of Diva Pageants for creating this platform for women to dare, dream & dazzle.

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The winners will receive assistance from Schaeffler India in the form of mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding to help bring their innovative ideas to fruition. All the 10 winners will undergo a thirty-week hybrid mentorship at the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), IIM Ahmedabad, one of India’s top Business schools to help them further develop and scale their solutions.

Harsha Kadam, MD & CEO, of Schaeffler India, said, “We are deeply committed to fostering innovation that makes a meaningful difference in the community. The Social Innovator Fellowship Program is a testament to our dedication to societal progress. I am incredibly proud of the ingenuity and determination shown by all the participants. The selected projects reflect the potential of innovative thinking in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our times. At Schaeffler India, we believe in empowering such trailblazing ideas that can lead to sustainable, impactful change.”

Pranshu Singhal, Founder of Karo Sambhav, said, “I am honored to be a part of Schaeffler India’s Social Innovation Fellowship Program. This initiative resonates deeply with my work in driving a circular economy. The creativity and potential of the winners here today are a powerful reminder of the impact, innovative thinking can have on our society. Congratulations to the fellows, and I commend Schaeffler India for their commitment to fostering such impactful change.”

The Winners:

1. Karthickjothi M & Yograj Joshua K – Talk Ally: An innovative glove device translating sign language into spoken language, facilitating communication for the deaf community.
2. Nidhi – NEMA AI: A cutting-edge health-edtech platform personalizing learning experiences through brain scan technology.
3. Avinash Yadav & Arpit Kshirsagar – Electica: A revolutionary EV battery swapping service, that enhances the efficiency of electric vehicle charging.
4. Aishwarya Karnataki and Parikshit Sohoni – GLovatrix’s Fifth Sense: A device combining smartwatch technology and gloves to interpret sign language in real-time.
5. Vagisha Thakur and Subrahmanya Shastry   – ThinkGudd: A digital platform providing branding and communication strategies for SMEs and impact organizations.
6. Shivam Batra and Nagen Pratap Singh – CircuLift: A tech platform aiming to revolutionize plastic waste management through AI and automation.
7. Venkata Ramana Mattaparthi – Blue Lotus Solutions: Focused on developing sustainable solutions to combat climate change.
8. Dr. Sarjerao Doltade – LiqSure: A novel approach to industrial wastewater treatment using cavitation principles.
9. Akshay Kawale and Akshay Wairale- AgrowSure Products and Innovations Pvt Ltd: Innovations in gender-friendly farm equipment, enhancing inclusivity in agriculture.
10. Siddhesh Sakore and Swapnali Dhawale– Agro Rangers: Working with farmers to improve soil health and implement agroforestry models.

Schaeffler India’s CSR initiatives, including the Social Innovator Fellowship Program, underscore the company’s dedication to sustainable development and its role as a responsible corporate citizen. Through these efforts, Schaeffler India continues to contribute significantly to the social and economic development of the communities it serves.

The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for over 75 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO2-efficient drives, chassis solutions, Industry 4.0, digitalization, and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable over the entire life cycle. The motion technology company manufactures high-precision components and systems for drivetrain and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group generated sales of EUR 15.8 billion in 2022. With around 84,000 employees, the Schaeffler Group is one of the world’s largest family-owned companies. With more than 1,250 patent applications in 2022, Schaeffler is Germany’s fourth most innovative company according to the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office).

Established for more than 60 years, Schaeffler India is a leading motion technology company with four manufacturing sites in Pune, Vadodara, Maneja, and Savli, three R&D centers, and eight sales offices. In 2022, the company reported sales of INR 68,674 million, supported by a team of 3,190 employees. The company is well represented in India with its three divisions-Industrial, Automotive and Automotive Aftermarket, offering a comprehensive range of products and services under the brands of FAG, INA, LuK, and TruPower. Schaeffler caters to a large and diverse customer base with efficient engine & transmission solutions, chassis and E-mobility solutions in the automotive division, and a reliable range of bearings and accessories with award-winning Industry 4.0 and Lifetime Solutions for the industry division. Both divisions are backed by a strong network of aftermarket footprints bringing products and solutions closer to customers. The strategic roadmap is driven by a well-defined ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) program, the Schaeffler India is committed to contributing to the global sustainability targets. Committed to quality, innovation, and sustainability with a passionate team Schaeffler India strives to pioneer motion to advance the industrial and automotive technology in India.

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The National Barista Championship recognized the most technically proficient and talented baristas in the field, promoting excellence throughout the entire coffee value chain. Mr. Hrishikesh Mohite from Cafe’ De Meet won the National Barista Championship 2024 and will represent India in The World Barista Championship to be held in South Korea.

The Women’s Star Brewer Skills Championship provided a platform for female baristas and home brewers to showcase their coffee brewing prowess. Priti Pradhan won the championship for redefining the art of brewing.

The National Latte Art Championship made its debut in India, challenging baristas with on-the-spot performances that showcase their creativity and precision. Mr. Mohammad Afsar was awarded as the champion and will now participate in the International Latte Art Championship in Taiwan.

The Great Indian Filter Coffee Championship celebrated traditional Indian coffee craftsmanship, promoting and nurturing the art of brewing the quintessential Filter Coffee. Vani Shree N from Brown Bean Artistry was declared the winner.

The Flavour of India Fine Cup Award Cupping Competition aimed to award the production of high-quality coffees in India. Mrs. Killo Aswini won the Best Washed Arabica, M/s. Kruthi Coffee, Kindriguda Tribal Farmers Group won the Best Arabica Naturals, Mr. Jacob Mammen, M/s Badra Estate Balehonnur Estate won the Best Washed Robusta, and Mr. Jacob Mammen, M/s. Badra Balehonnur Estate won the Best Robusta Naturals.

The winners of the National Barista Championship and National Latte Art Championship will represent India on the global stage at the prestigious World Barista Championship and World Latte Art Championship organized by World Coffee Events.

The 4-day international event featured conferences, skill-building workshops, a Growers Conclave, CEOs and global Leaders Forums, a Startup Conclave, competitions, and awards, and an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge coffee products and services.

Overall, the 5th World Coffee Conference was a grand success, promoting excellence and sustainability in the coffee industry.

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MUMBAI: Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks, today announced the winners of the online nationwide Hackathon that was launched on July 20, 2022, with Microsoft as the Technology Partner. The bank received a total of 23,420 entries from developers, students, professionals, start-ups, fintechs, etc. The participants in the hackathon were expected to build innovative solutions to address specific business problems given by the bank. The hackathon finale was concluded on November 25, 2022, in Mumbai.

Team Brenin, Team Forza Analytica, and Team 1001001 were adjudged the first, second, and third winning teams respectively. They were felicitated by Mr. Joydeep Dutta Roy, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda along with other senior management of the Bank in the Grand Finale held at the Bank’s Corporate Office. The winners received cash prizes ranging from Rs 5 lakh to 2 lakh. Further, Mr. Sanjay Mudaliar, Chief Technology Officer of the Bank informed that the Bank will explore the feasibility of implementing the winning solutions within the Bank, giving the winners an opportunity to enhance their prototypes to make them production grade.

Team Bernin won the first prize for their project Digital Doppelgänge, a conversational AI/ML-based Digital Avatar. This multilingual doppelganger addresses user queries while reducing cost and effort and improving customer experience. The Digital Avatar is a Virtual Banker for assisting the Bank’s customers with their inquiries, account, and loan details along with providing details on the Bank’s other offerings. Team Forza Analytica was the first runners-up for their Call Centre Analytics prototype which is built for the collection, measurement, and reporting of performance metrics of calls made through the Bank’s call center. It processes the audio of the call recordings to gather information regarding multiple call center data points, i.e. Customer Sentiment, Problem Category, Agent Performance, Call Resolution Metrics, etc. Team 1001001 was the second runners-up for their innovative Alternate Authentication solution based on Keystroke Dynamics, which authenticates customer access by recognizing certain unique and habitual patterns in a user’s typing rhythm. All of the innovative solutions are built using Microsoft Azure services.

Mr. Joydeep Dutta Roy, Executive Director of Bank of Baroda said, “Banking today is one of the most vibrant sectors, marked by digital disruption and a constant evolution in consumers’ preferences. To thrive and be at the forefront in such a dynamic environment requires us to be forward-looking and progressive in our approach. The hackathon gave us a platform to interact with some of the country’s most promising talent and understand their outlook on banking for the future. It is also a great opportunity to mentor aspiring change makers who have the potential to be future industry leaders.”

Mr. Vijayant Rai, Country Head – BFSI, Microsoft India said “Bank of Baroda has been a frontrunner in adopting emerging technologies to introduce innovative products and services to enable an enhanced digital banking experience for its 150 million customers across the world.  At Microsoft, we are honored to be the ‘Technology Partner’ and participate in this initiative and are enthused to see the innovative solutions that came out of the hackathon and the potential scale of some of these applications. Our heartiest congratulations to all the finalists.”

The Bank of Baroda hackathon was divided into two phases – the first phase called for idea submissions while the second phase included prototype development. The six themes of the hackathon were:

• Automated Cheque Processing
• Video Analytics
• Virtual Avatar
• Call Centre Analytics
• Virtual Assistant
• Alternate Authentication

The top shortlisted teams were invited to the finale in Mumbai where they presented their prototypes to an eminent jury panel comprising subject matter experts from Bank of Baroda and Microsoft. The entries were evaluated on the basis of their uniqueness, security standards, and scalability of the solution.

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