SPORT

Seven Indians in last eight
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — Seven Indians entered the quarterfinals of the qualifying rounds of the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament which began here today at the CLTA complex in Sector 10.

Mahanandan Tyagi of Sweden was the only non-Indian to reach the quarterfinals of these rounds. The top seed in these rounds, Ruslan Mukhmed Zanov of Uzbekistan bowed out in the second round after losing to Jacoi Mathew in three sets.

Devesh Poddar of the USA, who was seeded second in these matches, lost tamely to M. Tyagi, while the fourth seed Sujeet Kumar of Sweden played a good game, but, lost to Nikesh Singh of India. Chhatwinder Singh, a product of the CLTA who later joined the Britannia Amritraj Academy in Chennai, beat Justin Daniel Seow of Malaysia.

The draws for the main rounds will be held tomorrow evening. Chinese players Shuai Peng and Xie Yan Zeh, who recently reached the finals of ITF meet in Delhi, have already arrived here. Uros Kuhar of Slovenia is another top player among boys who will play in the tournament.

The boys' matches are being played on Plexi Cushion courts, while the girls' matches will be played on clay courts.

Sunil Kumar, winner of the past three ITF tournaments, is not playing and is at Lucknow for the Davis Cup tie.

Results of qualifying rounds are as follows: Prequarterfinals — Jacoi Mathew (Ind) b Ruslan Mukhamed Zanov (Uzeb) 2-6, 6-0, 6-0; Nikhil Vijay Murali (Ind) b Varun Giri (Ind) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); Dhananjay Kawde (Ind) b Rohan Kranti (Ind) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1; Varun Walia (Ind) b Ilayat Ali (Kuw) 6-1, 6-3; Nikesh Singh (Ind) b Sukeet Kumar (Ind) 7-6 (3), 6-4; Chhatwinder Singh (Ind) b Justin Daniel Seow (Ind) 6-4, 6-0; Mahanandan Tyagi (Swe) b Devesh Poddar (USA) 6-1, 6-2; Gursharan Singh (Ind) b Ankur Singla (Ind) 6-1, 6-4.

National Adventure Festival
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — The sixth National Adventure Festival, was today inaugurated at the Cricket Stadium in Sector 16 here. The opening ceremony included bursting of crackers, a colourful cultural programme and an impressive march past by the participants from 19 states.

Mr Mahabir Prasad, Governor, Haryana, inaugurated the festival and unfurled the National Adventure Flag. He appealed to spot talent in the rural areas and gave the example of Santosh Yadav, who despite coming from rural background of Haryana, had scaled Mt Everest and was recently given Padama Shri.

Ram S. Verma, President of the National Adventure Club (India), said the basic aim and idea of such a festival was to inculcate the spirit of facing the realities of life in the young generation.

Mr Sanjay Kothari, Vice-President of the club, said the festival helped the youth in developing special interest in skiing.

Mr A.M. Nagar, Deputy Chief Manager of the Indian Oil Corporation, said the marathon would be a unique event of the festival.

The participants will leave for their respective destinations tomorrow.

ADMINISTRATION

Control room on encroachments
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — The Chandigarh Administration has set up a control room to monitor encroachments in the union territory. The control room (phone 709125) will work round the clock and is located in room No 2 on the first floor of the Estate Office, Sector 17. Any person can pass on information about any fresh encroachment at this telephone number at any time. Written complaints can also be lodged with the control room.

Promoted: Mr Sukhdev Sharma, Sales Tax Inspector, has been promoted and appointed Excise and Taxation Officer, Chandigarh Administration.

Deputation: Mr K.S. Raju, Chairman, Ratna Memorial Charitable Trust, and Mrs Sushil Kaur Raju, called on the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), and apprised him of the work being undertaken by the trust in the slum areas of the union territory.

Villagers: A deputation of the leaders of various villages of the union territory called on the Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), on Friday and submitted to him a memorandum regarding various problems faced by the villagers, especially in the wake of the recent hike in sales tax on cattle feed. The deputation maintained that after bringing cattle feed to the 4 per cent slab, the dairy farmers of Chandigarh would be put to a disadvantageous position as there was no sales tax on cattle feed in Punjab. This sales tax hike would lead to an indirect increase in the prices of milk in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The deputation wanted that the sales tax on cattle feed should be withdrawn immediately.

Order to printers on poll material
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 29—Keeping in view the Assembly elections scheduled for February 22 in Haryana, the district administration, under Section 127 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, issued directions to all printers to provide complete information of the election material printed by them.

In this regard, the District Election Officer, Mr SK Monga, said that no printer would be allowed to print posters and pamphlets without giving details of name and address as per directions received from the Election Commission. He informed that if a printer wanted to print campaigning material, he would be required to take an undertaking from the publisher.

Further, the press note issued by the official spokesperson said that according to directions received from the Election Commission, the printer will be required to submit four copies of the printed election material along with a copy of the undertaking from the publisher to the District Election Officer. Also, he will be required to specify the number of copies being printed and the charges for the same.

Ex-Mayor charged with misleading EC
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Jan 29— In a complaint filed today before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Panchkula, Mr Ved Pal Gupta, the former President of the Youth Congress, Mr Rajeev Awasthi, alleged that the former Mayor of Chandigarh, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, has got himself enrolled as a voter in the Kalka Constituency, without getting his name deleted from the Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency.

The CJM fixed February 11 as the date for preliminary evidence. The complainant also accused Mr Gupta of misleading the Election Department by giving a false declaration about his residence and age.

A case under sections 420 and 191 of the IPC, and Section 31 of the Representation of People’s Act, 1950, has been registered.

48 stray dogs vaccinated
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Jan 29 — As many as 48 stray dogs were vaccinated against rabies at a camp organised by the local Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (SPCA) in Shastri Model School, Phase 1, here, today.

The President of the society, Mr N. S. Gill, said the camp was organised as part of a programme of the central government to vaccinate stray dogs. The dogs were caught with the held of trained personnel.

Earlier, students of the host school were educated on the prevention of cruelty to animals by members of the SPCA. They were asked to inform the office of the SPCA in Phase 7 here if they saw any injured animal on the road.

The SDM, Mr O. P. Popli, who was the chief guest, said he had urged the Sarpanch of Lakhnour village to donate land for a gaushala there.