SPORTS

DDCA to start work on new stadium
M. S. Unnikrishnan

New Delhi, July 4
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has got down to the business of constructing a brand new cricket stadium at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, now that no international match is scheduled to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground for the next twelve months.

Delhi’s curse has always been the lack of an international standard cricket stadium in the Capital.

Most of the foreign teams, one time or another, have expressed their displeasure at playing international matches at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground due to the primitive playing conditions at the Kotla ground.

The DDCA was earlier hamstrung in constructing a new stadium, as the open area on the northwestern side of the stadium was in the possession of the Delhi Government.

But the previous BJP Government in Delhi made available the land to the DDCA for constructing a stadium of international standard. Still, the DDCA could not start work on the new stadium for various reasons.

A few years ago, a new clubhouse, of monstrous proportions, was constructed on the eastern side of the Kotla ground, before India and Pakistan jointly hosted the World Cup Cricket Tournament in 1996. Even this structure was erected after overcoming a litany of woes, though the new clubhouse is far from complete even now, several years after work started on it.

Every time a Test match or a One-Day International match is played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, a cosmetic touch is given to the clubhouse to make it look it presentable.

And now, one major problem confronting the architects of the proposed stadium, Roopak Kothari and Company, is how to assimilate the monstrous structure in their new scheme of things.

The DDCA authorities have promised a brand new stadium with ultra-modern facilities, to make cricket playing and viewing at the Ferozeshah Kotla an experience to cherish. DDCA president Arun Jaitley, who was stripped of his Union Ministership during the recent Cabinet reshuffle, can now hopefully spare enough time to oversee the construction of the proposed stadium.

Mr Jaitley, along with DDCA vice-president C. K. Khanna, who is also the senior vice-president of the Board Control for Cricket in India, sports secretary Sunil Dev, vice-president Chetan Chauhan and honourary secretary Sneh Bansal, had a lengthy discussion with architect Roopak Kothari at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground. The architect also went round the stadium complex to give shape to his final plans.

CRICKET
Doll Gurang powers R K Puram Club to victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 4
A fierce bowling spell of 6 for 46 by Doll Gurang and a smashing knock of 67, off 30 balls studded with seven fours and four sixes, by Shashi Kant, helped R K Puram Club beat Poorvi Delhi Academy by seven wickets in a league match of the first Shiv Narain Khinchi Memorial Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Tyagi Public School ground. Doll Gurang was declared the Man of the Match. for his allround performance.

Scores: Poorvi Delhi Academy: 195 all out in 29 overs (Manuj Narang 89, 62b, 11x4, 4x6; Himanshu Shaily 51; Doll Gurang 6 for 46).

R K Puram: 196 for 3 in 25.3 overs (Shashi Kant 67, Balvinder Singh 52 n o, 7x4; Manu Narang 3 for 31).

Gyan Bharti tournament

Young Friends Club beat Gyan Bharti South Delhi Cricket Academy by eight wickets in the inaugural Gyan Bharti South Delhi Under-13 Cricket Tournament at the Gyan Bharti School ground, Saket.

Gyan Bharti won the toss and batted first. They were shot out for 96, and Young Friends raced to victory at the loss of two wickets.

Scores: Gyan Bharti South Delhi Cricket Academy: 96 all out in 33.1 overs (Rishab Gupta 29, Mohit Bora 25 n o, Ankit Kumar 3 for 19).

Young Friends Club: 97 for 2 in 28.5 overs (Jayant Yadav 32 n o, Samarth Singh 25 n o, Jay Karan Singh 2 for 19).

Maharaja Agarsen tourney

A devastating bowling spell of 4 for 12 by Pawan Chauhan and a dashing knock of 70 by Manas Malhotra helped DAV School, Shalimar Bagh beat Maharaja Agarsen Sports Club by 25 runs in a league match of the Maharaja Agarsen Under-19 Cricket Tournament at the Bharat Nagar ground in the Capital. DAV School won the toss and elected to bat. They made 147 all out in 34.1 overs and then dismissed Maharaja Agarsen Sports Club for 122 in 26.2 overs.

Scores: DAV School, Shalimar Bagh: 147 all out in 34.1 overs (Manas Malhotra 70, Saurabh Jain 30, Sanjay Khera 4 for 23, Kapil Satia 3 for 34).

Maharaja Agarsen Sports Club: 122 all out in 26.2 overs (Yogesh Sharma 32, Sanjay Khera 30, Pawan Chauhan 4 for 12, Abhishek Sakyja 3 for 34).

FOOTBALL
Football player drowns in Hindon river
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 4
Young Delhi footballer Sabyachanchi Mitha died following an accident at Hindon river in Ghaziabad.

Mitha, who represented Delhi in the Under-19 Junior National Football Championship for the Dr B C Roy Trophy held in Shillong recently, drowned in the river while taking bath. He had gone there along with friends for a birthday party.

Mitha, an ex-student of Raisina Bengali School, played for Simla Youngs in the DSA League this season.

He had begun his soccer career with Young Boys and Youngsters Club. Mitha was the only son of his parents.

His body was cremated in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

A prayer meeting was held at the Kali Bari temple at Minto Road, New Delhi.

The Delhi Soccer Association, the Delhi Football Players’ Welfare Association and the Delhi Veteran Football Club mourned the death of the 19-year-old Mitha.

Indian spikers stun Tunisia
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 4
Indian senior men’s volleyball team avenged their loss in the first “Test” to Tunisia when they scored an identical five-set victory at 27-25,22,25, 23-25,25-22,15-10 in the second match of the five-Test series.

The Tunisian national team was shaken out of their wits when the Indian spikers snatched the first set after a see-saw battle, with setter Kasi Viswanatha Raju brilliantly controlling the game from the middle of the court.

Raju’s neat setting enabled India to bounce back after they lost the second and third sets, and win the match.

According to information available in Delhi, Raghuveer Singh proved his worth in attack and block, when he was fielded as a substitute. M. S Rajesh shone in attack and defence in the crucial fourth and fifth sets to pave way for India’s win. Tom Joseph and Amir Singh played consistently well throughout the match. Joby Joseph, who played as a libero, acquitted himself creditably.

The confident Indian team eventually gave a thrilling finish to get even with the fancied Tunisian team.

ADMINISTRATION

Panipat administration gears up for monsoon
Our Correspondent

Panipat, July 4
Elaborate arrangements have been made in the district to face any eventuality during the approaching monsoon season. Giving this information, the officiating Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, said that instructions had been given to the Irrigation Department as well as to other officers concerned that all required arrangements for flood prevention should be in place before the monsoon begins.

The officiating DC confirmed that Rs 170.36 lakh had been sanctioned in 11 schemes to control the flood situation in the district.

A sum of Rs 24 lakh had been sanctioned to repair the Pathargarh Bundh in Rana Maszra on the bank of Yamuna Canal and rectification of Goyala complex.

An amount of Rs 4 lakh had been sanctioned for repairs and Rs 2.84 lakh for construction of a new bundh in Mirzapur for the safety of Goyala complex.

The officiating Deputy Commissioner further said that Rs 41.80 lakh had been allotted for the construction of Madloda drain, Rs 5.50 lakh for the construction of Chandoli drain, Rs 4 lakh for Dharamgarh drain, Rs 13.80 lakh for Lohari link drain and Rs 22 lakh for Buana Shamli link drain.

He also said that cleaning of the drainage system in Panipat district was in progress and would be completed before the arrival of monsoon. According to him, drains would be fully cleaned up so that floodwater could flow smoothly during the monsoon season.

The Block Development Officers and Panchayat Officers had also been instructed to repair the bundhs at Pathergarh, Rana Mazra, Nawada Par, Adhmi, Garhi Beshak, Jalapur, Sanoli, Nangla Par and Rakashera villages, he said and added that requisite tools would be arranged to meet any situation.

The acting DC ordered the Drainage Department to arrange 5,000 sandbags and 100 casual labourers for any emergency. He also confirmed that 47 diesel/electric pumps were kept ready, of which 35 pumps were of two-cusec capacity and 12 pumps of half-cusec capacity.

Life saving jackets, boats and OBM had also been arranged in adequate numbers to meet any eventuality that may arise during the coming monsoon. Flood control units would be established in his office along with those in the tehsil headquarters in addition to the one in the Bapoli block, he said.

These would operate round the clock. To get in touch with latest flood-related information, wireless sets had been installed at Pathergarh, Rana Mazra, Nanhera, Ramra, Rakashera and Bilaspur villages, the DC added.

The DC said that the district had been divided into two zones, with headquarters at Panipat and Samalkha. The SDM, Panipat, would be in charge of both the zones, which would be further subdivided into four sectors each and the zone and sector officers would be held responsible in case of any discrepancy.

Orders had also been issued to Civil Surgeon, Panipat, to sprinkle anti-malaria powders and to stock requisite medicines to be used in case of necessity.