Chandigarh, December 26
Sports in the city and nearby areas got a boost with many tournaments of national and international levels being conducted in 2004. A new astro-turf for hockey was relaid in the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium and it played host to national men and women hockey camps.

An Indo-Pak Hockey test was also held which was witnessed by more than 20,000 spectators. Later an Indian hockey team camp for the Champions Trophy was also held, besides the visiting Spain hockey team also played an exhibition tie here.

Abhinav Bindra, city-based rifle shooter broke the world record in the Athens Olympics and finished third in the preliminary shoot out round by scoring 597/600 in the Air Rifle event.

He also bagged gold medal in the shooting event in the first-ever Indo-Pak Punjab Games held at Mohali. The Phase VI shooting range also got facelift during these games. Other disciplines were held at Patiala which also played host to many other disciplines in these historic games.

The Chandigarh Badminton Association deserved kudos for holding the National Mini and Sub-Junior Badminton Championship in Sector 42 where more than 400 players from different states and UTs participated. Oscar Bansal, city prodigy, was ranked among top eight in his age group and he is a new promising badminton star. Another shuttler Mandeep Singh also showed his prowess. Chandigarh men team also won the North Zone Inter-State Badminton Meet.

Another venture which got appreciation was the hosting of the National Sub-Junior Gymnastics and Senior Rythmics and Aerobics Championship by Shivalik Public School, Mohali in Phase VI, which was held under the aegis of the Chandigarh Gymnastic Association. Rajni Sharma of Patiala, the golden girl of gymnastics proved her mettle by winning rich haul of medals. Shivalik School group was also allotted the centre of excellence in gymnastics by the Gymnastics Federation of India.

Rowing also got boost when the Senior National Rowing Championship was held and in this sport, city eve Gurnoor Kang brought laurels by winning medal in the Junior Asian Rowing meet.

Another city rower Gurpreet Kaur also performed well in the All-India Inter-Varsity Rowing Championship by representing the PU and won gold medal. Holland Ambassador to India Eric who is a former bronze medalist in the World Rowing meet, also paid a visit to the Lake Club and praised the international class rowing course.

Yuvraj Singh got test cap in cricket during Indian team’s visit to Pakistan and he also scored magnificent test century.

V.R.V. Singh and Gagandeep Singh, another cricketers from Chandigarh, were selected in the Indian under-19 cricket team.

Irina Brar, Parnita Grewal, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Rahul Bakshi in golf and Kinshuk Sharma, Sanam Krishan Singh, Neha, Simer did well. City volleyball players also won the National School Volleyball meet.

Besides, the city also hosted the handball and baseball nationals and the All-India Inter Varsity Handball and Weightlifting meet.

The Junior National Archery and National Softball are in progress and will further add impetus to sport in the city.