All posts tagged: Asian

India clinch gold and silver in men’s 60kg at Asian Junior Weightlifting C’ships

India clinch gold and silver in men’s 60kg at Asian Junior Weightlifting C’ships

Published by Webster

India secured a gold and silver medal double in the men’s 60kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships, with N Tomchou Meetei and Guru Naidu Sanapathi finishing first and second respectively. Tomchou Meetei lifted a combined 266kg to claim the gold medal. He registered 116kg in the snatch and followed it with 150kg in the clean and jerk to top the standings. Guru Naidu Sanapathi finished just one kilogram behind his compatriot with a total of 265kg. He produced a stronger snatch than the champion, lifting 119kg, but managed 146kg in the clean and jerk. The narrow margin between the two Indians made for a close contest, with Tomchou’s four-kilogram advantage in the clean and jerk ultimately proving decisive. The gold and silver double adds to India’s medal haul at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships and underlines the country’s strength in the men’s junior 60kg category. On friday, India’s Titli Maji had clinched the silver medal in the women’s 45kg category to give the country a strong start. Competing in the opening day’s events, …

Arun Vasu elected president of Asian Surfing Federation

Arun Vasu elected president of Asian Surfing Federation

Published by Webster

Arun Vasu, president of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), has been elected as the new president of the Asian Surfing Federation (ASF), marking a significant milestone for Indian surfing. Vasu was elected after a vote by ASF’s member national federations, with the process supervised by the International Surfing Association (ISA). He succeeds Japan’s Atsushi Sakai, who had served as the federation’s president since 2011. Indian surfing chief takes continental role A lifelong windsurfer and surfer, Vasu has led the Surfing Federation of India since 2021. During his tenure, Indian surfing has made notable strides, with the country securing qualification for the Asian Games and winning its first-ever medal at the Asian Surfing Championships. Speaking after his election, Vasu acknowledged the contribution of the outgoing administration while outlining his vision for the future of the sport in Asia. “I want to begin by acknowledging Japan’s leadership over these many years, and everything built under it. That legacy is real, and this Federation stands on it,” Vasu said. He added that the federation would focus on …

Titli Maji wins silver as India begins Asian Youth Weightlifting C’ships on high

Titli Maji wins silver as India begins Asian Youth Weightlifting C’ships on high

Published by Webster

India’s Titli Maji clinched the silver medal in the women’s 45kg category to give the country a strong start at the Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Friday. Competing in the opening day’s events, Titli lifted 65kg in the snatch before registering 80kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a combined total of 145kg, securing the silver medal. Parishmita narrowly misses podium India had another lifter in contention in the same weight category, with Parishmita Gogoi finishing just outside the medals in fourth place. Parishmita impressed in the snatch by matching Titli’s best lift of 65kg to top that segment of the competition. However, she managed 76kg in the clean and jerk, taking her total to 141kg, which left her fourth in the final standings. Titli’s podium finish marked an encouraging start for the Indian contingent at the continental championships, which have brought together some of Asia’s leading youth and junior weightlifters in Tashkent. The championships will continue over the coming days, with several more Indian lifters set to compete across …

Kamaljeet overcomes hardship to realise Asian Games dream after injury setback

Kamaljeet overcomes hardship to realise Asian Games dream after injury setback

Published by Webster

Asian Games-bound men’s air pistol shooter Kamaljeet and his family endured financial strain during the early stages of his professional career, but those sacrifices have finally helped him break into the elite level. Now, the 22-year-old is all set to realise his dream of competing at the continental showpiece. Kamaljeet initially made his mark as a 50m marksman, winning the Junior World Championship gold in the event in Changwon in 2023. He further cemented his place in the senior ranks by claiming an individual silver medal at the Asian Championships in New Delhi earlier this year. However, it was in the highly competitive 10m air pistol event that Kamaljeet truly cut his teeth. Backed by a string of strong performances on the domestic circuit, he earned a place in India’s national squad for next month’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. “We are a middle-class family, but my parents never let me quit shooting. I had to manage my own expenses for course fees and international matches early on, and there were times I thought I wouldn’t continue …

Ariha Pangambam scripts history with India’s first Asian aerobic gymnastics gold

Ariha Pangambam scripts history with India’s first Asian aerobic gymnastics gold

Published by Webster

India’s Ariha Pangambam created history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in the senior women’s individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships, held in Tagaytay City, Philippines, from August 4 to 7. Competing in the Senior Women’s Individual final, she scored 19.100 points to secure first place, earning 8.650 for artistry, 7.600 for execution and 2.850 for difficulty. This marks the first ever Senior Gold won by an Indian at the continental championships. “A great achievement for us. Did very well. Kudos to her and her coach,” Gymnastic Federation of India president Sudhir Mital said to PTI. Ariha clinched the title by outscoring her closest rivals, Kanokpit Mali of Thailand and Mahiro Kishibe of Japan, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. The continental event, sanctioned by the Asian Gymnastics Union, brought together more than 400 athletes and officials from 11 countries. Hailing from Imphal, Manipur, she trained under her coach Yumnam Ranjan Singh , rising through the ranks at international competitions. Ariha has represented India in multiple International Championships, with …

“Asian Games medal will feel like Olympic medal,” says Mirabai Chanu days after CWG gold

“Asian Games medal will feel like Olympic medal,” says Mirabai Chanu days after CWG gold

Published by Webster

The cameras moved on, the emotions of the medal ceremony had already settled. Mirabai Chanu’s fourth Commonwealth Games medal confidently hung around her neck. Back home it was past midnight and her family was fast asleep by the time all the formalities wrapped up. Mirabai then had a peaceful moment with her long-time coach Vijay Kumar, who has shared every emotion of her journey. Together they revisited the struggles, the heartbreak of missing out on a medal in the Paris Olympics, the injury that kept her out of action and most importantly the efforts put which went in over the past four years to bring her back on the podium. The conversation was not about winning the gold but it was about everything that had gone into winning it. Back in India, Mirabai confidently wore the medal that represents years of resilience. “My family had slept by the time I got free. I sat down with (Vijay) Sir and spoke about all that we had faced in the last four years,” Mirabai told The Bridge …

Does Asian Pop need its own Grammy? Harman Baweja, Madhubanti Bagchi, and others react

Does Asian Pop need its own Grammy? Harman Baweja, Madhubanti Bagchi, and others react

Published by Parlour News

K-pop band BTS’ decision to withdraw its music from consideration for the 2027 Grammys, weeks after the introduction of a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, has sharpened a larger question: Does a region-specific award widen representation or simply create another box? Does Asian Pop need its own Grammy? Harman Baweja, Madhubanti Bagchi, and other react The debate resonates in India, where artistes from Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain to AR Rahman have found Grammy recognition largely through classical, global music and film-linked categories, while Indian pop remains underrepresented. A PLATFORM, BUT NOT A CEILING Producer, actor and writer Harman Baweja calls the new category “a positive evolution”. “The global entertainment landscape has become incredibly diverse, and recognising regional movements like Asian Pop reflects how audiences are consuming music today. Dedicated categories can shine a spotlight on artists who may otherwise be overlooked in broader fields, while introducing new audiences to their work,” says Harman Baweja. He adds: “The long-term goal should always be true integration. Regional categories should act as a bridge to greater global …

BTS boycott Grammys over new Asian pop award category | Korean News

BTS boycott Grammys over new Asian pop award category | Korean News

Published by Parlour News

4 min readLondonJul 30, 2026 06:43 PM IST K-pop group BTS ​said on Wednesday they will not submit any music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2027, citing ‌dissatisfaction with the academy’s new category for best Asian pop music performance. The decision marks the first time the South Korean group, one of the biggest names in K-pop, have opted out of the awards ceremony. Each member of the group shared the news in a joint post on Instagram. “We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I ​hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” they wrote in the post. The ​Recording Academy announced the new category on June 16 for music from South Korea, Japan, China, and elsewhere in the ⁠region. “This category recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, ​J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian …

Grammy CEO defends new Asian Pop category amidst backlash, says he is ‘saddened’ by news of BTS’ withdrawal

Grammy CEO defends new Asian Pop category amidst backlash, says he is ‘saddened’ by news of BTS’ withdrawal

Published by Parlour News

On July 29, BTS sent shockwaves through the music industry when the K-pop group announced that they would not be submitting their work for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, citing regional and language biases. The announcement sparked widespread online debate and renewed criticism of the Recording Academy. Now, a day later, Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has addressed the controversy in a statement shared on the Academy’s official Instagram account. Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. breaks silence after BTS announce their withdrawal from the award show. Also Read | BTS decide not to submit for Grammys 2027 despite Arirang’s record-breaking success after new Asian Pop category In his statement, Mason Jr. said he was “saddened” by BTS’ decision to withdraw from the Grammys. He also defended the widely criticised introduction of the Asian Pop category, stating that it was created to celebrate the “depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia.” His response came shortly after all seven BTS members – Jin, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – …

BTS are right: The Grammys’ new Asian Pop category feels more like segregation than inclusion

BTS are right: The Grammys’ new Asian Pop category feels more like segregation than inclusion

Published by Parlour News

Popstars BTS have spent years proving they belong on the world’s biggest stage. They’ve topped charts, sold out stadiums and built fanbases that stretch across continents. And every single time they seem ready to be judged by the same standards as everyone else, the rules somehow change. The septet choosing not to submit their record-breaking album Arirang for the 2027 Grammy Awards is one of biggest and bold moves in recent times, following The Weeknd who stopped submitting his music since 2021 after his After Hours album in 2020 was completely snubbed and eventually made up with Recording Academy when he surprised the audiences in 2025. The Grammys gave Asian artists a new category. BTS gave them a reality check. (BigHit) The group is questioning a system that still appears to judge artists differently based on where they come from. The conversation began after the Recording Academy announced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which will debut at the 69th Grammy Awards in 2027. The real question is: Is this genuine recognition, or is …