SPORT

Andy Ram hopes to do well
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Feb 21 — One needs to be mentally tough on the court, says Andy Ram of Israel, who is here to take part in the ATP Challengers tennis meet in progress at the CLTA courts.

Ram is ranked 270th in the ATP list and is the second seed here. He has frequently played in the Indian circuit. He is hopeful of performing well here.

Andy claims that in 14 years of his tennis career, he has excelled both in singles and doubles. He is playing doubles with Oleg Ogorodov of Uzbekistan and has been given top seeding. His word of advice for junior players of India is that they should not shirk from playing tournaments thinking that they will lose. They will learn from their weaknesses which they can always improve upon, he stresses.

Nauch suggests strokes to golfers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 21 — In yet another effort to satisfy the impulsive desire of the Chandigarhians ‘to live with golf’, the Chandigarh Golf Association has invited Mr Richard Nauch, a golf teaching professional from the USA, to supplement its golf teaching efforts for the benefit of its members. Richard is the senior teaching Pro’ at the Poppy Hills golf Course, Pebble Beach California, Pebble Beach is the top golfing destination in the USA.

The four-day golf clinic was unique in a way that it catered to golfers of all abilities.

Understandably, the beginners group attracted the maximum attendance. Seven women, including three foreigners, and 27 other golfers took part in the clinic. In fact, many more had to be disappointed due to capacity constraints. In addition, eight of the leading young golfers of the city, including Gurbaz Mann, Girish Virk, Mandhar Saddi and Vikramjit Singh, also attended the clinic.

The training schedule was organised in four groups, one each of the beginners, women seniors (plus 60) and the low handicap players in different sessions, each session being of two hours. Specially designed drills and exercises were the most interesting part of the training, which also included revision of the fundamentals.

Col Nirmal Singh (retd), Director, Hero Honda CGA Golf Academy, who is himself trained in the USA, feels such shorts clinics add an impetus to the training curriculum, which otherwise follow an identical teaching system. Each teacher brings with him his own method of teaching. These help in generating more enthusiasm and keenness in the learning process. One such technique was the introduction of competitive activities and on-the-spot prizes and awards. Bazz Mann, Vikramjit and Girish were the recipients of some very attractive Pebble Beach memorabilia in return of their efforts in performing the innovative and exacting drill routines. In fact, there were lessons for one and all, be it the golfers or the organisers, Mr Surinder Jhina, vice-president, CGA, was a constant source of encouragement and provided excellent management support for the conduct of the clinic.

Basketball meet begins today
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Feb 21 — The senior Chandigarh basketball championship for men and women will begin tomorrow at the Sector 7 sports complex. Teams have been divided into two pools.

Mr K.S. Bharti says Ms Paramjeet Kaur will act as observer for this meet. There will be four quarters of 10 minutes and the rest period will be of 15 minutes. A two-minute break will be allowed in each quarter.

Boxing bouts:
The Chandigarh Boxing Players Welfare Association today organised bouts in men and women sections to raise funds for the Gujarat earthquake victims. Twenty boxers took part. They raised Rs 15,000 while Rs 3250 was collected on the spot. The amount would be handed over to Director Sports UT.

Football tourney: The North Zone Audit football tournament will be held at the Sector 17 Football Grounds from February 22 to 24. The participating teams in this meet are AG (Haryana), AG (UP), AG (Audit, Delhi) and AG Punjab.