Sightless guide women rally drivers
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 28
They were not groping in the dark or in any blind alley, though they were visually impaired. It was, in fact, a sight to behold, as the sightless guided their women drivers in the fourth All-Women’s Car Rally, which was flagged off from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi and terminated at the Hill View Hotel in Suraj Khund.

The rallyists covered a distance of 45kms, and there was intense competition to finish first. The visually impaired navigators with the help of Braille route maps guided the women drivers through the crowded streets of Delhi with ease. The navigators came from different professions and varied backgrounds, including college lecturers.

Eighty women drivers participated in “The Drive with an Insight Challenge 2003”. Eminent personalities from all walks of life participated to support the noble cause. The event was organised by The Empress Club.

The rally reinforced the belief that physically challenged people can easily overcome their handicap and can also be a guiding force to many.

Along with the rally, an eye donation camp was also held which received tremendous response. Many people registered themselves for donating their eyes at the event.

“We have in a small way achieved in taking up not only women’s causes, but also projecting and promoting physically challenged people through The Drive with Insight Challenge”, observed Runu Bisht of The Empress Club.

Meenakshi Tokas, Varun rule the pool
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 28
Meenakshi Tokas of Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences ruled the pool when she swept all the seven individual gold medals at stake in the women’s section of the 43rd Delhi University Inter-College Swimming Championship at the Talkatora swimming pool on Sunday. Varun Sethi bagged six golds to dominate the men’s section. The meet was inaugurated by Delhi University deputy director of physical education Dr Sudershan Pathak.

Meenakshi began her medal hunt by winning the 200m breaststroke with a time of 3:21.49 secs with Shefali Gogia and Kiran (Laxmibai) trailing at the second and third position.

Meenakshi then annexed the 400m free style title with a time of 5:24.62. Kiran Tokas of SRCC and Ritishka Vij of LSR took the second and third place, respectively. In the 100m butterfly, Meenakshi clocked 1:17.81 to finish first. Kiran and Aditi took the silver and bronze. In the 100m backstroke, Meenakshi posted a time of 1:23.24. Rashmi and Sweena (Hansraj) bagged the second and third position.

Meenakshi returned a time of 1:09.22 while winning the 100m free style, with Ritishka Vij (LSR) and Shefali taking the silver and bronze. Meenakshi then added the 400m individual medley and 200m freestyle titles to her collection.

Varun Sethi of Hansraj Raaj College dominated the men’ section, lifting the 200m breaststroke, 400m free style, 100m backstroke, 100m free style, 400m individual medley and 200m free style golds. Hitender Tokas of ARSD denied him a clean sweep as he butted in to take the 100m butterfly gold.

City, National enter quarters

New Delhi, September 28
City Club and Indian National moved into the quarter-finals of the Lt. Governor’s Cup Prize Money Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday.

City Club rallied to edge past Goan Sports 3-2 while Indian National got the better of Shastri Club by a lone goal.

Goans took the lead in the 22nd minute through inside-left Shailender Rawat and City restored parity in the 41st minute through Faiz Alam. City forged ahead four minutes later when inside-right Jatin Singh Bedi found the mark. In a see-saw battle, Goans pulled off the equaliser in the 65th minute through K. P. Dony. City eventually clinched the match-winner when medio Sohan Singh found the mark in the 78th minute. Indian National pulled out all stops to prevail over Shastri. National scored the match-winner in the 39th minute when medio Manjit’s curving lob, following a free kick, sailed into the box.

There was intense fight on resumption, but neither team could cash in on the innumerable chances they got.

Monday’s fixtures: Simla Youngs vs N D Heroes (1.30 pm); Raisina vs Indian Air Force, New Delhi (3.30 pm) — Ambedkar Stadium. OSR

Sameer shines
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 28
A strokeful century by Sameer Ralhan and deadly bowling of 3 for 27 by Akshay Kumar helped Meera Model School, Janakpuri defeat Ramjas School, R K Puram by 61 runs in the fourth Parle Cup Inter-School Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Vikaspuri ground.

Scores: Meera Model: 185 all out in 37 overs (Sameer Ralhan 100, Rohit Saddi 4 for 17, Mayank Gulati 3 for 38).

Ramjas School: 124 all out in 34 overs (Mohit Kumar 29, Akshay Kumar 3 for 27, Rohit Kumar 2 for 12).

In another match, Salwan Public beat Don Bosco by eight wickets at the Salwan School ground.

Scores: Don Bosco: 96 all out in 29.2 overs (Anmol Lamba 38, Mohit Negi 3 for 7, Raman Sachdeva 2 for 20). Salwan Public: 97 for 2 in 16 overs (Raman Sachdeva 48 n o).