Magic shows spread message of pulse polio
Our Correspondent

Noida, January 2
An unprecedented awareness campaign has been launched to make the pulse polio movement a great success. Pulse polio campaign is being launched from January 5 in the state.

Artists of the Dance and Drama Division of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have started presenting very colourful and interesting cultural programmes from village to village to make people aware of the need and inevitability of providing pulse polio drops for kids. Stage artists have been roped in and magic shows are being performed to make the atmosphere receptive for the pulse polio campaign.

SPORTS

Punjab Police record big victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 2
Punjab Police scored a crushing 9-2 victory against Tamilnadu XI in a Pool A match of the fifth Chhattrapati Shivaji All-India Hockey Tournament for the Dhyan Chand Cup at the Shivaji Stadium on Thursday. Punjab Police, in an one-sided match, slotted in seven goals before half time.

International Jugraj Singh scored three goals off penalty corners, Baljeet Singh Dhillon struck home two goals while Sarabjit Singh, Daljit Singh, Gagan Ajit Singh and Jagbir Singh contributed one goal each. Arumugam and Dinesh Nayak scored the goals for Tamilnadu.

In Pool B matches, Indian Airlines overran Northern Railway 3-0 while Border Security Force (BSF) downed Delhi XI 2-0. Punjab Police, Indian Airlines and BSF have assured themselves of semi-final berths.

Star-studded Indian Airlines, comprising Dhanraj Pillay and Mukesh Kumar, were made to struggle by Northern Railway, before the Railway defence cracked in the last quarter to concede three goals. Airlines’ first goal came only in the 54th minute while Arjun Halappa converted a penalty stroke for the second goal. L Barla rounded off the tally just before close.

BSF scored two goals in as many minutes mid-way through the second half to oust Delhi XI. Devinder Singh converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute while Mirinous Lakra consolidated the lead. Delhi suffered their second defeat and bowed out.

Friday’s fixture: Air India vs CRPF (3 pm)—Shivaji Stadium.

New Era edge out Bengal School
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 2
Hosts New Era Public School, Mayapuri, edged past B D Memorial School, Bengal 2-1 in a girls under-16 tie of the fourth Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) National Badminton Tournament at the New Era School courts.

Divya beat Abhilasha 11-0, 11-1 to put New Era in the lead but it was neutralised with the defeat of Swati at the hands of Dipika, who won 11-4, 8-11, 11-7. However, Divya and Swati combined well in the doubles to tame Dipika and Abhilasha 11-2, 11-1 to give New Era a close victory.

In the boys under-14 singles matches, Rexiin Awilson of Indian International School, Dammam beat Utkarsh Das of Indian School, Abu Dhabi, Avish of Apeejay (Jalandhar) defeated Shivanshu of New Era, Tejas Salankar defeated Prerit Varun of Delhi Public School, Dhanbad and Sahil Pabby of DPS, Faridabad beat Rahul Kumar of Army School, Ranchi.

The tournament was inaugurated by New Era School principal Usha Chopra. CBSE officer on special duty Dr G P Gautam praised the New Era School for organising this important sports event, in which 50 schools from India and the Gulf countries are taking part.

Hadlee to feature on online programme
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 2
Sir Richard Hadlee, one of the greatest all-rounders of cricket, will feature on the Harsha Online on ESPN Star Sports on January 7 at midnight (12 am). Sir Richard Hadlee, son of former New Zealand captain Walter Hadlee, was known for his superb control of pace, swing and cut. He gave New Zealand teams of the 1970s a chance to hold their own against the rest in an era dominated by fast bowlers and in the 80s, he inspired them to unprecedented success. He played many a match winning innings, but his bowling was his special talent, one that he polished and perfected by hard work and supreme dedication.

Hadlee claimed 431 wickets in 86 Test at an awe-inspiring average of 22.29. He claimed five or more wickets in an innings on 36 occasions and 10 or more wickets in a match on nine occasions. Hadlee was also the first bowler to capture 400 Test wickets. In the one-day international matches, Hadlee had taken 158 wickets in 115 matches, conceding 21.56 runs apiece.

Hadlee, who was Knighted in 1990 for his service to cricket, scored 3,124 runs in 86 Test matches at an average of 27.16. In 115 one-day internationals, he scored 1,751 at an average of 21.61. He retired from cricket in 1990 after playing for New Zealand for 18 long years.

Hadlee was appointed chairman of selectors of New Zealand cricket last year. He also runs a plant nursery in Christchurch with his wife, Karen. The Richard Hadlee Sports Trust provides financial assistance to the disadvantaged in sports and cultural activities.

Aman Arora stars for Sumit Dogra Academy
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 2
A fine all-round performance by Aman Arora (54 n o and 2 for 16) enabled Sumit Dogra Academy defeat K N Colts by five wickets in the third Shakuntala Devi Dogra Memorial Under-19 Cricket Tournament at the East Point school ground, Vasundhara. Aman Arora was named the Man of the Match.

Scores: K N Colts: 157 for 8 in 25 overs (Kuldeep Singh 41, Jaspreet Bedi 31, Siddarth Jain 23, Aman Arora 2 for 16, R S Tripathi 2 for 35).

Sumit Dogra Academy: 162 for 5 in 23.5 overs (Aman Arora 54 n o, 6x5, 3x4; Aditya Aima 32, Mayank Sethi 22).

Varun helps West Delhi win

Varun Sood played an all-round role (59 n o and 3 for 24) as West Delhi Cricket Academy defeated Sonnet Club by two runs in the Shanti Memorial Under-14 Cricket Tournament at the Najafgarh Sports Club ground. Varun was named the Man of the Match.

Scores: West Delhi Academy: 105 for 6 in 30 overs (Varun Sood 59 n o, Shobit Kaushik 3 for 35).

Sonnet Club: 103 all out in 29.4 overs (Karan Khanna 36, Varun Sood 3 for 24, Shalesh Sondhi 3 for 6).

Darling down Madras Club 
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 2
Darling Club scored a 33-run victory against Madras Club in an A-I Division match of the DDCA League at the Yamuna Sports Complex ground. Scores: Darling Club: 168 for 9 in 40 overs (Anil Chaudhary 40, N S Negi 35, Nitin Kumar 28 n o, Mohit Chaturvedi 3 for 39).

Madras Club: 135 all out in 36 overs (Sanjeev Kumar 48, Nitin Kashyap 3 for 20, Manish Sharma 3 for 29).

Young Association defeated Century Club by eight wickets in an A-I Division match at the Yamuna Sports Complex II ground.

Scores: Century Club: 106 all out in 24.1 overs (Jithin Krishnan 30, Prem Khanna 4 for 26).

Young Association: 107 for 2 in 16.5 overs (Amit Sharma 50 n o, Gurjinder Singh 41).

Ashoka Club beat Bank of Baroda by 116 runs in a B Division match at Kotla No 2 ground.

Scores: Ashoka Club: 387 for 6 in 40 overs (Ajay Sharma 106, Vikas Katyal 72, Rajbir Verma 64, Jeetender Sharma 69, Surender Arora 2 for 95).

Bank of Baroda: 271 for 9 in 40 overs (C K Charya 84, Ajit Singh 65, Surender Arora 41, Jagpreet Singh 3 for 27).

Bal Bharti School advance

A fine knock of 89 by Sagar Dahiya and deadly bowling by Arush Arya (3 for 31) helped Bal Bharti Public School, Pitam Pura defeat Ravindra Academy by two wickets in the R G Williams Memorial Under-14 Cricket Tournament at the Frank Anthony School ground. Scores: Ravindra Academy: 187 for 7 in 35 overs.

Bal Bharti Public School: 188 for 8 in 33.2 overs.

United Academy beat Bharat Academy
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, January 2
United Cricket Academy defeated hosts Bharat National Cricket Academy by nine runs in the second Mata Durga Devi Cricket (Under-12) Tournament at the Bharat Nagar School ground. Kunal Nagpal, who played an all-round role for the winners, was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Scores: United Academy: 148 for 9 in 35 overs (Varun Anand 49, Kunal Nagpal 35, Saurabh Nischal 3 for 20).

Bharat National Cricket Academy: 139 all out in 34.3 overs (Sahil Kher 31, Saurabh Nischal 30, Deepak Rai 3 for 30, Kunal Nagpal 3 for 23).

Turf Sports Tournament

Unity Solution defeated New Holland by 34 runs in the Turf Sports Management Cricket Tournament at the Jamia Millia ground. Nitin, who scored 32 runs and took three wickets for 19 runs, was named the man of the match.

Scores: Unity Solution: 120 all out in 22 overs (Nitin Kumar 32, Abhay Kumar 30, Gagan Sharma 26, Rajbir 3 for 20).

New Holland: 86 all out in 20.2 overs (Devender Kumar 31, Nitin Kumar 3 for 19, Abhay Kumar 3 for 18, Vipin Kumar 2 for 12).