Officials dupe govt during health mela
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 11
Some officials of the Health Department are reported to have duped the government in the purchase of medicines for the three-day Health Mela organised by the Union Health Ministry in the Civil Hospital, which concluded here yesterday. According to a report, the Union Health Ministry had allotted at least Rs 8 lakh for the purchase of medicines and other goods for the mela, but the officials had reportedly purchased the medicines and other goods worth about Rs 6 lakh from the medico shops at Sonepat and Karnal. It is alleged that the purchases had been made at higher rates than prevailing in the market. The bills received from the medico shops had shown the higher rates than shown in the hospital records, it is further alleged.

Sources say that the alleged bungling came to surface when some chemists raised hue and cry and this caused panic among the medical officers who were entrusted to the job for the purchase of medicines and other goods. One of the medical officers had also a quarrel with a chemist, who protested against the racket.

Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, a BJP MP, who represents the Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency, stated that he has no knowledge about the racket but he had sought information about the number of visiting patients to the mela, and were examined in it. He also stated that he has made inquiry about the amount of expenditure in the mela, and if any complaint was received by him he would take up the matter with the Union Health Ministry in this regard.

Meanwhile, according to the latest figures available from the Health Department, as many as 14,608 patients were registered, examined and treated in the mela.

On the opening day, 3,640 patients were registered whereas 5,370 on the second day and 5,598 on the third day were registered. At least, 64 persons promised to donate their eyes after their deaths.

SPORTS

Surya creates upset
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 11
Surya Prakash, a 10th Standard student of La Maritiniere, caused the biggest upset in the second round of the Eveready 103rd All-India Amateur Golf Championship, the second oldest golf tournament in the world after the British Open, at the par-72 Royal Calcutta Golf Club today.

The 15-year-old Surya beat India’s No 2 amateur and the sixth seed Harinder Gupta of Chandigarh by three holes with two to play. Among other upsets, 32-year-old L. Selvadurai beat the 11th seed Waqar Ahmed of Pakistan, S. Karthikeya showed the exit door to No 14 Stuart Murroy of Hong Kong, Coimbatore’s Joseph Chakola got the better of 17th seed Mohd Milon Ahmed of Bangladesh, Delhi’s Anirudh Goyal beat No 22 K. Prabagaran of Sri Lanka and Kolkata’s Akshay Butta beat No 24 Amarapadama of Sri Lanka.

The top five seeds-Manav Das (India), Norman Beggs (South Africa), B. G. Lalithakumara (Sri Lanka), James Smith (England) and Matthew Kent (SA)- made it to the third round.

Surya, who is coached by renowned city pro Indrajit Bhalotia and his father Deepak, could never have imagined the result. “Apart from Indrajit sir, no one thought that I would beat him. I just wanted to play my own game and hang on there. He is such a good player, but I did not want to lose without fighting. As it happened, he did not have a very good day,” said the three-handicapper who virtually sealed the issue when he replied to Harinder’s birdie on the 15th with an eagle.

Gyan Bharati annex inter-school title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 11
Gyan Bharati Cricket Academy defeated Modern School, Barakhamba Road by 40 runs to win the two-day final of the sixth Inter-School Under-15 Cricket Tournament. The prizes were distributed by former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi.

Former Services Ranji Trophy player R K Ohri, veteran coach Gurcharan Singh, Test player Gursharan Singh and physical trainer K. B. Dogra were also present.

Manav Sharma, who scored 451 runs and took 22 wickets, was named the player of the tournament. He also got the man of the match award for claiming eight wickets and scoring 47 runs.

Ankur Julka, who scored 451 runs, got the best batsman award. Aviral Himmatramka, who scalped 29 wickets, got the best bowler award while Ashwat Kumar was adjudged the best fielder. Prateek Pawar of Gyan Bharati and Wilkins Victor of St. Columba’s were awarded two stipends of Rs 6,000 each.

SA-Kiwi tour on Star Sports
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 11
ESPN Star Sports will telecast six One-Day Internationals and three Test matches between South Africa and New Zealand ‘live’ from February 13 to March 30. The series promises a lot of thrill and excitement for a few reasons. The South Africans are riding a high wave after their stupendous success against the West Indies.

They beat the Caribbeans 3-0 in the four-match Test series and also mauled them 3-1 in the five-match ODI series.

The Kiwis too look confident after beating the Pakistanis 4-1 in the ODI series at home, notwithstanding the fact that they lost the 2-Test series 1-0 to Pakistan. The New Zealanders are facing the Proteas at home and will be playing with an added advantage.

DAV School in Ganga cricket semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 11
Half centuries by Soumik Chatterjee and Jalad Dua and deadly bowling by Sourav Jain (5 for 21) helped DAV School, Shalimarbagh defeat Shanti Gyan Niketan School by 49 runs in the semi-final of the third Ganga Under-17 Cup Cricket Tournament.

Scores: DAV: 204 for 6 in 35 overs (Soumik Chatterjee 59, Jalad Dua 54, Dhanij Rathi 3 for 21),

Shanti Gyan Niketan: 155 all out in 28 overs (Kunal Dalal 58, Sourav Jain 5 for 21).

Shobhit Kaushik hits ton

A strokeful century by Shobhit Kaushik, who struck 104 with 15 boundaries, and deadly bowling by Darshan Kajania (4 for 14) helped Sonnet Club defeat Ravindra Public School by 87 runs and entered the semi-final of the second Shanti Gyan Niketan Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Najafgarh ground.

Scores: Sonnet Club: 196 all out in 35 overs (Shobhit Kaushik 104, Manan Sharma 27, Chander Thapa 3 for 18, Rahul Kumar 3 for 44).

Ravindra Public School: 119 all out in 28 overs (Ashish Yadav 29, Darshan Kajania 4 for 14, Yogesh Nagar 2 for 27).

Manoj Sharma shines

A fine all-round display by Manoj Sharma, who scored 121 (6x6, 13x4) and claimed two wickets for 26 runs, helped Keshav Puram Cricket Club defeat R K Puram Coaching Centre by 54 runs in the President’s Estate Challenge Cup Friendship League match. Keshav Puram scored 274 for 7 in 30 overs.

Scores: Keshav Puram: 274 for 7 in 30 overs (Manoj Sharma 121 n o, Rajkishan Sharma 52, Rajeev Sharma 42, Sandeep Kumar 26 n o, Ansul 2 for 43, Kamal 2 for 54, Deepak 2 for 31).

RKP Coaching Centre: 217 all out in 29.1 overs (Kamal 52, Nishit 33, Ansul 24, Ravi 21, Rajeev Sharma 2 for 14, Manoj Sharma 2 for 26, Sunny 2 for 36, Avinash Kumar 2 for 24, Rocky Aggarwal 2 for 43).

St. Xavier’s College record big win
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 11
St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi handed out a 10-1 drubbing to American College, Madurai in the opening match of the 11th Nehru Champion Colleges Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Wednesday.

Cyprian Kullu scored three goals while Prakash Kerketta accounted for a brace. Tintus Kerketta, Thomas Nag, Vikram Mundu and Sanjay R. Tirkey scored the other goals.

In other matches, College of Art and Education, Annamali defeated Vivekanand College, Kolhapur 4-1 while Faculty of Humanity, MGKV, Varanasi defeated Loyola College, Chennai 2-0.

Aerobic instructor course

New Delhi, February 11
The first Reebok Aerobic Instructor Certification Course will be held from February 20 at the Club Xcell, GK-I, New Delhi. Targeted at aerobic instructors and fitness enthusiasts, Reebok conducts the instructor certification course twice a year in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Lancers win in Jiwaji Rao Polo
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 11
Lancers defeated Yudhe Nipunam 5-0 in the Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Gold Cup Polo Tournament at the Army Equestrian Centre ground on Wednesday. In a one-sided match, Satish Kumar, Capt A S Baath and Vijay Kumar scored the goals for Lancers.

Thursday’s fixtures: Addl DG RVS Cup (2-goal): PBG vs ADAM—Army Centre ground. Jiwaji Rao Scindia Cup: Aravali vs Royal Kashmir (2.30 pm); Army Green vs Army Red (3.30 pm)— Jaipur polo ground.

Six trucks challaned for overloading
Our Correspondent

Soneopat, February 11
The officials of the Transport Department Haryana are reported to have intercepted at least seven truckloads of wheat, meant for free sale by the Food and Supplies Department and challaned six of them for overloading.

According to a report, these officials got a secret information that some persons were taking the wheat procured by the Food and Supplies Department for its unauthorised sale and the loaded trucks were parked near the weighing shop on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh Road in the city.

After receiving a secret information and complaint about the unauthorised sale of government wheat, they rushed to the site and held an inquiry into the episode. The officials found six trucks, which were overloaded with wheat. Later, the officials challaned them.

The wheat stock belonged to the Food and Supplies Department and it was procured during the year 2000, and since then it had been lying in the open on the premises of the foodgrains market at Gohana. The bulk stock, it is alleged, had become unfit for human consumption and it started giving foul smell last year. When the passers-by raised an alarm the officials of the department woke up and decoded to dispose it off.

It is stated that the department has so far sold 5,800 quintals of this damaged wheat and a trader of Ganaur had purchased the bulk quantity of it.

Meanwhile, the officials of the department have adopted a novel way to dispose of this wheat. It is alleged that they have allotted 100 bags of wheat to each owner of the fair price shop, but actually did not release the same for distribution. Instead, the owners of the depots have been directed to prepare a register and get signatures from the consumers on them by showing that this wheat has been distributed among the consumers. For this purpose, the department officials have agreed to give Rs 2,000 (Rs 20 per bag) as profit money to them. The depot holders are stated to be getting signatures from the passers-by on such registers as directed by the officials. Further details are still awaited.