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SPORT

Will Chandigarh ever get BCCI affiliation ?
By Abhijit Chatterjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 19 — What have the soon-to-be created states of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have in common with the Union Territory of Chandigarh? These new states as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh are not members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Maybe in future these three states might get affiliation with the BCCI, as has been the case of states like Tripura, Goa, Himachal Pradesh etc where cricket is hardly played but for Chandigarh it has been a long and hardfought battle for affiliation, without reward. Of course granting affiliation to these new states would depend on the powers which are in control of the BCCI at that point of time.

Over the years the UT Cricket Association, which was established with the sole purpose of getting direct affiliation for Chandigarh from the BCCI, has been trying hard to achieve its aim. And if and when it succeeds players from Chandigarh will be able to get much better exposure than they are getting now. In 1985 the association was able to get the ‘‘matter of affiliation of the Union Territory of Chandigarh with the board ’’ included in the agenda in the annual general body meeting of the board held at Kanpur. But that year the issue was kept in abeyance with the promise that the matter would be discussed at some later meeting. But it is yet to come up for further discussion and while the BCCI dilly-dallies on the issue it is the cricketers from Chandigarh who continue to suffer.

The issue of Chandigarh’s affiliation took a nosedive during the time Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya was secretary of the board. At an annual general body meeting of the BCCI held in Chandigarh he went on record saying “Chandigarh is a disputed territory and, therefore, affiliation cannot be granted to it.” But the question which was raised then is still valid today : if other national sports bodies can grant affiliation to their Chandigarh unit why not the BCCI?

The BCCI has a number of affiliated units outside the states of the Union. For example the Mumbai based Cricket Club of India is one of the affiliated units with full voting powers as also the Calcutta based National Cricket Club. Moreover, there are certain states which have more than one recognised unit, for example Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh have separate affiliations. Even in a state like Gujarat three teams play in the national cricket championship — Gujarat , Baroda and Saurasthra.

Following the reorganisation of Punjab way back in 1966, Chandigarh became a Union Territory, capital of the newly-formed states of Haryana and Punjab. While Punjab was already an affiliated unit of the BCCI, Haryana got affiliation soon after. But Chandigarh was not so lucky. To give cricketers from the union territory an opportunity to play the game the BCCI graciously allowed cricketers from Chandigarh to play for either Punjab or Haryana.

In the initial period of this permission cricketers from the Union Territory did indeed profit with players turning out either for Punjab or Haryana, both in the Ranji Trophy Cricket Championship as also other tournaments conducted by the board. Two associations, one affiliated with the Punjab Cricket Association and the other affiliated with the Haryana Cricket Association, looked after the cricketing activities in the Union Territory and the boys had very little to complain.

Over the years Chandigarh indeed did itself proud by producing players like Kapil Dev, Ashok Malhotra, Chetan Sharma as also Yog Raj Singh, who all went on to play for the country. Over 100 players have also played in the Ranji Trophy from Chandigarh. Also, the Sector 16 Cricket Coaching Centre, a brainchild of the Chandigarh Administration Sports Department, did a yoeman’s service in coaching and promoting cricket and cricketers.

But these things slowed down as the game became popular in these two states, especially in Haryana which earlier had no cricketing culture. While in Punjab centres like Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar were regularly producing cricketers of some standard. In Haryana two centres emerged — Rohtak and, more importantly, Faridabad. And with these centres producing a fair number of cricketers, boys from Chandigarh hardly got a look-in whenever Punjab or Haryana conducted trials to select their state teams. Some youngsters from the city shifted base to Delhi, Faridabad, Patiala and more recently to Panchkula and S.A.S. Nagar in order to play the game for the respective states.

This year the annual general body meeting of the BCCI is scheduled to be held in Chennai later this month. Will the matter of Chandigarh’s affiliation come up for discussion again although it is not listed on the agenda? In the past such matters have been clubbed under the agenda item “any other matter with the permission of the chair”. The UT Cricket Association is making a concerted effort towards that direction. Whether is succeeds this time on not only time can answer.

Hansraj school win badminton tourney
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 19 — Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula won the kho-kho and badminton tournament played at DAV Model School, Sector 15, Chandigarh and Community Centre, Sector 7, Panchkula, respectively, today.

HPS beat Maj N Kapoor DAV Public School, Ambala, by 14-12 in kho kho, while in badminton they overpowered CL DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 11, Panchkula, by 2-0.

In other kho-kho matches of the day, DAV Model School, Panipat, beat DAV Model School, Sector 15, Chandigarh, by 16-15.

In other badminton matches, DAV Public School, Surajpur, beat DAV English Medium Model School, Sector 8, Panchkula, by 2-0; DAV Public School, Naraingarh, beat DAV Public School, Sadhoura, by 2-0; KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7, Chandigarh beat CL Aggarwal Dayanand Model School, Sector 7, Chandigarh, by 2-0.

Basketball tourney
The 2nd SNOSA basketball championship -2000 for boys will be held from September 22 to 24 in the grounds of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22. The meet is being organised by the Shishu Niketan Old Students Association (SNOSA) for schools of Chandigarh and nearby areas. Entries close on September 20 at school or by phone 0172-704986 and fax-0172-710966. This was disclosed by Mr Rakesh Khorana, president of the association.

Gurbir excels in triathlon
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Sept 19 — Gurbir Singh Gill, a student of Class XI at Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, is a multifaceted sports personality and has proved himself in cycling, swimming and triathlon. Gurbir has also done well in studies and aspires to become an engineer. His father, an ex-serviceman says Gurbir was interested in sports ever since he was a child and the family encouraged his quest for excellence in this field.

Gurbir did his schooling up to Class X for St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, where he got the desired encouragement from the Principal, Mr Harold Carver. He then decided pursue his plus two studies in a school where studies and sports both could go together. He says “The choice fell on Manav Mangal School and Mr Sanjay Sardana of the school ensured that I got all facilities”.

Gurbir who began with swimming gradually turned into a good cyclist and won a gold medal in the 1,000-metre pursuit and 500-metre time trial. It all began in 1998 when he won at the Inter-School Swimming Meet in 100-metre breaststroke and 200-metre breaststroke and a silver medal in 50-metre free style. He also won a silver medal in the under-14 triathlon meet. Then he went on a winning spree in various swimming tournaments organised by the Chandigarh Swimming Association and in 1999 he again won in the under-17 Inter-School Swimming Tournament organised by the Education Department.

Gurbir says since triathlon consists of swimming, cycling and running, he wanted to testify his skills in it. He went on to win the silver medal in the sub-junior meet. A good cycle generally used by national-level cyclists is expensive and Gurbir could not afford one at this juncture. Despite this handicap he won accolades in different meets. He took seriously to cycling last year and won the gold medal in the under-14 800-metre time trial and the silver medal in 1,000-metre massed start. He also bagged the gold medal in 100-metre breast-stroke in the under-17 section and another gold in 4x100 metres medley events. Gurbir represented Chandigarh in the ninth Sub-Junior National Triathlon Championship in Chennai and in November, 1999, took part in the swimming event in the 45th National School Games held at Patiala.

In winter one cannot do swimming in the city as there is no all-weather pool, so I utilised my time in cycling during these months, he says. Gurbir wants to excel in cycling, but lack of a good quality cycle has retarded his progress in this sport. He is happy that triathlon has got its maiden entry into Sydney Olympics. According to him, Chandigarh requires a cycling velodrome on priority so that promising youngsters of the city in this sport do not lag behind. Another problem faced by the city swimmers is the lack of representation of Chandigarh directly in the national swimming meets since no association from the city is recognised at the national level. The city swimmers have to first take part in events in any neighbouring state like Haryana and Punjab to gain entry in a national meet.

City weightlifters delighted
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 19 — When the India-Australia hockey match was being shown live today afternoon on Doordarshan Sports, in first half, the commentators announced that India had won the first medal at the Sydney Olympics, a bronze, through the women weightlifter Karnam Malleswari.

Nirmaljit Singh, an international powerlifter of repute, was of the view that Karnam’s feat would give much encouragement to the budding weightlifters of the country. He said Indian women should focus on the below 63 kg section. He said the girls needed more exposure and incentives, including prize money.

During a visit to the local weightlifting centre in Sector 42 in the evening, women weightlifters were seen much delighted and proud that the game, which is not given much publicity, had finally restored the prestige of the nation. Reena, a BA final year SD College, student said she would feel proud in telling in public that she had been training in weightlifting for the past three years and she hoped that people would appreciate her efforts to go ahead in this sport.

Amrik Singh, a Sports Authority of India coach, posted at the centre, said the achievement of Sanamach Chanu of Manipur who came sixth on Monday in the below 53 kg class was also no less an achievement because of the tough competition. But he said at least people in general and sports fans in particular would realise today that apart from hockey, tennis, boxing there was weightlifting which could fill the void while India longed for medals in other sport.

Madhulika who usually take part in the below 63 kg class and a BA II student of GGS Khalsa College, Sector 26, said it was a big achievement and they looked forward to more such medals in the women section in other international meets. Madhulika had bagged a silver medal in Inter varsity in weightlifting and gold medal in powerlifting.

Harpreet, a BA final year student of Government College, Sector 42, said now sportwomen would start gething the better treatment in public.

Amrik Singh said that it were individual sport in which India should concentrate more since it allowed one’s hardwork to get noticed and said how Kunjarani Devi of Andhra Pradesh had worked hard during all these years to perform at the optimum level. But said when her performance was at the pea, the event was not in the Olympics. When asked why north was not producing good quality weightlifters, Amrik Singh said girls from south and north-east were dedicated and there the culture of sports had developed in entirety. He said it was ironical that no one was ready to sponsor weightlifters and with the present medal in the Olympics, the attitude might change.

4 HUDA vehicles attached
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Sept 19 — Following orders of the Panchkula Additional District Judge, four vehicles of the Haryana Urban and Development Authority (HUDA) were attached today. The vehicles include three garbage collection vans and one truck.

Over 55 acres was earlier acquired by HUDA for the expansion of the town on the other side of the Ghaggar in 1989 and the award was given in 1992. The execution proceedings were filed for releasing the amount, but it was not deposited by HUDA.

An application for attachment of the HUDA property was moved and the orders were passed by the court. In pursuance of the orders, four vehicles were brought to the court premises.

The decree holders had filed a petition, complaining that they were given inadequate compensation for the acquired land. They had further alleged that HUDA paid two instalments in two cases, but no payment was made in one case. They further alleged that HUDA was not paying compensation in lump sum in lieu of acquisition of the land.

The compensation was being paid in unequal instalments, they had alleged. The decree holders had also alleged that HUDA had made lump sum payments to some influential persons.

250 complaints solved at khula darbar
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Sept 19 — As many as 250 complaints regarding electricity, water, pension, roads, streets and encroachments were taken up and solved by the Deputy Commissioner during a khula darbar organised by the district administration in Barwala and Raipur Rani yesterday.

More than 120 and 164 complaints were taken up by the Deputy Commissioner at Barwala and Raipur Rani, respectively. He appealed the resident to file the complaints on facts so that these may be solved within no time. He directed the officialS to solve public grievances in time to win public faith.

The DC directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (North) to get the area along the roadsides at Barwala bus stand cleaned with the help of the Public Works Department and the local panchayat. He directed the Public Health Department to conduct a survey to check the water shortage problem in the township. He also directed to shift the liquor vend from the present site in Mattawali on the complaint of the village women.

Complaints taken up in Raipur Rani related to construction of houses of the Indira Awas Yojna and the entry of their name in the list of persons below the poverty line. Mr Mohinder Singh, of Garhi village complained that he had received an electricity bill of over Rs 16,000 without having any meter for the past over two and a half years, though he had deposited the required security funds with the department.

Councillor writes to UT Administrator
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 19 — The Congress councillor, Ms Kamlesh, has written to the UT Administrator urging him to look into the proposal of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) for handing over the work of the 4th phase of the Kajauli water works to the Punjab Public Health Department (PPHD).

In her letter, she alleged that the MCC was suffering a loss of Rs 1 crore annually on the maintenance of first and second phases of the Kajauli water works being undertaken by the (PPHD). The annual expenses on the maintenance of the third phase, which is maintained by the MCC itself, is between Rs 20 and Rs 25 lakh.

She also highlighted that the corporation would have to spent Rs 7 crore by way of departmental charges to the PPHD for the execution of the fourth phase. She demanded that the civic body should maintain all three phases and execute the fourth phase.

Carrying of firearms in public banned
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 19 — Carrying of firearms in public even by licence holders have been banned following an order issued today by Mr M. Ramsekhar, District Magistrate. Any breach of it is punishable under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

This order shall not apply to police, military or paramilitary personnel and other government servants, if called upon to carry firearms in connection with their official duties. In the order, the DM observes that some members of the public have been seen moving around with small weapons openly, tucked in the waist-belt for show off and intimidation.

Carrying of weapons openly by licence holders has created panic in the public. As such, there is every apprehension of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity, besides danger to human life and safety and injury to public property by the display of weapons. This order will be in force till November 17.