Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Indian hockey team for winning the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.

Calling the victory a phenomenal accomplishment, PM Modi said their success will motivate many upcoming athletes.

“Congratulations to our hockey team on winning the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. They played exceptionally well through the tournament. Their success will motivate many upcoming athletes,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

With this victory, India now shares the title of the most decorated team in the tournament’s history, matching South Korea with three titles each.

Deepika scored the only goal of the match as India defeated China 1-0 in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey final, securing their record-equalling third title. Although Deepika missed a penalty stroke earlier, she found the back of the net just minutes into the third quarter, giving India a 1-0 lead that they held onto despite a late push from China in the final quarter.

In contrast to previous matches, India started cautiously, fully aware of China’s aggressive approach and their tendency to create early chances. The initial minutes saw India on the back foot as they withstood a strong Chinese attack before gradually regaining composure and improving their ball control.

Later in the match, China earned a penalty corner, but Lalremsiami, named player of the match, swiftly intervened, allowing Bichhu Devi to stretch out and clear the rebound.

India’s persistent efforts resulted in four quick penalty corners within the 20th minute, yet their struggles with penalty corner execution continued, marked by off-target shots, ineffective variations, and solid saves from the Chinese goalkeeper. China was awarded another penalty corner three minutes later, but they could not convert either.

However, India began to find their rhythm, and just moments after the third quarter started, they earned their fifth penalty corner. Despite a messy injection, the ball remained in play; it was skillfully dragged in, allowing Deepika to execute a precise reverse hit that left the Chinese defense and goalkeeper helpless.

After Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP said the states that allegedly received bribes from the Adani Group for solar power deals, as mentioned in the US indictment, were ruled by the Opposition. 

While addressing a press conference on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi for attempting to tarnish the Prime Minister’s image. The Congress MP alleged that Narendra Modi was hand in glove with Gautam Adani in corrupt activities.

Sambit Patra underlined that none of the four states mentioned in US charges against Adani Group had a BJP CM. He added that Congress and its allies were in power in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

The US prosecutors recently said the Adani Group paid $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure contracts with state electricity distribution companies between 2021-2023. However, the Adani Group has called the allegations baseless.

The states named in the US indictment are Odisha (then ruled by Naveen Patnaik’s BJD), Tamil Nadu (under DMK), Chhattisgarh (under Congress), and Jammu and Kashmir (under Central rule). Andhra Pradesh was then helmed by Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress.

Criticizing Rahul Gandhi, Sambit Patra said that it was the Leader of the Opposition’s usual tactic to attack India and structures that defend the country.

The Puri MP further added that Rahul Gandhi had raked up the Rafale issue in 2019 in a similar fashion, mentioning that the Congress leader had claimed that a big revelation would be made. During the Covid pandemic, Rahul Gandhi used to do press conferences in a similar fashion over vaccines, Sambit Patra continued. 

Speaking on Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Congress was doing the work of the judiciary, the BJP spokesperson stressed that both the Congress MP and Sonia Gandhi were out on bail in the National Herald case.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Gautam Adani should be arrested immediately, and his protector Madhabi Puri Buch should be investigated. 

The Senior Congress leader’s statement follows after US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, with his alleged involvement in a plan to pay over $250 million in bribes to government officials in India for solar energy contracts.  

Mentioning that Gautam Adani has been indicted in the United States, Rahul Gandhi questioned why the billionaire is still running around as a free man in India. He stated that it is now pretty clear and established in America that Gautam Adani has broken both American law and Indian law. 

Addressing a press conference, the Congress MP claimed that the recent developments vindicate his long-standing allegations against Gautam Adani. He said that they have been raising the allegation with the Madhabi Buch issue. Taking a sharp dig at the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi is protecting Gautam Adani, and is also involved in corruption. 

Further, taking a swipe at PM Modi’s slogan, Ek hai to safe hai, the Leader of Opposition asserted that as long as the prime minister and Gautam Adani are together, they are safe in India. He added that no actions will be taken against Adani in India. 

He further mentioned that Chief Ministers have been jailed for scams of Rs 10-15 crore, but Gautam Adani, who has committed a scam of Rs 2000 crore is walking free. He demanded that Gautam Adani should be arrested immediately, and his protector, Madhabi Puri Buch should be removed and probed for not taking actions.

Rahul Gandhi also said that he will bring up the issue of Gautam Adani’s alleged involvement in corruption during the upcoming winter session of Parliament set to begin on Monday. He asserted that being the leader of opposition, it is his responsibility to raise the issue, and assured that they will expose the entire network, which will eventually collapse.