Hong Kong's fencing queen Vivian Kong claimed her first Olympic gold medal in a nerve-wracking bout against local favourite Auriane Mallo-Breton of France.

Badminton is not as popular as cricket in India and therefore comparatively does not attract as many sponsors.

"We are the underdogs in this race. Level set, ok. We are the underdogs in this race, but this is a people-powered campaign," Vice President Harris said, addressing a group of 800 fundraisers in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Three civil services aspirants died on Saturday after the basement of a building, which was part of a coaching centre, was flooded following heavy rain in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area.

The bodies of two female students and a male student were retrieved from the site during the rescue operation, which was also conducted by police and the fire department.