The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Batra clinic’s gesture to senior citizens

Chandigarh, June 30
Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator Justice Om Prakash Verma (retd) was presented a cheque for Rs 100001 by Chairman and Managing Director of Dr Batra’s Positive Health Clinic, Dr Mukesh Batra for the local Hospice at a function held at Raj Bhavan today.

Dr Batra’s Positive Health Clinic announced the adoption of the Senior Citizens Home as its key social responsibility initiative in the city. Senior citizens will receive free consultation and treatment from Dr Batra’s clinic as two doctors will visit the senior citizens home every month. OC

SPORTS

Abhinav leaves for Korea
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 30
Ace shooter and Chandigarh-based Abhinav Bindra today left for Korea along with the Indian shooting team, to participate in the World Cup Changwon, which will be held from June 30 to July 8. Before leaving, Abhinav said: “I will give my best in the World Cup”. Abhinav will shoot on July 2.

Total Tennis meet

In the Total Tennis AITA Championship played at Saint Soldiers Divine Public School, Sector 16, Panchkula, all eight qualifiers for the main draw were selected. They are Jai Vinod, Raghav Sarin, Karan Sidhu, Rahul Belwal, Manish Gupta, Javed Hazari, Hargobind Dhillon and Navdeep Uppal. Jai Vinod from Punjab became the first qualifier when he thrashed Ujjwal Khanna also from Punjab at 8-4.

According to Mr Devender Kapoor, tournament director, the main draw first round matches would be played tomorrow whereas the girls’ matches would start from Wednesday.

Following are the results: Boys under-18 qualifying first round: Jai Vinod b Saurav Sharma 8-2; Ujjwal Khanna b Gobind Grewal 8-0; Gaurav Sharma b Ravneet Saini 8-4; Raghav Sarin b Karan Singh 8-1; Baljinder Singh b Diljot Sachdeva 8-2; Karan Sidhu b Karan Kohli 8-3; Sumer Khullar b Arjun Grewal 8-1; Rahul Belwal b Varun Sharma 8-5; Manish Gupta b Harmanbir Singh 8-2; Inderjot Singh b Rupinder Saini 8-7 (2);Maneshwar Goyal b Kunal Tuteja 8-7(7); Javed Hazari b Puneet Sidhu 8-0; Hargobind Dhillon b Yadu Verma 8-1; Rohit Sharma b Sidharth Patnaik 8-2; Navdeep Uppal b Amiteshwar Bagga 8-4; and Arjun Sehgal b Puneet Rawat 8-4.

Gurpreet sets record

Public Sports Club, Mohali bagged the senior and sub-junior boys powerlifting championship trophy by securing 96 points, while the Weightlifting Coaching Centre, Sector 42, claimed second position by getting 42 points in the Chandigarh Powerlifting Championship, which concluded at the Sector 42 sports complex, here on Sunday.

Mr Ravinder Talwar, secretary of the Chandigarh Olympic Association, gave away prizes.

In the 82.5 kg class, Gurpreet Singh from Public Sports Club created a new record in bench press from 90 kg to 97.5 kg and deadlift from 200 kg to 210 kg. He won the gold medal by lifting a total of 462.5 kg.

Other winners are: senior men (below 52 kg): Navjot Singh; below 56 kg — Palwinder Singh; below 60 kg — Rahul; below 67.5 kg — Balbir Singh; below 75 kg — Gurinder Singh; below 82.5 kg — Kamaldeep Kaler; below 90 kg — Narinder Singh; below 100 kg — Harminder Singh.

Swimmer par excellence
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, June 30
Meet Abhimanyu Tewari, 16-year-old swimmer from Chandigarh, who brought laurels to the city and his school Bhavan Vidyalya, Sector 27, by winning a silver medal in the 50-metre backstroke event in the recently concluded 30th Junior National Swimming Championship at Talkatora Swimming Pool, New Delhi.

As the local association is not affiliated with the Swimming Federation of India, swimmers cannot represent Chandigarh, forcing them to play for Punjab or Haryana.

Abhimanyu took the challenge of taking part in the Punjab State Aquatics Championship held at Ferozepore from June 5 to 8. Despite stiff competition, Abhimanyu was able to garner six gold medals in the meet. Abhimanyu has been representing Punjab in the national meets for the past more than three years. He fetched the coveted medal with Harpreet Bhullar being the only other boy from Punjab to bag a medal.

Abhimanyu felt that a swimmer in Chandigarh had to remain off the pool for more than five months due to closing of swimming pools in the winter. He said swimmers from West, East and South India stood benefitted since weather remained conducive to swimming almost throughout the year.

Abhimanyu said in the past five to six years, most of the medal winners from North India at national meets actually belonged to Chandigarh. Ironically none of them could represent from Chandigarh and had to participate from neighbouring states.

Abhimanyu began swimming at the age of 10 and learnt the fundamentals from Mr Dalal, swimming coach on the Panjab University campus, while he got fine-tuned from another swimming coach, Jasjit Kaur, at the government swimming pool, Sector 23.

He was of the view that had there been an all-weather swimming pool in the city, Chandigarh would have got more medals in the sport. He was thankful to his parents for taking pains and supporting him.

He has chosen arts stream in Class XI and wants to sit in competitive examinations. He has set his focus on the forthcoming National School Games, as well as the Senior National Swimming Meet.

ADMINISTRATION

18 officers found absent from duty

Panchkula, June 30
As many as 18 officers in the Agriculture Department, Haryana , including an Assistant Director, were found absent from duty during a surprise raid conducted by the CM’s flying squad at Krishi Bhavan in Sector 20 this morning.

It is learnt that the CM’s flying squad led by DSP Phool Kumar conducted a surprise check at Krishi Bhavan from 9. 15 am to 11 am. Other than the absentees, including Assistant Director, S.K. Yadav, 12 other officers reached the office late. TNS