The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

SPORT

A billion hopes dashed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — Disappointed city residents blamed the “expected dismal” performance of the Indian hockey team in the Sydney Olympics on the politics and lack of professionalism in all sport in India, including hockey. They said the lack of competitiveness and the habit of losing was taking its toll on sport and players alike.

Tarlochan Singh Bawa, who was part of the 1948 London Olympics hockey team that won a gold medal for India, said the performance of our players was disappointing this time. He said, “Our players lack devotion towards the game and the country. They play for themselves and not for the nation. They lack stamina and speed and are less talented than foreign players.”

“It is unfortunate that despite getting all facilities, including good coaches, they show poor results. In the past, we have never let our country down. We had no coaches who could train us. We performed well only due to our dedication and enthusiasm,” he said.

Mr Rakesh Kumar of ICICI Bank said, “The baised team-selection was the first stumbling block. Though most persons expected the team to lose, they were hoping that it would reach the semi-finals at least.”

Gurbir Singh, a Class XII student, said, “What can they do now? Let them return and begin the improvement exercise right away. The mismanagement of facilities in India has caused the downfall of the game.”

“Our style of playing is outdated and players have little incentive or facilities. By continuing to send the hockey team to play in the Olympics even after successive defeats, we are tarnishing our image. We should rather ask the players to justify their bad performance and punish the IHF for not providing the players with adequate facilities,” Mr Jagdish Sehgal, a lecturer, said.

An advocate, Ms Harjeet Kaur, said, “Our team lacks enthusiasm and Indians have accepted losing as a way of life. Our players do not give their best. There is a need to include fresh blood in the team. This team is mostly a spent force.”

Mr B.C. Chabbra, a local resident, said the loss was expected. He said, “India can never do well in sport. We are sick of successive defeats. Such performances prove that the selection procedures that being followed in the country are doubtful. Selectors should take such poor performances seriously.”

Many residents said Indian leaders talked of false pride in their speeches in foreign countries. “The whole world is watching where we stand. The country with the second largest population in the world cannot produce a few good players,” said Mr Vinod Sharma, a resident of Sector 21 of Panchkula.

Mr Vijay Vashisht, a businessman, said all hopes of the countrymen were pinned on the hockey team. He said, “India has got dead wood in the name of experienced players. They should at least give a chance to young players.”

Mr R.C. Dutta, a resident of Sector 38, said Indian players lacked only motivation. “They never consider that if they perform badly, the country goes into a depression.”

Mr Harmohan Singh, a former excise inspector, said the team did not play well. “I was disgusted after watching the match. They could have applied pressure on the other team as they needed only one more goal. Winning was not impossible, if they had the killer instinct.” he said.

Manish Chaddha and Rupinder Kaur, both students, said the Indian team lost due to over-confidence. Manish said, “I expected India to lose in all sport in Sydney. The lone bronze medal came as a surprise for me.”

AG shuttlers enter final
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — AG (Tamil Nadu) will take on AG (UP) in the final of the team event of the men section to be held tomorrow in the All India (IA and AD) Badminton Meet in progress here at Sector 42 indoor hall today. AG (TN) beat AG( Bihar), 3-1, while AG (UP) downed AG (Rajasthan), 3-1, in the semi-finals.

In the individual events, Arul Sunderam of Delhi beat Himanshu Goswami of east zone; Ranveer Singh of Rajasthan beat Anitan Das of Orissa; and Amit Mehrotra of UP beat S. Kannan of TN. In women singles, Vandna Gupta of UP defeated Daisy Thomas of Kerala, while in Veteran singles, Daud Karketta of Madhya Pradesh defeated KS Rayker of Karnataka.

Ball badminton

SD Public School, Sector 32, and Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 38 (west), reached in the last four of the UT Inter School Ball Badminton event in under-14 section by defeating Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, 29-8, 29-6, and Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, 29-21, 29-25. The other winners were, GMSSS-33, SGGSSS-35, SDPS-32 and GMSSS-33. In under-17 section, GSSS-38, GMSSS-21, SPS-41 and GMSSS-19 made it to the semi-finals of the event.

In inter-school badminton events for under-14, GMSSS-35 beat GHS-36, 2-1; GMSSS-16 b GMSSS-10, 2-1; DAVPCS-8 b AKSIPS-41, 2-0; St John’s-26 b MRASSS-27, 2-1; while in under-19 section, DAVSSS-8 b MRASSS-27, 2-0.

Pataudi Trophy

The Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to the Haryana Cricket Association) has selected 22 players for the Pataudi Trophy to be held next month. According to Mr Surinder Singh ‘Baijee’, Secretary of the CCA, the players have been asked to report for a camp at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, tomorrow. Chandigarh will play their first match on October 4.

The players are, Ajay Sikka, Navpreet, Charanpreet, Ravi K. Singh, Kulbir Singh, Vishal Sharma, Randhir Nain, R.P. Singh, M.P. Singh, Rajeev Datta, Amit, Ramandeep, Sandeep Sharma, Harminder Channa, Jagjit Saini, Mandeep Singh, Anurag Taneja, Sumit Verma, Arun Madan, Azad Kumar, Harminder Singh and Ramanjot Singh.

Bishnoi Cricket Club beat PCA Colts
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — S.S. Das, the Ranji player of Orissa who scored 79 runs in 81 deliveries, supported by Railways’ Ranji player Tejinder Singh who claimed four wickets for 38 runs enabled the Bishnoi Cricket Club to defeat the PCA Colts by seven wickets in the VIIIth JP Attray Memorial Cricket Tournament at the PCA Cricket Stadium here today.

The match was reduced to 40 overs as the outfield was soggy due to overnight rain. Ankur Kakkar and Gaganinder Garry opened for the PCA Colts against the bowling of test player Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Haryana Ranji player Vineet Jain. The initial breakthrough was provided by Vineet who got Garry cought in first slip by J Arun Kumar. Later he had Kakkar caught by Gautam Gambhir. After 20 overs, the PCA Colts could manage just 82 runs. Skipper Pankaj Dharmani consolidated the innings with his defiant knock of 30 runs. Left arm spinner Tejinder Singh claimed four wickets including the prized wicket of testplayer Pankaj. S.P. Singh who scored unbeaten 53 runs thereby enabling the PCA Colts together 203 runs in 40 overs.

The Bishnoi Club was in trouble as J Arun Kumar and Nikhil Hadipur were trapped in front wicket with hardly anything substantial on the board. Gautam Gambhir and S Das played well to take the team out of trouble. Gambhir completed his half century in just 31 deliveries.

After 20 overs, the Bishnoi Club had scored 108 runs for the loss of two wickets. S.S. Das scored 79 runs of 81 deliveries. The Bishnoi Club achieved the target in the 35th over.

Tomorrow Punjab Cricket club led by Vikram Rathore will take on Air India led by test star Praveen Amre.

Brief scores: PCA Colts — 203 for eight in 40 overs (S.P. Singh 53 n.o, Pankaj Dharmani 30, Rakesh Rehni 30, Sandeep Sawal 28, Tejinder Singh 4 for 38, Vineet Jain 2 for 29).

Bisnoi CC — 207 for three in 34.2 overs (SS Das 79 n.o., Gautam Gambhir 78, D. Das Gupta 15, Amrinder 2 for 45).

ADMINISTRATION

MC to maintain parks
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Sept 26 — The local Municipal Council is being handed over the maintenance of parks developed by the horticulture wing of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) in the town. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting between officials of the council and PUDA.

Mr Jaipal Singh, Administrator of the council, said the parks were likely to be handed over to the council within a week’s time. An Executive Engineer of Horticulture recently transferred to the council would look after the parks. The council was also making efforts to take over the maintenance of green belts in the town. An earlier scheme of allowing local resident welfare associations to maintain parks under a mohalla sanitation scheme did not atract any takers.

Meanwhile, the council has restarted its special cleanliness drive. Special focus is being laid on improving basic amenities.