The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

SPORTS

City to host ITF championship
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, December 28
The city has once again been chosen the venue for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Tennis Championship which will be held from February 7 to 12, 2005, at Tennis Stadium, Sector 10. To be organsied by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA), this Grade III meet will have the participation of top ranking players from 25 countries, Mr Rajan Kashyap, Chairman, CLTA, said.

Mr Kashyap said the 3 tournament in the below-18 years section carries valuable ITF points and would give an opportunity to Indian players to compete with the best in the world.

A number of junior players from the city like Kinshuk Sharma and Sanam Krishan Singh among boys and Inayat Khosla among girls would take part in the championship and many others would compete in the qualifying rounds to be played on February 5 and 6, 2005.

The main draw would consist of 32 players in the boys as well as the girls’ events. Twentyfour players would get direct entry on the basis of their ITF and All-India Tennis Association points. There would be eight qualifiers and four wild cards for the most promising boys and girls in the country.

Many foreign players as well as Indians have already confirmed their participation to the All-India Tennis Association in the meet and last date for entries is January 3.

The CLTA had also conducted the similar meet in February this year.

Mr Kashyap said the upgradation of the championship to Grade-III ensured a positive response from across the world as the number of international ranking points are substantial. The CLTA will provide free hospitality to all main draw players.

Earlier today, Mr S.K. Sandhu, Finance and Sports Secretary, UT, Chandigarh, expressed full satisfaction over the CLTA’s elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the tournament. Mr Sandhu assured all possible assistance from the UT Administration.

According to Mr S.M. Sharma, Hony Secretary, CLTA, who is also the Tournament Director, all the matches would be played on eight synthetic (Deco Turf) hard courts. He said the same Deco Turf material is being used for conducting tournaments of the stature of the US and Australian Opens.

The main draw players would stay in the Hotel Parkview. The CLTA has offered board and lodging arrangements to qualifying players as well as to their parents in the air-conditioned rooms and dormitories in the CLTA Tennis Stadium.

Meanwhile, all coaches and staff of the CLTA have decided to donate one-day salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for relief measures in the disaster-struck states of South India. Trainees of the CLTA and their parents have also offered donations, which will be forwarded by the CLTA to the UT Administration.

Carrom tournament begins today
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, December 28
The Seventh Raj Kumar Babuta Memorial Prize Money Carrom Ranking Tournament will begin here tomorrow at the St Stephen’s School, Sector 45. The three-day meet will be organised by the Chandigarh Carrom Association and about 62 players, including 16 in the women section, are expected to take part.

According to Mr Mahesh Sekhri, general secretary of the association, the top three events in each section will be given cash prizes — men singles winner Rs 2,500; runners-up-Rs 1500 and third place-Rs 1100, while women singles winner - Rs 1500, rumers-up-Rs 1100 and third place Rs 750.

Sekhri said the top eight position holders in the men section and top four position holders in the women section to be given ranking points.

A player who scores SLAM will be given Rs 150 per slam.

Players who have been given seedings in the drow are, men singles: Gagandeep, Asif Iqbal, Neeraj Bharti, Sudhir Sidhu, Qayyum Khan, Mohd Shahzad, Tejinder Harry and Mazhar khan.

Women singles: Sushila Prasad, Anjali Yadav, Inder Kanta and Neelam Yadav.

DAV school lift cricket trophy
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, December 28
Cricketers of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, proved their mettle when they trounced Sain Das School, Jalandhar, by 121 runs to lift the trophy of the Parle Inter-School (Under-17) Cricket Tournament which concluded at the PCA Cricket Stadium,
Mohali, today.

Batting first, DAV boys piled up a total of 258 runs for five wickets when Sumit Dhiman scored a magnificent century by making 135 runs. He was helped by Sarul Kanwar who made 42 runs. Aditya hammered 26 runs.

Jalandhar were bundled out for 137 runs in 29 overs. Abhishek claimed three wickets while Sumit and Aditya got two wickets each. Sumit Dhiman was declared man of the match while Sarul Kanwar was the man of the series.

Brief scores: DAVSSS-8: Sumit 135, Sarul 42, Aditya 26, Varun 2 for 58.

Sain Das School, Jalandhar:137 runs all out (Sumit 26, Sunil 25, Pargat Singh 24, Charanjit 22, Abhishek 3 for 31, Sumit 2 for 17, Aditya 2 for 38).

Draw for 69 CHB flats on December 31
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28
The Chandigarh Housing Board will hold a draw of lots for 69 flats in Sector 51 A on December 31.

After the draw, unsuccessful applicants can collect their demand drafts for Rs 2 lakh each.

The original drafts submitted by unsuccessful applicants will be returned as such.

The CHB will shortlist 138 names out of the 6,000 odd applicants on December 31.

The money paid by the138 applicants who are shortlisted will be deposited in the accounts of the CHB.

Rest of the applicants can present their original deposit receipts at the bank where they deposited the money and collect their original demands draft, the Chairman of Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), Mr S.C. Poddar, said today.

This is aimed at reducing paper work for the CHB. Also, the applicants will not have to run around the offices of the CHB for their refund.

Mr Poddar said the applications of the 138 applicants would be scrutinised and then a final draw for 69 flats will be held.

The draw will be held at the office of the Chandigarh Housing Board.

The 69 flats are priced at Rs 17. 20 lakh each. The three-bedroom flats are located just south of Sector 44.

The flats had been left out of the original allotment in Sector 51 A made around eight months ago.