By 2035, India hopes to have its own space station and send astronauts to the moon.

India hopes to send an astronaut to the moon by 2040, according to the government, which announced the goal on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also instructed the space agency to develop plans for a space station by 2035.

India became the fourth nation overall to successfully complete a soft landing in August, just days after a similar Russian attempt failed. This achievement helped India's aspirations for space travel to soar.

After that achievement, India launched a rocket to study the sun, and this week, as part of a crewed space mission, a test is planned.

According to a statement from the government, the prime minister ordered that India should now set new and ambitious targets, such as establishing the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the moon by 2040.

The Department of Space will create a roadmap for moon exploration in order to carry out this vision, it continued.

In addition, PM Modi urged scientists to work on Venus and Mars expeditions.

Asian Games: A historic table tennis bronze that was 20 years in the making

Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee's giant-slaying run ended with a historic bronze medal at the Asian Games after the Indian duo lost the closely-fought women's doubles semifinal 3-4 to North Korea in Hangzhou on Monday.

Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee (AFP Photo)

HANGZHOU: Coming to China and not soaking in the ping pong, or table tennis atmosphere is like visiting India and not watching cricket. The Mukherjees, Ayhika and Sutirtha, started making those plans two decades ago as kids in West Bengal's Naihati.

The Indian pair realised their dream of playing at the Asian Games in style at the 19th Asian Games with a bronze medal in women's doubles the country's maiden podium finish in the category at the Games.

SMASHING IN STYLE: THE MUKHERJEE SISTERS🏓

🇮🇳's Table Tennis phenomenal duo, Ahyika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee script history at #AsianGames2022 by clinching the BRONZE MEDAL 🏓🥉 in the women's doubles event! 🙌💫

They've broken the barrier in style, getting India's… pic.twitter.com/FDVUgnD06p

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) October 2, 2023

Two days before losing in the semifinals, the Mukherjees had hushed a capacity crowd at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium by defeating China's reigning world champions Chen Meng and Yidi Wang in their last-eight match to create a massive stir in China - a country that virtually worships its TT stars.

There was a beeline to get their thoughts after the win over the world champion team. The same surname of two Indian girls foxed some of the foreign journalists into believing that they are sisters.

"We are not sisters, but we share the same surname. We have known each other and played together since childhood, so it is very easy to understand each other," Ayhika had said then.

"I can read her mind and she can read mine. And we really have fun on the table, no matter if we are losing or are playing against the world's best."

The semifinal entry assured them a medal. But the last-four clash against the North Koreans Cha Suyong and Pak Sugyong on Monday ended in an agonising defeat that travelled the distance in the best-of-seven match.

The Koreans won 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 for a place in the gold-medal match.

"They (Ayhika & Sutirtha) started in the same club," said coach Mamta Prabhu.

"Their friendship goes back more than 20 years. They know each other really well, know the ins and outs of each other. That's why the bonding is really strong."

The Mukherjees didn't start well, but kept throwing punches to come back, but then lost the fourth and fifth games, facing a must-win situation in the next game. They won it to make it 3-3 and take the match into the decider.

"I think the North Koreans had a few points where they played really fantastic and they (Indian team) were totally out of rhythm then. Not a happy day for us, I can say."

The crowd wasn't as much a factor on Monday as in the quarterfinal, but the locals still backed the Koreans.

"We are used to it. In the last match (quarter-final) we played against China. There were more cheers than this. This time the crowd was in favour of North Korea but we are used to it," said Mamta.

Sutirtha and Ayhika, childhood friends from Naihati, are happy, though the disappointment of not going past the semi-finals was also evident in their words.

Asian Games 2023 Live Updates: Indian men's hockey team looks to finish group stage on top

Sunday, October 1 turned out to be the most productive day for India in its Asian Games history as it yielded a total of 15 medals. October 2 will present another opportunity for the Indian contingent to build on that momentum and aim for more medals in athletics and table tennis.

Image Source : PTI

Asian Games 2023 Live Updates: Indian men's hockey team looks to finish group stage on top

After a high-flying Sunday (October 1) that saw India bag the most medals ever in its history of the Asian Games, it is now time for the Indian athletes to look for more as the continental event in Hangzhou moves into its ninth day. India finished day eight of the Games with 13 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze medals - a total of 53 medals.

Monday, October 2 has plenty of action in store for the Indian fans but the match that has already made enough headlines is the women's doubles semifinal of table tennis that will witness Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee's battle against Suyong Cha and Sugyong Pak.

The Indian duo has already confirmed a medal but if it wins the semis then India will be assured a silver - the country's first-ever in the history of the Asian Games. In athletics, Amlan Borgohain will be the centre of attraction in the men's 200 m race.