HEALTH

Voluntary blood donations on rise, say experts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 6
Considered to be the safest the world over, voluntary blood donations in the city have touched an all time high with as many as 60 per cent of it donations coming from the voluntary donor. With the replacement donations (non-voluntary donations) being 40 per cent of the total blood donated in 2004, which is the lowest percentage in the past 14 years, the city is all set to witness a positive trend with the number of voluntary donors increasing every year.

Experts in the medical fraternity hail this trend with World Health Organisation’s (WHO) resolve of 100 per cent blood donations coming from only from voluntary donors, as it minimises the risk since the donors contribute for a social cause rather than to make money out of it.

“Though 100 per cent voluntary donations would take some time before becoming a reality, the city is on the verge of witnessing a positive trend where people who like to come forward to donate blood,’’ said Dr Neelam Marwaha, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGI, while talking to The Tribune.

Since voluntary contributions generally come from either the blood donation camps organised from time to time or the donations made by the relatives of the patients admitted to hospitals at the time of surgery, they are considered to be the safest. On the other hand, the problems with the replacement blood donations is the stepping in of professional donors where the risk of the unsafe blood, which many a times is an HIV carrier, is increased.

In fact with the voluntary donors contribution the HIV reactive blood is witnessing the decreasing trend where as the earlier figures of about 0.51 per cent of the total donated blood units infected with the HIV has come down to 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent in the recent years.

“Motovation of the donor and the dissemination of information about the safe blood have been the major reasons for the positive trend. Voluntary donors themselves take lead in informing others about the blood safety,’’ added Dr Marwaha.

SPORTS

Coach confident of roller hockey team’s win
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, June 6
Visiting Italian roller hockey coach Baraldi Aldo has expressed hope that the Indian roller hockey team was capable of winning medals in the forthcoming Asian Roller Skating meet. This meet will be held from June 12 to 15 in Akita, Japan, in three events — roller hockey, speed and artistic.

Mr Aldo, a world renowned roller hockey coach, was here in the city to train the Indian team at the invitation of the Roller Skating Federation of India. He had earlier too coached the Indian team, which brought laurels in the last Asian meet held in Chinese Taipei. Mr Aldo, who mainly speaks Italian and very little English, is, however, adept at training by using body language. At 60 plus, he is quite fit and lays stress on physical conditioning for skaters.

Meanwhile, the president of the RSFI, Mr Pradeep Ganeriwal, told this correspondent over phone from Kolkata that apart from roller hockey, teams would also take part in speed and artistic events at the meet. Mr Ganeriwal said a contingent of 70 persons, including skaters and officials, would represent India in this meet, being held after every two years. He said skating was getting global attention and in the 2006 Asian games and 2008 Olympics, skating was included as the official event. He disclosed that after the meet, the RSFI would hold coaching camps to prepare the Indian team for the world championship in speed and roller hockey, to be held in August and September in Italy and Germany, respectively.

He said the manager of the contingent was Ms Madhu Bahl, who was also the chairperson, Roller Hockey, RSFI. Mr Inderpal Singh would be the artistic judge and Mr Harpreet Singh the skating coach of the team.

He said in the last Asian meet, Indian women roller hockey team had won a bronze medal while men finished fourth.

The team will leave on Monday for Japan.

The following skaters will be the part of the team:

Women: Sonali Bagla, Chandita Kamboj, Yashdeep, Shakun Lal, Japneet, Renuka, Suruchi Chandel, Ritu Nagpal, Samriti Chandel, Jasmine, Gurpreet Kaur and Asrita.

Men: Rajesh Anand, Mandeep Singh, Prikshit, Harkirat Pal, Vikram Singh, Gautam, Amandeep, Amber Gill, Harpreet, Joshpal and Ramna Kumar.

Badminton coach invited by Czech Republic
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 6 
Mr Surinder Mahajan, a senior badminton coach with the Sports Authority of India on deputation with Panjab University, has been invited by the Czech Republic. He will help in conducting the Inter-national Youths (under 15) Badminton Tournament to be held from June 11 to 14 in which teams from Middle European countries would take part. Mr Mahajan said after the tournament, a week-long intensive training camp would also be held for the participating countries.

Mr MC Sethi, president, Chandigarh Badminton Association, said it was a great achievement for the city as its badminton coach had been called for the fourth time to coach players of other countries.

Mr T.P.S. Puri, secretary of the association, said in December 2002, the national coach of the Czech Republic Mr Radek and three players had visited Chandigarh and were given training by Mahajan for nearly a month.

Praising Mr Mahajan, Mr Radek had said that the entire Czech Republic was proud of Mr Mahajan, as due to his training, the game got a real boost in his country with many players showing prowess at the international level.

Chanda, Hargun best gymnasts
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 6
Chanda and Hargun both of DAV College coaching centre, sector 10, were adjudged all round best gymnasts in the sub-junior girls and boys section, respectively in the Sunday Gymnastic competitions held today in the DAV College Gymnasium hall, Sector 10.

Today’s results are:

Sub-junior boys: Floor exercises: Hargun1, Sandeep Sharma 2. Vaulting table:Hargun1, Pankaj Pandey 2. sub-Junior girls: Floor:Chanda1, Sapna and Ritu (joint 2).

Balancing Beam: Chanda1, Anamika 2.

Junior girls: Floor: Sarita 1, Radha 2. Balancing beam: Sarita 1, Shilpa 2. Rythmic: Vidya 1, Ribbon: Deepika 1. Hoop: Vidya1, Deepika 2.

Mohali gain lead
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 6
Mohali Cricket Association got a vital 24 runs lead against Amritsar at the end of the second day of their final tie against Amritsar being played here today at the PCA stadium, Mohali. Amritsar were all out for 337 runs in their first innings while Mohali had made 341 runs. In their second innings, Mohali XI were 20 runs for the loss of one wicket in six overs. Tomorrow is the last day of the tie.

Brief scores: Amritsar: 337 runs all out in 89 overs (Vipan Kumar 79, Saransh Thakur 58, Sumit Sharma 54, Harman Singh 2 for 82, Harmeet Singh 2 for 78, Gauravjeet 2 for 50).

Powerlifting championship

Chandigarh, June 6
The Chandigarh Powerlifting Association will hold the 20th senior men and 5th sub-junior boys Chandigarh State Powerlifting championship at the Weightlifting Coaching Centre, Sector 42 on June 13. In this championship, the sub-junior (boys) powerlifting team will be selected for the 5th national sub-junior boys and girls national powerlifting championship to be held in Jamshedpur from June 25 to 29. OC