ACROSS
5 Strikes to increase, reportedly(6) WHACKS {~WAX}
9 No one here // is sane?(3,5) ALL THERE (DD)
10 In favour of including pound — current and former European currency(6) FLORIN {F}L}OR}{IN}
13 Shape lost again finally, without exercise(5) SQUAT {SQUAre}{withouT}
14 Tricky change of coordinates(4) FOXY {FO*}{XY}
16 Money controlled by party doesn’t last(7) ENDMOST {DOESNT*} around {M}
19 He mediates with a tribe, fighting over religion primarily(7) ARBITER {A+TRIBE*} around {Religion}
21 Two opponents spinning silver: “Heads!”(4) TOSS (Acrostic) &lit
24 Husband entering a foul, repulsive roadside restaurant(5) DHABA {H} in {A}{BAD}<=
25 Very stupid to drink a drop of peroxide cleaner(9) TOOTHPICK {TOO}{TH{Peroxide}ICK}
27 Rotten cracked drain starting to clog(6) RANCID {DRAIN+Clog*}
28 One breaking records with extremely unique swan song(8) EPILOGUE {EP}{I}{LOG}{UniquE}
29 Study in retreat, drinking rum as agreed(6) NODDED {DEN<=} around {ODD}
30 Royal American Company covered by media(8) PRINCESS {PR{INC}ESS}
DOWN
1 Enacts foreign policy(6) STANCE {ENACTS*}
2 Kings are killed in surreal novel(6) RULERS {SURREaL*}
3 Inhaling cocaine, hero turns yellowish(5) OCHRE {HERO*} around {C}
4 National livery sported in a cheeky manner(7) NERVILY {N}{LIVERY*}
6 Mountain slopes down south, shrouded by clouds(9) HILLSIDES {H{ILL}{S}IDES}
7 Guy tailoring your fabric(8) CORDUROY {CORD}{YOUR*}
8 Holiness — can it possibly be found in a filthy place?(8) SANCTITY {S{CAN+IT*}TY}
11 Resign from police department(4) CEDE (T)
15 Outlaw is so excited to capture vehicle going north to Spain(9) OSTRACISE {IS+SO*} around {CART<=}+{E}
17 Orange duck(8) MANDARIN (DD)
18 Got badly in debt with limitless loan(8) OBTAINED {IN+DEBT+lOAn*}
20 Brief ceremony in the middle — amazing display of elegance(4) RITZ {RITe}{amaZing}
21 Caught in rebel warfare — poor, tired soldier(7) TROOPER (T<=}
22 Jack not starting solo song(6) JINGLE {J}{sINGLE}
23 Struggling England’s opener risks making lofted shots(6) SKIERS {{England}+{RISKS}*}
26 Man haggard, missing a beautiful woman(5) HELEN {HE}{LEaN}
Reference List
New=N, Pound=L, Current=In, Setter=Me, Again=Re, Coordinates=XY, Money=M, Husband=H, One=I, Records=EP, Study=Den, American Company=Inc
Are=A, Cocaine=C, National=N, South=S, Spain=E, Jack=J, Man=He
Colour/Font Scheme
Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word, Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous
A TRIUMPH OF WILL
ReplyDeleteAs Basanti Mishra sat in the balcony of what she called her BACHELOR PAD, the only feeling in her heart was overwhelming gratitude. For all her supporters & well wishers. This was her vindication, for her ABIDING faith - in herself & her family. What is more - she felt the last of the MONSTERS leave her heart & mind, as she made her peace with God finally, CEMENTING her belief, that He is always there for you, no matter what.
Basanthi was born in Jaipur, in an affluent family, an only darling child. Her father still remembers celebrating her birth, till the wee hours at the club, with bottles of ASTI & MARSALA for all those present. Apple of her parents' eyes, she had such a protected upbringing, that even a small LACERATION at play was fussed upon by them. At that young age itself, she felt, no HARM could befall her, as long as she was in their care.
Basanthi loved to dance & she was learning Kathak from a reputed guru. She also loved jiving & wanted to learn salsa. Not being CAMERA shy, the walls of her house were adorned with her pictures in various dancing poses. She had even walked the RAMP, as a child model in a Fashion show. Her mantle shelf still carried the group of STATUETTES she had received on being declared the best RAMP walker of the show.
All this changed, one fine day, when Basanthi was 11 years old. She still remembered that Friday, when she was returning from her dance class with the driver. She was so lost in thought about the upcoming Annual Day Programme in her school, that she never knew exactly how or when the accident happened. It was only 3 days later, when she opened her eyes, in the hospital, she learnt about it. A week later, she realised, she could not move her body below the waist. First she went on a RAMPAGE, crying & shouting, refusing to believe what had happened. Later she worked on false hopes, thinking AMERICAN Doctors would have a miracle cure for her.
Finally on her 13th birthday, she came to know, inadvertently, from her class mate, that her spinal cord was injured & she was paralysed from waist below, for life. Behaving like a MANIAC, she virtually tore her room apart. While she was willing to ENDURE any amount of pain, she could not accept the fact, that henceforth, her life would be STATIONARY. It was at this point that her rift with God started. From that day onwards, she stopped praying.
Her parents showed tremendous fortitude & patience through all this. Allowing for her mood swings, they slowly introduced her to a wheel chair bound life & gently started her schooling back. Even though she had missed almost a year of school, her Principal was kind enough to accept her into her old class.
But she could not accept her lot or fate so easily. AGAIN & AGAIN, she suffered mental agony, because she could not walk, run, dance or play. But then her Dad took over. He stressed upon her, the fact, that she could still PLAY. In fact Sports would be her only salvation, to get a foothold in her new life & find purpose & meaning there. It was he who wheeled her in to the Sports Club in Jaipur, where the manager suggested she could try both Archery & Shooting. Initially the glance of the other students was ANATHEMA to her & she felt everybody was pitying her.
ReplyDeleteAll this changed, the day she decided to train shooting professionally, in 2015. Accidentally she had read a book on Abhinav Bindra, a former Olympian shooter & this inspired her.
Her shooting skills improved & within a year, she started participating & winning medals in National tournaments. She also started participating in International events.
In 2017, her name was NOMINATED for participating in the Al Ain Para Shooting World Cup & she got a silver there. The same year, she AGAIN got a Silver in the Dubai PARALYMPIC Championship. Her main event was 10m Air Rifle in the SH 1 category. As she started reaping medals across the World, no matter which STADIUM it was, she discovered a hitherto unknown purpose to her life. The ROUSING Applause, as she received the medals, should not be just for her, but for the Cause of Sports in her country & a motivation for all physically disabled people.
Her astonishing international wins helped her get selected for the 2020 Tokyo PARALYMPICS in 3 events. In the crowded STADIUM, she was the proud recipient of a Gold & a Bronze Medal. She set records of being the first Indian Woman shooter to get a Gold for the country & multiple medals in the PARALYMPICS.
When she was chosen to be the Flag bearer, at the Closing Ceremony in Japan, she felt something crumbling inside her. She felt she could glimpse God again. Through all the congratulations & celebrations that followed, her parents were always by her side. But more than that, she felt the presence of God. Inside her & beside her. Always.
After returning home, a special event was arranged at their Sports club today, to honour her. It was here that her journey had begun. As she concluded her ORATION. she said, "This win is not just for me, but for all of you who dare to dream. Yes Dreams do come true. And each one of us, has a purpose in this life. We may not always see it. But God will lead us there."
As she sat in her balcony now, looking at the setting sun, she felt a sense of home coming & returning to the folds after more than a decade.
Adapted from the real life story of AVANI LEKHARA, India's paralympic Shooter & Gold Medalist.
Touching bio!
DeleteGreat story. Admire your patience and perseverance to write such long ones blending ot with the grid entries...
DeleteBrilliant story - thanks Gowri!
ReplyDeleteInspiring and touching story Gowri! God bless you!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story. For us,Paralympics was just another event. Thank you for passing on the Bezt of your reads.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ramesh for the excellent blogging. Slightly tougher one today.
ReplyDeleteA FOXY grid. Quite enjoyable! My favs are ALL THERE, TOOTHPICK, OBTAINED. Thank you KrissKross. 😊
ReplyDeleteMy COD is 21a TOSS
DeleteFoxy toss!
DeleteGreat imagination to get foxy, though it looks simple once you get it.
Thanks MB
DeleteI also notice it's a pangram crossie!
ReplyDeleteYes,Ramesh has mentioned it in his original post.
DeleteWonderful tale piece to accompany a wonderful puzzle
ReplyDeleteThank you Vasant
Deletewhat a tale??? Truly inspiring. Hard work will give the yield. Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteNice one many wonderful clues. Such precise word play...Foxy and Toss my favourites.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it Ramesh.
Delete28A: Cluing 'records' for EP and log was brilliant! 👏
ReplyDeleteWhy is are = A?
Tough grid for me.
Yes. The grid was tougher than previous ones from the setter. Crossings helped solve a few...
Deleteare is old for area/a
Deleteare2
Delete/er,är/
nounHISTORICAL
plural noun: ares
a metric unit of measure, equal to 100 square meters (about 119.6 square yards).
Yes,the 2 records took a while to play.
DeleteYes - "are" in the cryptic reading refers to the old metric unit which is abbreviated as A.
DeleteNice tough crossword. Sanctity and hillsides my favorites
ReplyDeleteThanks Ajeesh.
DeleteNot a self-confession by any standards but I got stuck with 9-A since I reckoned the answer to be MAD HOUSE and waited till past noon when I accessed this Blog to know the fact!!!
ReplyDelete16A ENDMOST Anagram that is most difficult in the end!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteParty felt abrupt in surface, partying would have made things easier. But not sure technically it can be anaind.
'Party' doesn't figure in the list of anagrams in Chambers crossword dictionary.
DeletePerhaps "money acquired by corrupt doesn't last?"
Perhaps “A parties” or “A partied” (being an intransitive verb) works for anagram of A though not listed in Chambers. Not sure of “Party A” (adjective)
DeleteThank you for the comments. I agree this was a slip-up. "Revel" is listed as anagram ind in CCD but not party. I should have avoided it - "corrupt" is a much better valid choice.
DeleteThis just came in my YouTube recommendations
DeleteSee 9A. Coincidence? 😑
https://youtu.be/ew_aqh9ytKg
Sounds nice. Corrupt is very apt.
ReplyDelete17D...Recently I shared the picture of mandarin duck in LinkedIn 2 days ago. Never expected that this will be featured today's blog. Thanks to Krisskross it hits once again.Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteBTW, MANDARIN, PRINCESS & FOXY are my favorites. My Aha moment was 17D!!!!!
Thank you Prasanna.
DeleteAfter a hearty lunch at DHABA Inn so tasty
ReplyDeleteUsing a TOOTHPICK to clean the cavity
I NODDED off solving the champ's crossie
With nice and clever clues some so FOXY
Need something simpler after the ecstasy?
.........
Do look in at the special tomorrow morning it's going to be very easy...hope to see you ALL THERE!
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteRamesh, sitting in his BACHELOR PAD,
ReplyDeleteWith the empty glass of MARSALA he had just had;
Against corruption, wanted to go on a RAMPAGE
Alas! Once AGAIN forgetting, his true age;
As he dozed off, he came crashing to the ground,
Thank God! To capture this sight, there was no CAMERA around!
Nice
DeleteDedicated to all the Rameshes of our blog!!!! 😊😊😊
ReplyDeleteBit tough. Liked FOXY & PRINCESS :)
ReplyDelete