SPORTS

Northern Railway reign supreme
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 16
Northern Railway, Delhi, outclassed Western Railway, Mumbai, 2-0 to retain the title in the VIIth All-India Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Women’s Hockey Tournament that concluded at the astro turf ground of Punjab Agricultural University here today.

The meet is being organised since 1997 in the memory of Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal who died in a road accident in 1996. Mohinder Partap Singh led the Panjab University hockey team from 1984 to 1986 in the All-India Inter-Varsity Tournament. During these three years, Panjab University remained champions.

Eight teams including holders Northern Railway, Delhi, along with Western Railway, Mumbai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Chandigarh XI, Punjab XI, Sports Hostel, Lucknow, Central Railway, Mumbai, North Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur, Air India and Sri Guru Nanak Pritam Senior Secondary School, Shahbad Markanda (Haryana) took part in the five-day tournament that began on February 12. Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, PWD Minister, inaugurated the tournament.

Though Northern Railway, Delhi, and Western Railway, Mumbai, with a member of internationals in their ranks reached the final of the tournament, it were the school girls from Sri Guru Nanak Pritam Senior Secondary School, Shahbad Markanda (Haryana), who gave an excellent performance and kept their opponents on the receiving end.

These young trainees of national hockey coach and Deputy Director of Haryana Sports, Mr Baldev Singh, impressed with their deft stick work, mobility and speed. In their first match, they stunned Chandigarh-XI (7-0) and then prevailed over Air India (4-1) before losing against their experienced opponents, Western Railway 4-5 vie penalty strokes in the last league fixture.

Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Transport Minister, Punjab, distributed the prizes. He also announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the organisers of the tournament. Mr H.S. Hanspal, President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, presided over the prize distribution function.

Kulwinder adjudged best athlete
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 16
Kulwinder Kaur, who came out triumphant in the 100 m race, finished-runner up in long jump and also figured in the 4x100 relay race squad, that got third position, was adjudged best athlete in the annual athletics meet of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, Model town, here today.

Jasmeen Kaur, who won 200 m, 400 m races and long jump, was named second best athlete, while Aarti Sharma (judoka), who brought laurels for the college by winning a silver medal in the 31st National Games held in Punjab in 2001 and represented India in the Junior International Judo Championship in Poland, was declared best player of the year 2002-03 academic year. Padamashree Kartar Singh, Director Sports, Punjab, gave away the prizes to the winners. He lauded the college students for their contribution to sports and advised them to work with dedication to achieve higher goals in life.

Earlier, Dr Anup Kaur Bansal, Principal of the college, read out the annual report listing achievements of the students during the various sports meets last year. Prof Gurbir Singh Sarna, general secretary of the college management committee, thanked the chief guest and the invitees and also congratulated the prize winners.

Results: 100 m — 1 Kulwinder Kaur, 2 Gurinderjit Kaur, 3 Bhavneet Kaur; 200 m — 1 Jasmeen Kaur, 2 Gurinderjit Kaur, 3 Iqbaljit Kaur; 400 m — 1 Jasmeen Kaur, 2 Jaspreet Kaur, 3 Iqbaljit Kaur; 800 m — 1 Jasdeep Kaur, 2 Vandna Gandhi, 3 Pavneet Chawla; 1500 m — 1 Deepika, 2 Aarti Sharma, 3 Jasdeep Kaur.

Long jump — 1 Jasmeen Kaur, 2 Kulwinder Kaur, 3 Spinderjit Kaur; Shot put- 1 Bhavneet Kaur, 2 Rini, 3 Paramjit Kaur; Discus throw — 1 Manpreet Kaur, 2 Kulwinder Kaur, 3 Spinderjit Kaur; Javelin throw — 1 Spinderjit Kaur, 2 Gurinderjit Kaur, 3 Manpreet Kaur; Three legged race — 1 Yogita Rani and Urmeet, 2 Gagandeep and Isha Chawla, 3 Iqbaljit Kaur and Harpreet Kaur; Walk — 1 Jaspreet Kaur, 2 Kulwinder Kaur, 3 Urmeet Kaur; Fast cycling- 1 Meenakshi, 2 Tejinder Kaur, 3 Urmeet Kaur.