SPORTS

Manav Das defies rains to win golf title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 11
Manav Das of Oil India won the IGU-categorised Jaypee Open Amateur Golf Championship with a cumulative score of 293 (5-over for the tournament) as he finished the fourth day on 5-over 77.

The non-stop rain since last night did not dampen the spirits of the leading amateurs of the country as they teed off for the fourth and final round on Friday at the Jaypee Golf Course in Greater Noida. Manav Das, after his triumph, said he was not in rhythm since morning. “Had it not been for a course like this, we would have had a washout under such heavy rains. I could pick up only from the 13th tee, and am glad to have won it at the end. I played three-under on the first day, and should have done better had the weather was unkind to us”.

He said it was not a bright start, “but a win always matters, and this victory will encourage me to do better in the tournaments to follow. I would like to return better scorecard every time”.

Five bogeys and two birdies on the front nine and two bogeys and a birdie on the back nine sum up Manav’s performance. Vikrant Chopra was two strokes behind the leader to finish second. He played 3-over 75 and his cumulative score read 295 (7-over for the tournament).

Vikrant started well by making birdies on holes I and 4, but bogeys on holes 6, 8, 11, 13 and 14 kept him away from a chase to the championship win.

Harinder Gupta played the best game of the final round, having played even par with birdies on holes 4, 6, 13 and 16. He had earlier jumped to the seventh position on the third day from the 28th position on the second day.

Harinder’s cumulative score was 296 (8-over for the tournament).

Asian Games gold medallist Shiv Kapur, after tying with Harinder at 296, played 3-over 75 and slipped to the fourth position with Jaskirat Singh Dullet taking the fifth spot with his cumulative reading 297 (9-over for the tournament).

Manav was presented a silver trophy and Indian Airlines-sponsored Delhi-Singapore-Delhi ticket. He also earned two years’ playing rights at the Jaypee Greens.

Vikrant Chopra won a trophy and one year’s playing rights at the Greens.

New Friends crush Union Club 
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 11
New Friends Club crushed Union Club 4-0 in a Group II preliminary league match of the Delhi Soccer Association B Division Open Clubs League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium on Friday.

The goals came two each in either half. Inside-left Rakesh Kochar put New Friends in the lead in the 21st minute, while out-side left Kulwinder Singh enhanced the lead five minutes later.

Mid-fielder Sachin Malhotra consolidated the lead in the 40th minute and eight minutes later, he himself rounded off the tally.

New Friends have collected nine points from five matches while Union Club completed their engagements by securing three points from six matches. Union Club completed their league engagements, ending up with just three points from six matches.

Earlier, Delhi Tigers got a walkover from Young Bengal Association as the latter failed to turn up. The matches scheduled to be played at the Nehru Stadium East ground between Shakti Club and Paschim Heroes in Group I and Nivia Club and Goodwill could not be played due to water-logging.

Both these matches will be played on Monday. South India beat Ajmal 2-1 to earn full points. Inder scored both the goals of South India, after Sukhram had put Ajmal in the lead with a goal in the 15th minute. South India have collected ten points from five matches while Ajmal have three points from five matches.

Golden Stars beat Lodhi Club 3-2, after leading by 2-0 at half time. Deepak Dhaiya and Sujay Ghosal scored the goals in the 20th and 28th minutes while Sujay Ghosal added the third goal in the 45th minute to take a 3-0 lead. But Ashwini struck a brace of goals for Lodhi Club to make it a close affair. Golden Stars have earned seven points from five matches while Lodhi Club have collected six points from four matches. Young Sports beat Delhi Students 4-0 in Group III. Sidarth, Daka, Asad and Sadat were the goal scorers.

Saturday’s fixtures: Shakti Club vs Punjab Heroes (3.45 pm); Royal Bengal vs Ajmal (5 pm)—Ambedkar Stadium.

Victorious team felicitated 
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 11
President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam hosted a reception for the Indian hockey team at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday evening. The President interacted with the players and extended them his best wishes.

The hockey team will be participating in the Champions Trophy next after a few days’ of conditioning camp in Himachal Pradesh.

The players were accompanied by the officials of the Indian Hockey Federation. Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vikram Verma and other prominent personalities were also present at the reception.

Bhartendu appointed captain of N.D.Heroes

New Delhi, July 11
Bhartendu has been appointed captain of the N D Heroes Club while Deepak has been named the vice-captain. Heroes were the semi-finalists of the DSA League last year. Mr C. L. Tuli has been elected the president and Mohd. Idris the secretary of the Heroes Club.

ADMINISTRATION

MCD team fans out to catch monkeys
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 11
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has finally sent a team to catch monkeys, which have been tormenting school students in the Civil Lines area in the past few days. The team is equipped with nets and other things to catch the monkeys, Mr C. P. Singh, in charge of the Veterinary Department, said.

However, no monkey has yet been caught and the team is still near the school.

He said monkey menace had always been there in different areas of the Capital but the corporation does not get the information at the right time. People inform the department concerned when they are attacked and bitten by monkeys.

The department was informed yesterday when a class 3 student of St Xavier’s School was bitten by a monkey and four students were attacked on Wednesday. This incident has spread panic in the school and nearby areas and students have refused to come out of their classes.

The principal of the school reported the incident to the police, who informed the Veterinary Department of the MCD. Action was taken immediately but the monkeys had yet not been caught, Mr Singh said.

Similar incidents were reported from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital last year when a few patients were bitten by monkeys.