The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Children administered polio drops
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 22
A large number of children aged between 0-5 years were administered anti-polio drops by the employees of the health department and the volunteers of various social and voluntary organisations at different booths created specially for the purpose in the city.

According to the reports, the response to the campaign was overwhelming as parents and guardians of small children waiting for their turn at several posts. In all 666 polio centres were set up in the urban and rural areas of the district for this purpsoe. These include 490 in the rural areas and 176 others in the urban areas. As many as 2,664 employees were deputed for administering the pulse polio drops to the children. At least 101 observers were also appointed to monitor the administering of the polio drops.

Several mobile teams covered the childrens in the slum areas, brick kilns, labour colonies, and at the bus stands and the railway stations for administering the polio drops to the children of travellers passing through the district.

SPORTS

Indian archers eye Olympic Games target
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 22
The Indian archers received a big boost in their preparation for the Athens Olympic Games 2004 following their medal wins in the Asian Grand Prix Championship held in Bangkok recently.

Promising Tarundeep Rai, who is working hard to do well in the Olympic Games, hit the gold to bolster his confidence. This was no mean feat as Tarundeep had to battle with world ranked archers from Korea in the run up to the summit.

In the fight for the gold, Tarundeep outwitted Lee Seung Yong of Korea by 110-107. World champions Korea had to settle for the second and third places while the fourth and fifth slots were also filled by the Indians.

Archery Association of India (AAI) president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the success in the Asian Grand Prix will boost the morale of the Indian archers “who are strong contenders for the Olympic Games (medals)”.

The Indian men and women’s team attained the Olympic qualifying standard at the World Championships held in Colarado Springs, in the United States a few months ago.

The AAI has lined up a series of events for the archers before they peak for the Olympic Games. India will announce a three-men and three-women squad for the Olympic Games after the prize money and foreign competitions, around May.

Mr Malhotra said Korean coach Hong Gi Chae and psychologist Dr Alison Rhodius have played a vital role in motivating the archers who strived hard to excel in a tough field.

The Indian squad for the Asian Grand Prix comprised of Tarundeep Rai, Satyadev Prasad, Harish Kerai and Majhi Sawaiyan in the men’s section and Reena Kumari, Sumangala Sharma, Dola Banerjee and Bheigyabati Chanu in the women’s section.

C K Das and Laxmi Priya accompanied the team as officials while AAI secretary-general Anil Kamineni was the manager. The competitions were held in the Olympic round. Indian men also won the bronze in the team event while women struck the silver.

In the men’s 2x70m Olympic round, Korea tallied 2023 points, while India got 1987 points and Japan 1914 points. In the semi-final round, Korea hit 253, Japan 240 and India 240.

In the final round, Korea hit 252, Japan 237 and India 249. In the women’s 2x70m event, Korea collected 2006 points, followed by India (1915) and Malaysia (1875).

In the semi-final round, Korea hit 246, Malaysia 233 and India 224. In the final round, Korea hit 244, Malaysia 233 and India 245.

Mr Malhotra, who is also the president of the All India Council of Sports, said India will take part in the European Grand Prix circuit in Italy (April), Germany (June) and Turkey (July). He said after every foreign outting, the archers will compete in prize money tournaments in India. He said Italy, Korea, Sweden, Australia and the United States are the top guns in archery and India were trying their best to catch up with the leaders.

Mr Malhotra said the competitions have been scheduled in such a manner that after every prize money event, there will be a foreign outing.

He said the first prize money tournament will be held at Poona. The venues of the other two tournaments will be announced later.

Punjab National Bank beat Roop Nagar
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, February 22
Punjab National Bank (PNB) defeated Roop Nagar by five wickets in an A-II Division match of the DDCA League at the Delhi University ground.

Scores: Roop Nagar: 157 all out in 32.5 overs (Dharmeshwar 47, Mukesh Kumar 4 for 1, Ramesh Rajput 2 for 31, Pawan Kochar 2 for 36).

PNB: 158 for 5 in 36.3 overs (Anil Kumar 61, H S Kohli 29 n o, Y K Saxena 23, Ranjit Kumar 2 for 19).

Gemini Club defeated Maulana Azad by ten wickets in an A-II Division match at the Yamuna complex ground.

Scores: Maulana Azad: 182 all out in 33.20 overs (Mohd Naved 45, Mohd Asim 42, Abhishek Vashisht 3 for 28).

Gemini Club: 186 for no loss in 33.3 overs (Sahil Kher 96 n o, Abhishek Vashishth 77 n o).

Air Force defeated Mohan Meakins by three wickets in a Super A Division match at the Palam I ground.

Scores: Mohan Meakins: 180 for 7 in 40 overs (Danny Jim 41, Shashi Kant 37, Rajesh Kumar 32, Vinay Dheer 3 for 28).

Air Force: 181 for 7 in 38 overs (PMS Reddy 69 n o, S Upadhyay 28, K K Dixit 27, Bijinder Kumar 2 for 32).

Yorks Club defeated Malik Sports by one wicket in an A-II Division match at the University ground.

Scores: Malik Sports: 231 for 8 in 40 overs (Mohd Nadeem 46, Shakir Ahmad 38, Mohd Farhaz 37, Rajesh Deshwal 2 for 41).

Yorks Club: 235 for 9 in 39.3 overs (Rajesh Sharma 91, Rajesh Deswal 45, Rajinder Prasad 30, Muraslin 4 for 38, Shakir Ahmad 2 for 41).