SPORTS

Punjab Scouts bag national trophy
Our Correspondent

Amloh, January 13
A contingent of 12 Scouts and Guides from Punjab which participated in the National Integrated Rally bagged the overall trophy in which as many as 500 Scouts and Guides from 15 states across the country participated. Among the 12 members from Punjab four Scouts and Guides were from Fatehgarh Sahib district. The Punjab team was placed in A grade in the State Exposition, folk dance festival, Festivals of India and got B grade in exhibition.

In a press release, Mr. Shamsher Singh Marardu, district organising commissioner (Scouts) and in charge of the Punjab team stated here today that the Scouts of the district would be honoured on the national day. The six days’ rally was organised by National Head-Quarter, New Delhi, from December 28 to January 2 at Ernakulam district in Kerala.

On the first day Mr. K. Sukumara, Joint Director (Scouts) National Head Quarters was the chief guest, the second day function was inaugurated by Mr. Nalakathu Soopi, Minister for Education, Kerala. Speaking at the occasion National Commissioner, Bharat Scouts and Guides, India, Mr. Nalakathoo Soopi said: “One of the objectives of Bharat Scouts and Guides is to bring national integration among members of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. The most suitable strategy to achieve this objective is to organise more and more integration camps”.

A Scout, Lakhbir Jit from Government Secondary School, Shamspur (Amloh), stood first in fancy dress in his role as Bhagat Singh and a Girl Guide Gurpreet Kaur from Government High School, Suhaag Heri, was first in Punjabi Dress. Among the festivals of the country Punjab’s Lohri won first position in which Scouts and Guides from Jalla, Suhaag Heri, Jalalpur, Shamspur and Naraingarh schools of Fatehgarh Sahib district participated. In folk dance “Rangla Punjab” bagged first position. The Guide from secondary school Jalla, Jasmeen Kaur got first position in state exposition, which depicted the history of Punjab and its culture.

Among others the concluding and prize distribution function was addressed by Professor K. V. Thomas Minister for Tourism, Kerala, Dr. Sebastian Paul Member Parliament, Mr. K.A. Chanderan, MLA, Kerala, and Director Education, Mr. K.R. Viswambhran IAS.

Skating rink handed over to residents
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 13
The skating rink of international standard was handed over to residents of Ludhiana here recently by Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mayor. The skating rink was constructed by the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, to raise the standard of the skating games in Punjab. The rink is the best skating rink of Asia and about Rs 1 crore was spent on the construction of this rink. Mercury lights to play games during the night worth Rs 8 lakh have been installed. The skating rink is situated in one of the posh areas of the city, Opposite Sacred Heart School, Sarabha Nagar.

The Punjab level, junior and senior skating races and hockey games of skating were conducted here on January 11, 2004. Many players of international standards during this time took part. The president of Punjab Roller Skating Association, Mr D.S. Sidhu, Commissioner, Income Tax, appreciated the role of the Municipal Corporation and Mr Nahar Singh Gill for preparing this beautiful Rink. He said that in future many players of international standard will be produced by Punjab and they will bring name of Punjab at the International level.

Mr Nahar Singh Gill, while opening the skating rink for the public on behalf of Chaudhry Jagjit Singh, Local Bodies Minister, Punjab stated that the rink was long-pending demand of the residents, of Ludhiana. He further stressed that landscaping will be done around the rink to make it more beautiful, and grills would be installed on the boundary of the rink.

He also accepted the demand of the area councillor to prepare a swimming pool in the area. He said that a stadium worth Rs 16 crore will be constructed on the Pakhowal road that will further raise the name of Ludhiana on the international map.

The area councillor said that landscaping will be done in the Leisure Valley and the boundary wall towards the canal side will be constructed to make of Leisure Valley more beautiful.

Punjab softball probables
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 13
The following 30 probables have been selected for the camp prior to their participation in the forthcoming 25th Senior National Softball Championship to be held from January 28 to February 2 at Jaipur.

According to Mr P.N. Passi, honorary secretary, Punjab Softball Association, these probables will attend five-day coaching camp at Jalandhar (women) and at Amritsar (men) from January 20 to 24. At the conclusion of the camp, the final Punjab contingents will be picked up for the national meet.

The probables are (women) — Gurpinder Kaur, Marinder, Harpreet Kaur, Simriti, Baljeet Kaur, Reena, Kulwinder, Anu Rana, Prabhpreet, Satinder, Asha, Sarabjeet, Rupinder, Aman and Parminder. Pavitar Singh and Harjit Singh will be the coaches while Ms Daljeet Kaur will be the manager.

Men — Gurjeet, Vikas, Gurpreet Singh, Love Rishi, Vijay Kalia, Shiv, Manjinder, Bajwa, Mandeep, Ravi, Harpreet, Diraj, Bhupinder, Harjot Singh and Deepak. Indervir and Arun Bali will be the coaches while Lalit Kumar will accompany the team as manager.

US Gold Kabaddi Cup from January 19
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 13
The inaugural edition of the US Gold Kabaddi Cup Tournament to be organised by the Malwa Yuvak Sevawan Club in association with the gram panchayat will be held at Dhandhra village near here from January 19.

According to a press note issued here today by the organising club, the Grewal American Brothers — Mr Pritam Singh Grewal, Mr Kuldip Singh Grewal and Mr Ajit Singh Grewal — are sponsoring this tournament which is dedicated to the memory of Jathedar Tarlochan Singh Grewal. During this three-day festival, the main attraction will be kabaddi matches ( 52 kg, 57 kg and 62 kg) and competitions in bullock-cart races and volleyball.

Matches in weight category kabaddi will be conducted on the opening day while the top outfits of the region would be vying for top honours in all the open sections on January 21. Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, MLA, Dakha, will inaugurate the tournament on January 19 and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, SGPC, will be the chief guest on the concluding day.

Lodhi kabaddi meet on January 30
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 13
The Seventh Lodhi Kabaddi Cup Tournament will be held at the Guru Nanak Stadium, here on January 30. The winners will be given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and the losing finalist Rs 60,000. The third and fourth position holders will be given Rs 31,000 each.

Preparations are going on here these days to make the tournament a big success. A number of committees with NRIs being its members have been constituted.

Six teams namely India Red, India Blue, Germany, Canada, USA and England will fight it out to grab the top prize. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP, will the chief guest at the prize distribution function which will be presided over by Mr Sharnajit Singh Dhillon, president, Youth Akali Dal.