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Chitra Magimairaj
Two-time World Women's Billiards Champion and Cue Sports Player
Chitra Magimairaj is a distinguished Indian professional cue sports player who has excelled globally in snooker, English billiards, and pool. Born and raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka, she initially participated in competitive field hockey and cricket at the state level before a career-ending knee injury in 1994 led her to transition into cue sports. Overcoming the initial challenges of entering a male-dominated arena with limited facilities, she quickly established herself as a national powerhouse. Magimairaj achieved international prominence by winning back-to-back WLBSA World Ladies Billiards Championships in 2006 and 2007, becoming a pioneer for Indian women on the global cue sports stage. Her versatile sports career also includes clinching the World Women's Senior Snooker Championship titles in 2014 and 2016, along with multiple national pool championships, most recently capturing the 9-ball national title in 2026. A recipient of several state honors like the Ekalavya and Kempegowda awards, she continues to represent India on various international platforms.
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Vidya Pillai
World 6-Red Snooker Champion and Cue Sports Player
Vidya Pillai is a highly accomplished Indian professional snooker and pool player widely referred to as the Queen of the Green. Born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, she completed her education in Chennai, graduating with a degree in Visual Communication from Loyola College before entering the competitive cue sports arena. Introduced to the game in her early twenties, Pillai quickly rose to prominence through her exceptional precision, mental resilience, and technical expertise, dominating national competitions for over two decades. She is a ten-time winner of the Indian National Snooker Championship, cementing her legacy as one of the most successful female cueists in India's sporting history. On the international stage, Pillai made a breakthrough by winning a gold medal at the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2013. She earned a silver medal at the WLBSA World Women's Snooker Championship in 2017 after a closely contested final, becoming the first Indian woman to reach the tournament's final match. She achieved her ultimate individual triumph in late 2023 by capturing the IBSF World 6-Red Snooker Championship title in Doha, Qatar. Her decorated career continues to thrive across formats, highlighted by securing a historic gold medal in Heyball at the inaugural Commonwealth Billiards Championships in late 2025.
Sports
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Amee Kamani
Asian Snooker Champion and Professional Cue Sports Player
Amee Kamani is a highly accomplished Indian professional snooker and billiards player who has built an impressive record on both national and international circuits. Born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Kamani dedicated her early youth to competitive table tennis, playing the sport for a decade before shifting her focus entirely to cue sports at the age of 17. Her transition proved immensely successful, and she quickly rose to the top ranks of Indian cue sports by training at the Madhya Pradesh Snooker and Billiards Academy. Kamani achieved national prominence in 2015 by winning her first Indian National Snooker Championship after defeating veteran cueist Vidya Pillai. She achieved a rare domestic feat in late 2016 and early 2017 by winning the national titles in 6-red snooker, traditional snooker, and English billiards concurrently. Internationally, she made history in 2018 by becoming the first Indian woman to win the ACBS Asian Snooker Championship. Additionally, she has earned multiple silver and bronze medals at the IBSF World Snooker and 6-Red Championships. Recognized for her contributions to sports, she was honored with Madhya Pradesh's prestigious Vikram Award in 2015 and the Indore Gaurav Award in 2023. She remains one of India's top cueists, most recently winning the 2026 Indian National Snooker Championship.
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Ishan Kishan
Indian International Cricketer
Ishan Kishan is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Indian national cricket team and the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Born on July 18, 1998, in Patna, Bihar, Kishan relocated to Jharkhand to pursue his professional cricketing career. He made his first-class debut for Jharkhand in 2014, quickly earning a reputation as a hard-hitting top-order batsman.
Kishan shot to national prominence when he was named captain of the Indian squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, leading the team to a runner-up finish. In the IPL, he was first drafted by the Gujarat Lions in 2016 before being bought by the Mumbai Indians in 2018. He became a vital cog in Mumbai's championship-winning campaigns, known for his aggressive strokeplay.
He made his international debut for India in March 2021 during a T20I match against England, scoring a match-winning half-century. In December 2022, Kishan made history by scoring the fastest double century in a One Day International match, smashing 210 runs off just 131 deliveries against Bangladesh, becoming only the fourth Indian player to achieve an ODI double century.
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Hanuma Vihari
Indian International Cricketer
Hanuma Vihari is a prominent Indian international cricketer known for his resilient batting technique, solid composure, and grit under pressure. Born on October 13, 1993, in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Vihari represents Andhra in domestic cricket and has played extensive Test matches for the Indian national team. He first gained national attention as a member of the Indian team that won the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Over the years, he established himself as a prolific run-scorer in Indian domestic cricket. Vihari made his Test debut for India in September 2018 against England at The Oval, where he scored a fighting half-century. One of his most celebrated career moments came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. In the Sydney Test, despite suffering a severe hamstring tear, Vihari batted for over three hours alongside Ravichandran Ashwin to secure a historic draw for India, a feat widely praised for its sheer determination. In the Indian Premier League, he has played for franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals. Known primarily as a classical red-ball specialist, Vihari continues to be a crucial pillar for Andhra Pradesh in domestic tournaments. He also briefly captained the Andhra Ranji team, showcasing strong leadership skills.
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Mahant Avaidyanath
Chief Priest of Gorakhnath Mutt and Indian Politician
Mahant Avaidyanath was an eminent Indian politician and Hindu priest who served as the Chief Priest (Mahant) of the Gorakhnath Mutt, a prominent temple of the Nath monastic order in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Born as Kripal Singh Bisht in Uttarakhand, he succeeded Mahant Digvijay Nath as the head of the Gorakhnath temple. He played a central role in both regional religious affairs and national politics, serving as a Member of Parliament for the Gorakhpur constituency multiple times, representing both the Hindu Mahasabha and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Avaidyanath was a key figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement during the late 1980s and 1990s, advocating for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He was also instrumental in social reform within Hinduism, actively working to bridge caste divides and advocating for the upliftment of marginalized communities. He is highly regarded as the spiritual and political mentor of Yogi Adityanath, the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, whom he chose as his successor to lead the Gorakhnath Mutt and continue his political legacy. Avaidyanath's influence left a lasting impact on the socio-political landscape of Uttar Pradesh and Indian nationalist politics. He passed away on September 12, 2014, leaving behind a profound legacy of religious leadership and political activism that continues to shape the region.
Political
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Shyam Charan Murmu
Late Husband of Droupadi Murmu
Shyam Charan Murmu was an Indian banking professional who is widely recognized as the late husband of Droupadi Murmu, the 15th President of India. Born and raised in Odisha, India, he pursued a career in finance and worked as a dedicated officer at the Bank of India. In 1980, he married Droupadi Murmu, who was then starting her professional journey. The couple had three children: two sons, Laxman and Bauniprasad, and a daughter named Itishree Murmu. Throughout his life, Shyam Charan remained a private individual, supporting his wife as she transitioned from teaching into active politics with the Bharatiya Janata Party and served as a state minister in Odisha. The family endured profound personal tragedies within a short span, beginning with the untimely death of their eldest son, Laxman, in 2009, followed by the loss of their second son, Bauniprasad, in 2013. Shyam Charan Murmu passed away on August 1, 2014, at a hospital in Bhubaneswar due to a cardiac arrest following a prolonged illness. His life and the resilience of his family have been widely highlighted in national media coverage detailing the President's inspiring journey.
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Itishree Murmu
Daughter of Indian President Droupadi Murmu & Banker
Itishree Murmu is an Indian banking professional, widely recognized as the daughter of Droupadi Murmu, the 15th President of India. Born and raised in Odisha, she completed her schooling and higher education in her home state before pursuing a career in the financial sector. Overcoming deep personal tragedies in her family, including the untimely losses of her father and two brothers, she focused on her career and joined UCO Bank, where she currently serves as a bank officer in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In March 2015, she married Ganesh Hembram, a software engineer, in a private ceremony in Mayurbhanj; the couple has a daughter. Itishree gained prominent national media attention in 2022 when her mother was nominated and subsequently elected as the President of India. Despite her family's high-profile political standing, Itishree prefers to lead a private and humble life, continuing her professional duties in banking while occasionally attending key state events and family ceremonies at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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Pratibha Patil
12th President of India
Pratibha Patil is an Indian politician who served as the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012. A member of the Indian National Congress, she holds the historic distinction of being the first woman to hold the office of President of India. Prior to her presidency, she served as the Governor of Rajasthan from 2004 to 2007, also becoming the first woman to hold that prestigious gubernatorial post.
Born in Nadgaon, Maharashtra, Patil studied law and practiced before entering active politics. She was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at a young age in 1962, representing the Jalgaon constituency. Over the next two decades, she held multiple ministerial portfolios in the Maharashtra state cabinet, focusing heavily on social welfare, public health, and education. In 1985, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament, where she served as the Deputy Chairperson from 1986 to 1988. Later, she was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 representing the Amravati constituency.
Patil's historic presidency was marked by her efforts toward women's empowerment, rural development, and social justice. Throughout her political career spanning over five decades, she remained a steadfast advocate for education and women's rights, establishing several educational institutions and cooperative societies for women in Maharashtra. She retired from active politics after completing her presidential term in 2012 and currently resides in Pune.
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