Crucial paddy growing regions, the acreage under the crop this year is most likely to be lower. That, however, may not translate into a new challenge for the Reserve Bank of India, which is trying to control retail inflation that has breached its statutory level of tolerance. Neeraj Chopra silver medal at the World Athletics Championship was an ideal end to India best showing in the premier stand-alone global event for athletics, the oldest form of organised sport. Chopra silver in the javelin event makes him only the second Indian to have won a medal at the Championship. The last time an Indian stood on the podium was Anju Bobby George who got a long jump bronze in 2003. The other highlight of the latest edition of the Championship was that a record six Indian athletes reached the final of their respective events Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Annu Rani, M. Sreeshankar, Paul Eldhose and Avinash Sable. The combination of both state funding and private sponsorship has helped more Indian athletes make the final cut on account of better inputs. Some of the elite athletes now train abroad for a considerable period of time. Chopra success and the better showing at the Championship should not obscure a troubling development. This is one of the worst years in Indian athletics in terms of doping scandals. Two national record holders, among others, have tested positive for banned substances. Most Indian athletes come from impoverished backgrounds. Athletics is the pathway to a better future. It unlikely that they used banned substances without a nudge from powerful people in the system. It important to curb this trend early and simultaneously treat the athletes in trouble with more understanding. Crucial paddy growing regions, the acreage under the crop this year is most likely to be lower. That, however, may not translate into a new challenge for the Reserve Bank of India, which is trying to control retail inflation that has breached its statutory level of tolerance. Neeraj Chopra silver medal at the World Athletics Championship was an ideal end to India best showing in the premier stand-alone global event for athletics, the oldest form of organised sport. Chopra silver in the ja Crucial paddy growing regions, the acreage under the crop this year is most likely to be lower. That, however, may not translate into a new challenge for the Reserve Bank of India, which is trying to control retail inflation that has breached its statutory level of tolerance. Neeraj Chopra silver medal at the World Athletics Championship was an ideal end to India best showing in the premier stand-alone global event for athletics, the oldest form of organised sport. Chopra silver in the javelin event makes him only the second Indian to have won a medal at the Championship. The last time an Indian stood on the podium was Anju Bobby George who got a long jump bronze in 2003. The other highlight of the latest edition of the Championship was that a record six Indian athletes reached the final of their respective events Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Annu Rani, M. Sreeshankar, Paul Eldhose and Avinash Sable. The combination of both state funding and private sponsorship has helped more Indian athletes make the final cut on account of better inputs. Some of the elite athletes now train abroad for a considerable period of time. Chopra success and the better showing at the Championship should not obscure a troubling development. This is one of the worst years in Indian athletics in terms of doping scandals. Two national record holders, among others, have tested positive for banned substances. Most Indian athletes come from impoverished backgrounds. Athletics is the pathway to a better future. It unlikely that they used banned substances without a nudge from powerful people in the system. It important to curb this trend early and simultaneously treat the athletes in trouble with more understanding. Crucial paddy growing regions, the acreage under the crop this year is most likely to be low