HEALTH

Ways to tackle insomnia
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 15
Insomnia is sleeplessness. Physical and mental strain leads to sleeplessness. It may also be due to physical and mental disturbances. Sometimes high blood pressure, kidney diseases and liver disorders cause severe pain in the body leading to sleeplessness. Loss of sleep increases blood sugar levels. Sleep’s restorative powers are linked to growth hormones, produced mostly at night, and proteins that build and repair tissues. To avoid sleeplessness, take these effective steps without having to take drugs.

Eat a light dinner but do not sleep on an empty stomach. A heavy dinner means the metabolism process is working; the result: you will keep awake.

Take a hot bath before going to bed. A hot bath lowers blood pressure and helps in inducing sleep. Calm your mind by shutting your eyes and relax every part of your body. As you focus on each part of your body, breathe deeply and blank out all thoughts from your mind.

The bedtime ritual is a way for your body to know that it is time to sleep. Take one teaspoon of honey with one cup of warm milk as a routine.

Go to bed and rise at the same time every day. Develop a regular routine. Our body clock boosts and slows our metabolism every 24 hours providing optimum time for relaxation.

Exercise regularly earlier in the day. If you exercise regularly, expect to fall asleep quickly and soundly.

Make sure you are practising good sleep hygiene. Your sleep environment should be peaceful, quiet and physically comfortable.

Choose a mattress that supports the spine. A too hard or a too soft bed will tire out your body.

Sleep in a good posture. Sleeping on your side with legs slightly curled in the foetal position is the best posture. It removes pressure from the spine and neck.

Avoid strenuous exercise up to three hours before bedtime.

Do not drink caffeine, and alcohol at least two hours before you go to the bed. These stimulants raise your blood pressure level. Body massage, too, may help you to relax enough to go to sleep. Morning or evening walk is also good for insomnia patients. Avoid smoking and thinking too much. Take one teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder with hot milk as a routine.

SPORTS

Councillors back Mayor on indoor stadium issue
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 15
The attack on the ruling Congress in the Municipal Corporation here by functionaries of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue of indoor stadium project evoked angry reaction not only from Congress councillors but those belonging to opposition parties other than the BJP.

Around 25 Congress councillors, who met at the MC office here on Wednesday, said the BJP was in the habit of scuttling the process of development merely to draw political mileage. If the party was now opposing the indoor stadium, to be constructed in Punjab Mata Nagar on Pakhowal Road, it was the elevated road project during the SAD-BJP regime in the civic body.

While it was obvious for Congress councillors to come out in support of the City Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, the elected leader of the House from their own party, some councillors belonging to opposition parties had also chosen to stand by the Mayor.

Mr Bhairaj Singh (SAD-B) and Mr Simarjet Singh Bains (SAD-A) observed that during last one and half years, the city had recorded unprecedented growth in the area of providing infrastructure and basic amenities. Giving credit to the Mayor for acting without any political bias and allocation of funds to all wards on need basis, the councillors termed the attack by the BJP as a political stunt in the wake of coming Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress councillors were of the view that in the face of negative and destructive attitude of the BJP, their councillors should not lay any claim to development works from the general quota, which was the main source for ward-level development works.

Sports policy on anvil, says minister
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 15
Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Sports Minister, Punjab, said to ensure the substantial improvement in the quality of sports in Punjab, the state government was giving final touches to its first ever comprehensive sports policy, which would be implemented within six months.

Mr Kang was addressing a gathering of sportspersons on the second day of IV Attal Partapi Sports Tournament being organised by the Namdhari Sports Club at Bhaini Sahib, headquarters of the Namdhari sect, about 25 kms from here last evening.

Referring to the achievements of the sportspersons of the state, in spite of, the average sports facilities, the Sports Minister said there was no dearth of the talent in the rural areas and the players had been dominating in many games at national and international levels. He said with the implementation of the new sports policy, the sportspersons would avail excellent facilities of infrastructure, training etc to sharpen their skills.

Mr Kang said that to finalise the sports policy, a high-level committee of experts was formed who had submitted its final report and the government was considering the report minutely before adopting the same.

He said to provide good stadiums in the rural areas, the Congress government, headed by Capt Amarinder Singh, has also decided to revive the previous scheme of providing block-level stadiums at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh each, which was abandoned by the previous SAD-BJP government. And now these stadiums would be constructed in those villages which were holding famous sports tournaments.

Mr Kang said the government was also planning to start a new scheme of pension for the prominent players who earned a name for the state in the field of sports and claimed that the state government had given substantial cash award to the medal winners of the Commonwealth Games. He claimed that the diversion of the youth towards sports would help in the harmonious growth of their personality. He said in rural areas, the use of intoxicants and drugs was on the rise among youth and the promotion of sports was the only way out to keep our youth away from these evils.

Appreciating the contribution of Namdhari Darbar under the blessings of Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji for the promotion of different sports, the minister said in hockey, badminton and athletics, Bhaini Sahib have created the players of national and international levels and two hockey players. Harpal Singh and Didar Singh, are the members of the Indian hockey team at present. Mr Kang assured the services of good coaches at Bhaini Sahib and announced a grant of Rs 51,000 for the Namdhari Sports Club.

Mr H.S. Hanspal, President, PPCC, while addressing the function said Bhaini Sahib had made excellent achievements under the guidance of Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji in imparting training to the players and a new astroturf was being laid at Bhaini Sahib to provide international training to Namdhari hockey team. He appealed the minister to extend all kind of assistance to the Namdhari Sports Club for the promotion of different sports here. On the occasion, the Minister honoured Dalbir Singh, an international wrestler. 

Visually impaired to take part in cricket series
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, February 15
Being visually challenged is no handicap for Gurmeet Singh. He is as good as a normal person when it comes to his job. Gurmeet Singh is scheduled to take part in the one-day international cricket series for the visually challenged between India and Pakistan slated to be held in Pakistan from February 18 to March 1.

Gurmeet Singh, working as a telephone operator in the local office of the Punjab Urban Development Authority, has been selected for the coming tour of Pakistan on the basis of outstanding performance during the national tournament last year. He has been playing cricket for the past 10 years.

An elated Gurbax Singh, physical training instructor at the Government Institute for the Blind, Jamalpur, Ludhiana, told Ludhiana Tribune that Gurmeet along with visually challenged athlete Balwinder Singh from Machhiwara (long jump) and Gurmail Singh (a cricketer) started training under him about a decade ago.

These players were felicitated by the Punjab Sports Association for the Blind at a function held at the Government College for Women here. Ms Raakhi Gupta Bhandari, Chief Additional Administrator, PUDA, Ludhiana, was the chief guest. She hailed Gurmeet Singh’s inclusion in the list of Indian players for the Pakistan tour. Balwinder Singh and Gurmail Singh were also honoured by Ms Bhandari.

In a passionate plea to the state government, Mr Parminder Singh, president, Punjab Sports Association for the Blind, urged the state government to come to the aid of the visually impaired.

International athlete awaits recognition
Our Correspondent

Doraha, February 15
International athlete Gurpreet Singh resents the fact that neither the Centre nor the state government has given him due recognition. He has set numerous records in various meets. He says if he gets support from the government, he could work wonders.

At present, he is preparing for the Athens Olympics at the national camp at Patiala. But for an honorary post and an award of Rs 2 lakh, he has not got any aid to pursue his ultimate goal.

Born in 1981, he took to sports in 1997. There has been no looking back since then. “Every time I create a new meet record, my yearning to excel in sports becomes all the more intense,” he says.

In 1997, he participated in the National School Athletics Championship at Gandhi Nagar and stood first. In the same year, he got the second prize in the All-India Inter-Zone Athletics Meet at Calcutta. In 1998, Gurpreet participated in the All-India Inter-Varsity Athletics Meet in Tamil Nadu. He equalled the meet record in 110-m hurdle race in the Panjab University Athletics Meet at Chandigarh.

Gurpreet participated in the SAF Games held in Kathmandu from September 21 to 29, 1999. Again in the Asian Junior Athletics Championship at Singapore in the same year, Gurpreet represented the country. He set a new meet record in the All-India Federation Cup Athletics Championship in Banglore in August, 1999. He also created a new meet records in the All-India Inter-State Senior Athletics Meet held at Lucknow in September, 1999, and in the All-India Junior Inter-Zone Athletics Meet at Lucknow. He stood second in the All-India Inter-Varsity Meet at Gwalior in 1999.

In the year 2000, he stood first in the Senior Inter-State Athletics Meet at Chennai. He also participated in the Open National Athletics Meet in Kolkata in October that year.

He established a new national record in the Senior Inter-State Athletics Meet in 2001 in Lucknow. He again established a new meet record in the Open National Athletics Meet in October, 2001 in Chennai. In the National Games held at Ludhiana in November, 2001, he established two records in 110 m and 400 m hurdles.

Due to an injury in the lower abdomen, he was not able to play during the following year. It was during this period that he realised that the government was not supportive. But adverse circumstances did not shatter his confidence. He geared up once again to win and gain applause.

He secured the eighth position in the 15th Asian Athletics Championship held at Manila (Philippines) from September 19 to 24, 2003. Then he participated in the World Senior Athletics Championship held at Santiago in October, 2003. He stood first in the Afro-Asian Games held at Hyderabad from October 24 to November 1 in the same year. He stood second in the Open National Athletics Meet held in Banglore in October, 2003, and got the first prize in the Senior Inter-State Athletics Meet at Jamshedpur in September, 2003. At present he is a student of GNN College, Doraha. 

3-wkt win for DTBA XI
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 15
In a nail-biting finish, the District Taxation Bar Association (DTBA)-XI scored three-wicket win over Income Tax Department-XI in an exhibition cricket match played at the Punjab Agricultural University ground here today.

Batting first, Income Tax Department XI, with the help of Rajnish Bobby who contributed 35 runs, scored 131 or 9 in 25 overs. For the DTBA XI, Kuldeep Singh was the main wicket taker who, maintaining a fine line and length, captured five wickets for just 13 runs.

DTBA XI achieved the target after losing seven wickets. The highest scorer was Vikas who chipped in with 35 off 33 deliveries. The Income Tax XI conceded as many as 27 extras.

Ravi Aggarwal and Rajeev Bobby were adjudged the best fielder and the best batsman, respectively. Ms Sudha Sharma, Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Chandigarh, presided over the prize distribution function. 

Double crown for Ashwinder 
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 15
Ashwinder Kaur hogged limelight clinching two titles in the PAU Open Campus Badminton Tournament that concluded at the Prithpal Singh Indoor Complex of Punjab Agricultural University here yesterday. In the singles final, Ashwinder fought a pitched battle with her opponent, Ramandeep Kaur before romping home victorious 11-9, 11-9. Later, in the doubles final, Ashwinder paired with Ashima to prevail over duo for Ramandeep Kaur and Jasdeep Kaur whom they outclassed 15-9, 11-15 and 15-13.

In the men’s singles final, Anil Jaiswal survived a scare before emerging winner 17-16, 15-10 against Akshay Kumar and bagged the title. Dr M.A. Zaheer , ex-Dean, COBS&H, PAU, distributed the prizes.

Other results: Men’s doubles- Vinay Madan and Chetan Singla b Akshay Kumar and Anil Jaiswal 8-15, 15-10 and 15-12; men’s singles: 35 plus- Jagir Singh b S S Mahal 15-10, 15-15-9; men’s doubles plus 35- Jagir Singh and Sanjiv Chouhan b S S Mahal and S S Rath 15-10, 15-6.

Veteran’s singles: S S Mahal b A K Bakshi 15-5, 15-6; Veteran’s doubles- S S Mahal and A K Bakshi b D S Sidhu and Joginder Singh 15-9, 15-7.

Sports day

Maninder Kaur , a student of B A III, came out as the fastest runner in the annual sports day of the Ramgarhia Girls College here today. Maninder won the 100 m race , followed by Amanpreet Kaur, also of BA III and Sonu of MA II, respectively.

Ms Harmit Kaur, Principal of the college, enlisted the achievements of the students during the past academic year. Dr Kewal Singh, Assistant Director, Sports, Panjab University, Chandigarh gave away prizes to the winners.

Results: 100 m race — Maninder Kaur 1, Amanpreet Kaur 2, Sonu 3; 200 m race — Maninder Kaur 1, Arshpreet Kur 2, Sonu 3; 400 m race — Maninder 1, Amanpreet 2, Gurpreet Kaur 3; long jump — Kamaldeep 1, Maninder Kaur 2, Asha 3; high jump — Sonu 1, Maninder Kaur 2, Amanpreet Kaur 3; Discus throw — Rajwant Kaur 1, Sonu 2, Asha 3; Javelin throw — Sonu 1, Asha 2, Gurpreet 3; Shot put — Sonu 1, Gurpreet 2, Asha 3; Relay race — B A I-1, B A III-2, B A II-3; Skipping- Mandeep 1, Shimla Passi 2, Nisha 3; Sack race — Shimla Passi 1, Gurpreet 2, Shama Garg 3, Chatti race — Shimla Passi 1, Jasvinder Kaur 2; Potato and spoon race — Monika 1, Sonia 2, Jagmeet 3; three legged race — Mandeep and Gurpreet 1, Maninder and Sunayna 2, Daman and Paramjeet 3.