HEALTH

Training begins
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, March 28 — Quoting from a survey conducted by the Government of India, Dr P.L. Jindal, Project Director of the Haryana AIDS Control Society, said Haryana had achieved a birth rate of 24.2 per cent, according to the data compiled from 12 districts of the state. He was speaking at the second district-level training programme which was inaugurated here yesterday.

Specialists from various fields, including surgery, medicine, dental surgery, the ENT, pathology, skin as well as physicians drawn from Bhiwani, Hisar, Sonepat, Sirsa and Gurgaon districts participated in the workshop.

Dr Jindal talked about the second phase of the National AIDS Control Programme and said there would be ten voluntary testing centres in the state by June.

SPORT

Rohini, JV Singh triumph
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 28 — The eighth Chandigarh Open Amateur Ladies Spice Golf Championship got off to a flying start at the Chandigarh Golf Club today with the lucky partners against bogey competition when 80 participants teed off in fine conditions.

The good weather and inspiration of the ladies contributed to some fantastic scores and the winning team of Rohini Majithia of Delhi and Cdr. J.V Singh finished with a record breaking score of plus 12, followed by Dimple Minocha and P.P.S. Sawhney just one adrift at plus 11 and Kirat Grewal and Bunny Sandhawalia at plus 9.

Even though the main tournament commences tomorrow some of the participants displayed great form local star Irina Brar, true to form, brought in the best gross score of one over part 73, firing birdies on the difficult seventh (par five) and the 14th and finishing off with a superb brace on the 17th and 18th.

Shruti Khanna of Delhi took a while to settle down and after playing six over in the front nine made a commendable come back with a level par back nine to card a 78. Bunny Sandhawalia, the erstwhile captain of the course, carried the torch for the gentlemen also bring four birdies but finishing two over 74.

The team of Rohni Majthia and Cdr J.V Singh combined exceedingly well to make every hole but the 5th, a point winner in the front nine. Though they were unable to maintain the tempo in the back nine they still played a fabulous game to win from Dimple Minocha and PPS Sawhney.

Refresher courses for coaches
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 28 — The Department of Sports of the Chandigarh Administration would conduct weekly refresher courses on various topics, said Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director Sports of the UT. He said earlier, on every Monday, the UT coaches used to mark their attendance at the office, but, in order to give a practical shape to their theoretical training, it had been decided to have combined seminars at the Sector 42 Sports Complex. These would begin from the next month and coaches would speak on selected topic related to their fields. Mr Sidhu said this would help coaches share information which they could pass on to their trainees.

Squash lovers should also cheer up as a new centre for the sport will now come up in Chandigarh. Mr Sidhu said the Sector 23 centre which already had swimming, boxing and yoga facilities, would also see the advent of squash training in the coming session. Amitoj Inder Singh, a renowned squash player, had also been appointed coach on contract basis.

In another decision, Mr Sidhu said all sport facilities would be given green cover by planting more saplings before the rains. Already at Sector 7 and the Sector 46 Sports Complex, a drive had been launched past fortnight to plant saplings.

An awards ceremony for honouring sportspersons would also be held next month, for which, shortlisting had been done. Sportspersons would be given cash incentives by the Chandigarh Sports Council.

Mr Sidhu said the proposed football academy would come up soon.

League cricket

The IVth UT league Cricket Tournament will be organised by the UT Cricket Association at different locations in the city from April 9. Entries close with Mr S.S. Bawa at 2499, Sector 19-C, or at the association's office at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium.