SPORTS

Rural sports mela begins
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12
It was indeed spectacular to watch villagers goading their bullocks in 1 km long cart race on the first day of three-day rural sports mela, “Vishaal Pendu Khed Mela” being held at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Stadium in Khuda Ali Sher village near here today.

The event is being organised on the occasion of Baisakhi and the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar by the Gram Panchayat, of the village and the local Youth Club in association with Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.

About 28 teams participated in the cart race. Jang Singh of Jhingran village bagged the first place clocking 27.83 seconds and walked away with a prize money of Rs 4,000/-, Hardit Singh of Lakhmipur village came second registering 28.22 seconds and pocketed Rs 3,500 while Dilpreet Singh Thakhran took 28.29 seconds to the finishing line and bagged Rs 3,000. Hundreds of villagers thronged to cheer up their teams.

Apart from this, kabaddi tournaments in various categories were scheduled. In the 40 kg category, Kharar Club came first and Manauli Club was declared second.

Various athletic events were also held in which around 30 enthusiasts participated. In the 400 meters and 800 meters race, Vikas and Kulwinder, both of Mohali, stole the show by bagging the first and second position, winning cash prize of Rs 500 and 300, respectively. In the 1500 meters event, it was again Vikas who stood first and took away prize of Rs 500 while the second position went to Hardeep of Barsalpur village, who got the prize of Rs 300. In the long jump, Bhavtaran Singh of Khuda Ali Sher, bagged the first place by registering 19.7 ft long leap and went away with Rs 500 while Kuldeep of Jalalpur village was placed second with 18.3 ft long jump, pocketing Rs 300. In high jump, Bhavtaran Singh of Khuda Ali Sher came first and Gurdeep of Khanna stood second, winning the cash prize of Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively.

“Over 3 lakhs would be spent on the sports meet and the funds are generated with the help of locals and residents of surrounding villages including Kansal, Karoran and Nayagaon” said Balwinder Singh Sipray, president of the Youth Club, Khuda Ali Sher. Mr Didar Singh, Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Hallo Majra, distributed the prizes and presented a cheque of Rs 31,000 to the club. Events in volleyball and kabaddi under various categories will be held on the second day of the sports mela.

Mandeep, Jaanesh in tennis quarterfinals
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12
Mandeep Gill snubbed the challenge posed by Gurinder with a straight set win 6-2, 6-1 in the boys’ under-14 pre-quarters of All India Tennis Association Talent Series Tournament being held at Lake Club, Sector 6, here today. In the girls’ under-16 pre-quarters category, Jaanesh outplayed Tanvi with ease beating her 6-1, 6-3. In another tie under same category, it was a visual treat to watch the emerging talent like Ikktesh Chehal who struggled to overcome the stiff challenge put up by Sadgi, but eventually lost at 6-1,6-3.

The quarterfinals of single events for boys and girls under-14 and under 16 besides the doubles events of all categories are scheduled for April 13.

Today’s results:

(A) Boys under-14 (pre- quarterfinals)

Mandeep Gill beat Gurinder 6-2, 6-1; Abhai Raj beat Pulock Bhattacharya 6-0, 6-1; Vaidik beat Amrinder 7-5, 6-0; Amit Chauhan beat Gaurav Inder Toor 7-5, 1-6, 6-3; Ashwani beat Harry Amar 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Arjun Sehgal beat Karanveer 6-1, 6-3, Digvijay beat Satwik Rajanai 6-1, 6-0; Kshitij beat Shobhit 6-2, 6-2.

(B) Boys under-16 (pre- quarterfinals)

Pulkit beat Mohak 6-0, 6-1; Arjun Sehgal beat Karanveer 6-4, 6-2; Chandam Shaulim beat Saurav Sharma 6-3, 6-1.

(C) Girls under-16 (pre- quarterfinals)

Ramneek beat Noopur 6-2, 6-3; Mrignaini beat Ayushi 6-0, 6-7, 6-1; Jaanesh beat Tanvi 6-1, 6-3; Sadgi beat Ikktesh 6-1, 6-3; Shilpa Naruka beat Prabh Amrit 6-4,6-4; Reenuka beat Noor Paul 6-2,6-3.

HFC, Canara Bank post wins
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12
An all-round performance by Sanjay Kanwar (51 n.o. and 2 for 5) helped the Haryana Financial Corporation beat the Central Warehousing Corporation in the 2nd Haryana Tourism Institutional Cup being held at Government College, Sector 11, here, today.

The HFC scored 149 in 25 overs. Chasing the target, the warehousing team was bundled out for 147.

In another match, Canara Bank beat the PFC by 18 runs. Canara Bank made 128 in 25 overs. The PFC team was bundled out at 110. Shashi of Canara Bank took 5 wickets for 12 runs.

Himachal club win by 5 wickets
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12
A fine bowling performance by Madan Lal (6 for 18) enabled Himachal Cricket Club to beat Khalsa Cricket Club by five wickets in the UT League-cum-Knockout Tournament at the Cricket Stadium, Sector 16 here today. The tournament is being organised by the UT Cricket Association.

Brief scores: KCC 120 all out in 25 overs (Harman 48 and Saurab 30; Madan Lal 6 for 18). HCC 123 for 5 in 16 overs (Narinder 23 n.o. and Hemant 21; Satish 1 for 13).

ADMINISTRATION

Mobile phones banned in PUDA office
to improve efficiency
Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 12
The Estate Officer (EO), Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has directed his staff to abstain from using mobile phones while in office. In a verbal order issued by the EO Mr Gurmeet Singh, the staff has been told that the use of mobile phones in office was hampering work. Though the staff initially did not take kindly to the directions, most of them have, however, started following the orders.

The EO has also ordered some major changes in the method of working in order to give relief to the public. The EO would be available to address public grievances at the main reception counter from 11 am to 12.30 pm every day. He would also follow up with the applications filed at the single clearance window.

“Other than this, we have decided to curb the movement of people in the building. The owners, allottees, property dealers have been asked to give an application written specifying the file that they intend to see. This application has to be submitted between 9am to 10am. In case of property dealers, they should have an authorisation letter from the owner to see the file,” said Mr Gurmeet Singh. The files would be shown only during specific timings from 11am to 12 noon, he added.

The EO pointed out that the changes were in addition to the already available facility of the grievance officer at the PUDA office. “The grievance officer of the day facility is to look into complicated cases and complaints while we are focusing on getting the routine work done better,” he said. 

MC to get tough with encroachments in back lanes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12
The Roads Committee of the Municipal Corporation today decided that all encroachments in the back lanes of the city would be dealt with strictly.

The committee which met under the chairmanship of Mrs Harpreet Babla decided on four stages in the exercise of recarpetting the city roads. This will begin with clearing depression followed by raising kerb channels, removing encroachments and recarpetting.

This is for the first time that the Road Committee has bagged a share of Rs 11 crore out of the MC budget. Mrs Babla said this year 300 km of roads would be recarpetted.

She said all roads recarpetted before December 31, 1999, would be taken up for the job. The committee would also inspect other city roads which need immediate attention. The Art, Culture and Sports wing which are part of the Roads Committee would get an additional budget of Rs 50 lakh.

Some of the major projects sanctioned by the committee include the widening of parking in shopping centres in Sectors 38 and 35; construction of parking areas in Sector 15; and the construction of a basketball court in the Community Centre, sector 19, besides others.