SPORTS

Grooming young talent his objective
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, February 9
Kanianthra Alexander Mathews, a German, coaches 14-year-old Swiss tennis player Justina Derungs, who travels 32 weeks in a year to take part in tournaments in different parts of the world. He gives tips to Justina when she is on tour.

Alexander has been to India a number of times and is visiting Chandigarh after a gap of more than 25 years, when the city only had grass courts.

He has set up his private tennis centre in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). He has a select group of trainees from different parts of Europe whom he advises and plans their training schedule for the year.

He also accompanies them to tournaments on a some occasions. The idea is to make his trainees adapt to both singles and doubles segments of the game, he feels.

Alexander says Justina has yet to impress critics at the international level and improve her ranking. It is vital for him to be with her to help her mentally and physically.

For a budding player like Justina, a tactical game plan, right from nutrition, has to be thought of well in advance, he feels.

He says: “If a parent accompanies a player on travels, it boosts the morale of the player. One has to sacrifice all his time and resources to reach the top.” For him India is a nice play to play tennis as the weather is conducive to the sport.

He is all praise for the improved infrastructure at the CLTA courts and fells it can be compared to the best in the world.

Last evening, Justina complained of a stomach ache playing against a Ukrainian girl, as Alexander was being interviewed at the CLTA courts. She had to concede the match due to her condition.

Her mother, who is accompanying her, blamed it on the food. Alexander was, however, confident that Justina would play her doubles tie partnering Andrei Laona Laura of Romania tomorrow.

For him tennis is lifeline
A Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 9
For local student Kinshuk Sharma playing tennis is a lifeline and he is trying hard to reach the peak. Just 15 Kinshuk is studying in the Saint John’s school in Sector 26. Presently he is ranked 250 in the under 18 group.

Though he lost his second round game against Vaja Uzakov of Uzbekistan in the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior Championship at the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) courts, he won hearts of city residents.

In the first round he had defeated his namesake, Kinshuk Raju , only to be brought down by the Uzbek, Vaja, in the next round. On speaking about his performance in this tournament he says, “ the level of competition is very high here. Players participating in this tournament are much experienced and elder to me in age.”

Last week Kinshuk won the Grade 2 tournament in Delhi which made him automatically qualify for the on going grade 3 tournament in Chandigarh.

“I believe to reach zenith, playing such tournaments are very important as they give young players exposure, “ , says Kinshuk while giving full credit to his father Mr S.M. Sharma who inspired him to play tennis.

AG Punjab to clash with AG Delhi in final
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, February 9
Hosts AG, Punjab, registered a 3-0 win over AG, HP. to move to the final of the North Zone Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA & AD) Badminton Tournament played here today at Badminton Hall, Sector 42. In the other semifinal, AG, Delhi, caused an upset when they outplayed AG, UP, 3-2.

Results: AG, Punjab, b AG, HP (3-0); Amit Sachdeva b Manoj Awasthi 15-3,15-5; Ashish Sharma b Vijay Dhauta 15-7,15-10; Doubles: Amit and Ashish b Manoj and Vijay 15-12,15-4. AG, Delhi, b AG, UP. 3-2; Sunil Yadav b Deepak Saxena15-12,15-11; Arul Sunderam lost to Utsav Mishra 9-15,10-15; doubles: Apinder Pal and Rajiv Sharma lost to Utsav and Sandeep Tiwari 15-13, 9-15, 5-15; Rajiv Sharma b Sanjiv Tiwari 15-1,15-2; Sunil Yadav and Arul b Salil and Deepak Saxena 17-14,15-12.

In the men singles final tomorrow, Ashish Sharma of AG, Punjab, will meet Utsav Mishra of AG, UP. The team championship final will begin at 10 am while the men singles final will begin at 3 pm.

Bridge Association office-bearers
Sports Reporter

Col A.B. Singh

Chandigarh, February 9
Col AB Singh and ML Panghotra have been elected President and Secretary General of the Chandigarh Bridge Association for the third term.

Other office-bearers are, JK Sama, Col Govinder Singh, Col Guriqbal Singh, Col Amrik Singh, RN Mehta, Wing Cmdr Russel Lyall, Ms Sunanda Jain and Mr GS Oberoi.

ADMINISTRATION

Cop asleep on duty, suspended
Our Correspondent

Mohali, February 9
Two police personnel, including a head constable, were found sleeping while on duty during a checking in the wee hours here today. The head constable was suspended while the special police officer (SPO) had been sent to the Police Lines.

According to sources, the head constable, Kuldeep Singh, and SPO, Zorawar Singh, were found sleeping in the verandah near the Bank of Punjab in the Phase VII market during a checking conducted by Mr Harpreet Singh, DSP. They were using a table to sleep on while their motor cycle was parked adjacent to the table. Even the chowkidar of the area was found sleeping along with them. The checking was done around 2 am today.

It is learnt that the SPO could not be suspended due to some technicalities involved. Such employees can either be sent to the Police Lines or sacked.

The DSP confirmed the suspension of the head constable.

Meanwhile, the police seized 18 bottles of liquor during a naka near Dara Studio.