MAHARASHTRA UPSC TOPPER WAS INSPIRED BY SACHIN TENDULKAR'S LIFE

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's life and career became a source of inspiration for Aboli Naravane, who is the Maharashtra topper in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the results of which came out on Sunday. Aboli stood 78th at the all-India level.

Aboli told Zee 24 Taas that she is a diehard fan of Sachin Tendulkar and has read Sachin's biography at least six times. She said that she was inspired by the Master Blaster's three qualities: his dedication towards the game, his down-to-earth approach, and his giving his best for the country. She said that she had always dreamed of serving the country in whatever way she could, and was happy that her dream has come true after she passed the Civil Services Examination with flying colours.

A student of Vimlabai Garware Prashala, Aboli has completed her MA in Economics and is a trained Kathak dancer under the tutelage of her guru, Shama Bhate. Revealing her success mantra, Aboli said she never subscribed to the misconception that one has to start studying for the IAS exams from Standard 10. She added that she enjoyed college life to the fullest, and being a trained Kathak dancer, she participated in the Firodia Trophy intercollegiate competitions in each of her college years. She said that when she got bored of studying, she used to watch Sachin Tendulkar's best innings and also read his biography again and again.

Aboli's maternal uncle Rajiv Ranade is an IRS officer, and her mother Meenal Naravane is director at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy for Development Administration (Yashada). Aboli's father Sunil Naravane retired from the merchant navy. Aboli gives credit for her success to her family including her sister Neha Kulkarni.

When asked whether girls should take up this career given the fact that they could be posted outside Maharashtra, Aboli replied, "This is a good career option for girls, and there are many who have done great service to the nation by joining IAS, notwithstanding the fact that they had to leave their home state. I am aware that I could be required to leave Maharashtra, but I want to fulfill my dream of doing my duty as a citizen of India."

SACHIN SELFIE WITH DAUGHTER SARA BETI BACHAO

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has posted a selfie with daughter Sara on Facebook as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's #SelfieWithDaughter initiative. Sachin who is holidaying with his family in Europe posted the picture which has been liked by more than 60,000 people. The PM, during his radio show, Maan Ki Baat (On My Mind) on June 28, launched the hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter, to draw attention to India's plummeting sex ratio.

But the scenario for the future is grim because India's declining child sex-ratio indicates that girls are increasingly being aborted, killed or otherwise dying.

The overall sex ratio in 1921 was 955 women per 1,000 men, declining to 946 in 1951 and to 943 today. The child sex-ratio was 983 girls per 1,000 boys in 1951, declining to 918 in 2011, the lowest in the seven decades since it was counted.

The rate of decline has worsened in the years during which the overall sex ratio began to improve. This corresponds to the decades following 1981, offering evidence of sex-determination tests, selective abortion and female infanticide.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Smriti Irani and many more shared selfies with their daughters on Twitter.

SACHIN GREETS HARBHAJAN'S GIRLFRIEND FOR HER UPCOMING FLICK

Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar today extended his greetings to Harbhajan’s rumoured girlfriend and actress Geeta Basra for her upcoming flick ‘Second Hand Husband’.

The master blaster took to his micro-blogging site Twitter a while ago and posted "All the best Geeta Basra for the upcoming release of 'Second Hand Husband'."

Geeta Basra for the upcoming release of 'Second Hand Husband'."

Gossip mills have been abuzz with the news of Harbhajan and Basra tying the knot this year.

SACHIN TENDULKAR WISHES CAPTAIN AJINKYA RAHANE BEST FOR ZIMBABWE TOUR

Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday extended his greetings to new captain Ajinkya Rahane, hoping the youngster will do a good job during the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.

Rahane, 27, is first cricketer from Mumbai in 15 years to be handed the reins of the team since Tendulkar led the team in 2000.

The selectors announced a second-string team for the tour, resting most of the senior players such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

"I feel very happy for Ajinkya. He is a sincere and hard working cricketer. I have always been impressed with his commitment and dedication. I am sure he will give his best and give us a reason to be proud of him. I wish him all the best," Tendulkar told PTI.

Rahane's elevation has come days after he was dropped from the playing XI for the last two One-dayers in the recent Bangaldesh ODI series.

Regular skipper Dhoni had justified Rahane's exclusion, saying he struggles to rotate strike on slow pitches.

India are scheduled to play three ODIs in Harare (July 10, 12 and 14) followed by a couple of Twenty20 Internationals (July 17 and 19). 

SACHIN TENDULKAR TO BE SPECIAL INVITEE TO MCA'S CIC MEETINGS

The newly-formed managing committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has appointed a star-studded Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) for the 2015-2017 seasons.

MCA vice-president and former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar will chair the panel. He will be joined by another former India skipper, Ajit Wadekar, former India players Pravin Amre, Sanjay Manjrekar and Ajit Agarkar, former India women's captain Diana Edulji, former Mumbai captain Amol Muzumdar and managing committee member Deepak Patil. According to Vengsarkar, Sachin Tendulkar will be a special invitee to the CIC's meetings. The batting great has agreed to share his views with the committee and will attend its meetings as and when required.

The CIC, which has been formed and disbanded on many occasions, will take up the job of appointing the selectors, coaches and support staff for every age group, including the first-class unit. It will also appoint a director for the Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy in Bandra-Kurla Complex. As promised by Sharad Pawar before the elections, the MCA has decided to give each of its member clubs an additional membership of the world-class facility in BKC.

"The next three months are crucial for us. We have to get things in order before the cricket season starts in (September-October). The CIC comprises some great players who have served Mumbai and Indian cricket," Vengsarkar said.

The managing committee has announced the formation of 24 committees, including one for registration of players, but there is no mention of a disciplinary committee. Over the past few years, players belonging to different age-group teams have been involved in several cases of indiscipline. Vengsarkar said that the MCA "will not tolerate any act of indiscipline" from any player, be it "a superstar or an Under-14 player".

Vengsarkar also informed that the MCA will do everything possible to launch the long overdue Mumbai Premier League. He also said that the Dr HD Kanga League, the association's pet monsoon event, will be held from August 2 to October 25. The other tournaments — Police Shield, Times Shield, Purshottam Shield, Talim Shield and Comrade Shield — will be scheduled after the Kanga League.

SACHIN TENDULKAR VOTED BEST TEST PLAYER OF 21ST CENTURY

The legend of Sachin Tendulkar once again dominated another voting round, this time conducted by Cricket Australia. The Indian batting maestro was adjudged the best Test player of the 21st century by cricket fans on an online vote.

The online poll, which witnessed more than 16,000 fans participating, was conducted on cricket.com.au to find out the best Test player since 2000. After ten days of voting and deliberations, the result was released yesterday.

Tendulkar polled an impressive 23% of the votes, followed by prodigious Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara in the second spot. Australian duo of Adam Gilchrist and Rickey Ponting followed the roll, with former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis occupying the fifth spot.

Kallis' Proteas compatriot AB de Villiers pipped Aussie wizard Shane Warne to the sixth spot. Glenn McGrath, Muthiah Muralidaran and Dale Steyn complete the top-ten list.

Surprisingly, in Cricket Austalia's version of Top 10 best Test players, Tendulkar was placed in the fifth spot with Adam Gilchrist toping the list.

In an unrivaled career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar played 200 Test matches and scored 15921 runs at an average of 53.78. He also scored a record 51 Test hundreds and 68 fifties, making him arguably the most prolific batsman of all time.