Is Vladimir Putin, Now Reportedly Romancing Wendi Deng, a Secret Lothario?
First
came rumors of not one but two love children—with a beautiful rhythmic
gymnast. Then there was the seductive boxer. Now Putin is said to be
‘serious’ with Rupert Murdoch’s ex.
Vladimir Putin is dating Wendi Deng, at least according to a report in US Weekly.
The
tabloid cited a no doubt top-level source as saying the former Mrs.
Rupert Murdoch’s relationship with the Kremlin strongman is “serious,” even if she doesn’t fit the pattern of elite Russian athletes he has been linked to in the past.
“Deng
has yet to be spotted looking romantic with the Russian leader, but was
seen boarding her pal Roman Abramovich’s yacht in St. Bart’s on Monday,
March 28,” the magazine reports. “Abramovich also happens to be friends
with Putin.”
This incontrovertible proof of a new love match comes nearly three years after Deng and Murdoch’s divorce, in June 2013, reportedly over her close relationship with former British prime minister Tony Blair.
But occasional Putin/Deng rumors have been circulating for years, US Weekly reports.
After he formally announced his divorce
from Lyudmila Putina in 2014, the president was widely thought to be
dating Alina Kabaeva, a former rhythmic gymnast who was derided as a
homewrecker for allegedly ruining
his marriage. Back in 2009, Kabaeva was rumored to have given birth to
Putin’s son. Though the relationship was never confirmed, the rumor mill
went into overdrive when Kabaeva was selected to light the Olympic
flame at the Sochi Olympics.
(Lyudmila Putina, for her part, seems to have moved on and remarried since the split.)
Within
a year, the media started reporting that Kabaeva appeared to be
pregnant again. When Putin briefly disappeared in March 2015, some
speculated that he had gone into hiding with the gymnast for the birth of their child in Switzerland. But a Kremlin spokesman shut down those rumors.
“Information
that a child has been born to Vladimir Putin is not true,” said Dmitry
Peskov. “I am planning to appeal to people who have money to organize a
competition for best journalistic hoax.”
But by August 2015 the Russian Internet was rife with rumors that the president had moved on with Natalia Ragozina, a top-ranked boxer equally known for her seductive photoshoots.
They appeared together at an international sambo tournament in Sochi
that month, and Ragozina was featured in a photo released by the
Kremlin.
“In
Sochi she wore heels and an evening dress,” the Russian channel NTV
reported, noting that the boxer sat between the president and prime
minister.
US Weekly
didn’t note what Wendi Deng’s Olympic event would be, should she
actually be dating Putin. But if her past marriage is any indication,
she’s a world champion at smacking down people who attack her man with pie.
India
vs West Indies: Title aspirants India
were knocked out of the ICC World Twenty20
with a heartbreaking seven-wicket defeat at the hands of West Indies,
who capitalised on the home team's sloppy bowling display in a
high-scoring semifinal showdown. Put into bat, India rode on in-form
Virat Kohli's blazing unbeaten 47-ball 89 to notch up a challenging 192
for two, but the spirited Caribbean chased down the total and made the
final with two balls to spare, leaving the capacity crowd at the
Wankhede Stadium completely stunned.
India
vs West Indies: If there was enough star power in the middle, there was
plenty in the stands too. Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani and Bollywood
actor Anil Kapoor were in attendance for the big clash. Also in the
stands were MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin's wives. Wankhede was a
packed house right from the start of the game and got behind the home
team before turning silent during West Indies assault. (Source: AP)
India
vs West Indies: The fans were left stunned. They didn't see this
coming, especially after Virat Kohli's masterclass powered India to over
190 (read 192). At the half-way mark, Wankhede seemed in a celebratory
mood and they turned even more vocal when Jasprit Bumrah castled early.
However, what followed next turned the vocal lot into mute spectators.
(Source: Reuters)
India
vs West Indies: At the start of the game, there were cheerful and happy
faces and the smile on their faces went wider after the Kohli show. It,
however, didn't last long as the Men in Blue put up a shoddy
performance with the ball and saw West Indies power him with seven
wickets to spare. (Source: Reuters)
India
vs West Indies: Simmons, caught off no ball twice in his innings that
contained 5 sixes and 7 fours, led the West Indian charge. India were
left ruing the let-offs to Simmons due to overstepping committed, first
by Ravichandran Ashwin when the batsman was on 18 in the seventh over,
and then Hardik Pandya when he was on 58 in the 15th over with West
Indies cruising at 132 for 3. Simmons put on a vital partnership of 97
runs in 62 balls with another youngster Johnson Charles (52 in 36 balls)
after West Indies had been rocked by the dismissals of swashbuckling
opener Chris Gayle (5) and Marlon Samuels (8) with just 19 on board.
(Source: PTI)
India
vs West Indies: This was the third time in four clashes in the
tournament's history that Windies had got the better of India who had
won their earlier clash two years ago in Bangladesh on way to finishing
runner-up to Sri Lanka. (Source: Reuters)
India
vs West Indies: Throughout the tournament, India were heavily dependant
on Virat Kohli at top of the order and needed Ashish Nehra's experience
in the bowling department, more often than not. Nehra and Kohli fired
again, but it was others who didn't step up on the big stage. In wet
conditions, spinners found it difficult and a struggling Hardik Pandya
didn't give Dhoni tight overs either. After ending up as runners-up in
the 2014 edition, India end their 2016 campaign as
