The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

SPORTS

Making name in rhythmic gymnastics
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, February 21
Punjab has now established its name in rhythmic gymnastics, thanks to Patiala-based gymnast and Arjuna Award winner Kalpana Debnath, whose trainees Rajani Sharma and Dimple have proved their prowess in the sport.

Rajani won three gold medals in the just concluded Senior National Gymnastics Championship held in Kolkata and two gold medals and a silver medal in the 32nd National Games at Hyderabad. Similarly, Dimple proved her worth by remaining close second to Rajani in the medal winning spree. Though there were other trainees of Kalpana who had performed well at state and national levels, the above two girls have surpassed all previous records. Both have been bringing laurels for the past three years.

Despite the hurdle created in her selection by a coach-cum-official of the Punjab Gymnastics Association before the 32nd National Games, Rajani proved her critics wrong, when she put up a magnificent performance in the Hyderabad National Games. She had achieved a great feat in the 31st National Games held in Punjab last year where she bagged three gold medals and a bronze medal. Later in December, 2001, she was given cash awards worth more than Rs 2 lakh by the then Chief Minister, Punjab.

Both Rajani and Dimple attribute their success to Kalpana, whom they regard as the best rhythmic gymnastics coach in India. Rajani said their daily schedule extended up to eight hours at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. It was only due to sheer dedication of ‘Kalpana madam’ that they could reach the pinnacle of success in gymnastics, she said.

ADMINISTRATION

Encroachment removed at gurdwara
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 21
Tension prevailed at Haripur village in Sector 4 here after the enforcement staff of HUDA demolished an illegal wall of the village gurdwara.

Tempers ran high as HUDA staff, led by the Estate Officer, Ms Monica Mallik, and the tehsildar, Mr Bachchan Singh, reached there. A part of the boundary wall of the gurdwara and a gate had been constructed illegally on the village phirni.

The enforcement staff were able to demolish only part of the wall, when the local Municipal Councillor intervened and the staff called it a day, asking the authorities to remove the encroachment on their own.

However, the agitated villagers soon found out that a complaint against the encroachment had been made by another villager, Mr A.K. Singh and his wife, Ms Shalini Singh. Villagers then gathered near Singh’s house and began pelting it with stones . The police was called in and the situation was brought under control.