SPORTS

Ludhiana swimmers set pool on fire
Vibha Babbar creates meet record
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 18
Ludhiana swimmer Vibha Babbar clinched three gold medals in the three-day 34th Punjab State Swimming and Waterpolo Championship for men and women which concluded at the Punjab Agricultural University swimming pool here today.

Vibha proved her supremacy in the 50-metre butterfly event when she clocked 34.97 seconds to create a new meet record. She put to shade the previous record of 35.27 seconds set by Neha Bector of Patiala in 1999.

In the 200-metre individual medlay, Vibha took 3.01.07 minutes to finish ahead of others. She was closely followed by Prabhjot Kaur of Ropar who clocked 3.03.62 minutes and Jalandhar's Resham Chouhan who clocked 3.20.46 minutes.

In 100-metre butterfly, Vibha Babbar with timings of 1.21.18 seconds to bag a gold. Prabhjot Kaur of Ropar (1.27.59 seconds) and Neha Bector of Patiala (1.40.97 seconds) finished second and third, respectively.

Besides, Vibha won a silver medal also. In 100-metre free style, she clocked 31.14 seconds to finish behind Sukhman Ghuman of Ropar who established a new meet record with timings of 31.04 seconds. The earlier record was in the name of Ravneet Bhullar (32.60 seconds) since 1990. The bronze medal went to Bhavneet Kaur (.33.15 seconds) from Ropar.

Elected: Mr Davinder Pal Singh Virk, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), Ludhiana, has been unanimously elected president of the Punjab Shooting Ball Association (PSBA) in the general council meeting of the association held at Ludhiana on Saturday. According to a press note of the association, the general council has authorised Mr Virk to nominate other office-bearers of the PSBA executive body. 

Hockey player suspended for six months
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 18
Gurtej Singh (Bittu), a hockey player, has been suspended for six months by the Punjab Agricultural University Hockey Players Welfare Association, the organisers of the First Gold Cup Six-a-Side Hockey Tournament currently being held here at the PAU Astroturf ground.

This step was taken following yesterday's incident when the league match between Speed Fund Academy, Ludhiana, and Aryan Hockey Club was going on. Gurtej Singh, playing for Aryan Club, allegedly hit academy's player, Sandeep Kumar, on neck with his stick. Sandeep fell unconscious. Gurtej allegedly hit Sandeep again accusing him of using abusive language. Gurtej was shown red card by the umpire.

Sandeep Kumar, (19), a student of the S.D. Government College for Boys, Ludhiana, was taken to the PAU hospital from where he was shifted to the local Civil Hospital. When this correspondent visited Sandeep Kumar in the hospital, two other players (Iqbal Singh and Ajay Pal Singh) of the Speed Fund Academy were there who told that Gurtej hit Sandeep intentionally without any provocation.

Dr Ashok Raswat, radiologist, who performed an X-ray informed that there was nothing serious and Sandeep was suffering from stiff neck and swelling in the shoulder. He will be kept under observation for two days after which he will be examined by the orthopaedist.

Speed Fund Academy in semi-finals
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 18
Speed Fund Academy drew 1-1 with PAU Juniors to secure their berth in the semi-finals of the First PAU Gold Cup Six-a Side Hockey League Tournament being organised by the Punjab Agricultural University Hockey Players Welfare Association here today.

PAU, Juniors who had lost their both matches, went all out today to register their first victory and gave a tough fight to the Speed Fund Academy. In the 14th minute, Yadvinder Singh Sherry of PAU Juniors scored a fine field goal to put his side ahead. They hang on to this lead till the 28th minute of the second half when Gurpreet Singh gave a pass to Gurinder Singh who sounded the board to restore parity.

The second match between Sudhar Club and the B Baker Club ended in a goalless draw. In the dying minutes, the B Baker Club earned a penalty stroke but failed to capitalise on this chance.

In another match, PAU Seniors drubbed Friends Club of Doraha 3-0 to begin their campaign on a strong foot. Sukshjeet Singh scored a brace while the third goal was scored by Charanjit Singh Beghiwal.

City shuttlers are district champs
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 18
Green Land Senior Secondary Public School of Ludhiana won the District Sahodya Schools Badminton Tournament held at Mandi Gobindgarh from August 12 to 14. According to Mr Rajesh Rudra, director of the school, in the final, the school beat hosts Gobindgarh Public School of Mandi Gobindgarh, 2-0.

In the first match of the final, Ashutosh of Green Land School lost the first game, 13-15, against Piyush, but came back in the second, 15-2. In the third game, Piyush fought hard before going down, 8-15.

In the doubles match, Ashutosh and Gubax Singh had to fight hard to defeat the rivals, Aditya and Vinay. The Ludhiana boys lost the first set, 11-15, but defeated the opponents, 15-12, in the next game. In the third game, Gurbax and Ashutosh beat Aditya and Vinay, 15-12, to get the trophy for the team.

In the girls’ section, however, the school had to content with the runners-up trophy. In the final, Vijeta and Nitika of the school put up a tough fight before going down.