Prof Nagi on world panel of surgeons
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26
Prof O.N. Nagi, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh, has been nominated on the expert panel of surgeons and biomechanical engineers to train surgeons from all over the world about the new concept, design and surgical technique of total hip replacement “Physiologic Hip Prosthesis”.

The decision was taken after a clinical review of the new concept held at Bettlach Switzerland by the Dr HC Robert Mathys Stiftung Foundation. The concept has been named after its pioneer, Prof Robert Mathys of Switzerland.

The other members of the panel are Dr R.Mathys Junior (Switzerland), Dr M Kaufmann (France), Prof Dr S Kotb (Egypt) and Prof GV Kuropolkin (Russia).

At the meeting, Dr Nagi, who is credited to have started the technique in India, and treated over 160 patients over a period of five years, was invited as technical expert and guest speaker.

The joint replacement has been credited as one of the biggest successes in the management of various joint disorders. In these efforts Robert Mathys in Switzerland evolved a new concept of matching the material properties of bone and the implant metal by developing is elastic hip prosthesis. This results in uniform stress distribution between bone and implant because of more secure bony fixation of the prosthesis and longer life of the implant.

On the basis of the feedback the pioneer of the concept Prof Robert Mathys modified this prosthesis leading to creation of new outlook isoelastic hip prosthesis made of poly ethyl ketone coated with titanium. To start surgeries on the basis of new concept, the PGI, Chandigarh, was selected as one of the five centres in Asia. 

SPORTS

Sachin better than Lara: Gillespie
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26
Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar is a better batsman than West Indian left-hander Brian Lara, said Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, as he compared both the premier batsmen while talking to mediapersons at the Chandigarh Club here tonight.

Gillespie was here to promote a famous brand of Australian beer. Terming the controversy of Ricky Ponting’s bat as rubbish, Gillespie, who is placed at no. 9 in the world’s best bowlers ranking, said the coat of carbon graphite on the bat only prolongs the life of the bat rather than making it more powerful.

Revealing the secret of consistency in Australian performance, he said, “It comes due to hard practice and experienced players”. Talking about the Indian fast bowlers, he was of the opinion that they have bright future as they were young and doing well on the Indian pitches, which are not much bouncy. He termed the brand promotion by various cricketers’ right unless that effect one’s training and preparation.

Gillespie, who took 248 wickets in 66 Tests, also played cricket with the lucky winners, who were selected by the Chandigarh Club following a draw of lots. An artificial pitch was especially laid out for this purpose.

Boxing not popular sport with city youth: coach
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26
Dominance of cricket has consigned many vulnerable sports into oblivion. And boxing may be the one of them, which seems to be the most unpopular game here. Besides schools and colleges, there is only one boxing centre at Sector 42 in the city run by the Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration.

Less than a dozen boxers come here regularly to have their practice under the supervision of Bhagwant Singh, the only coach at the centre. Except Satinder Kaur, the only female pugilist at the centre, all trainees of the centre are new faces.

Explaining the reasons for such a less number of trainees in the centre, Bhagwant Singh, who joined 11 months before, said: “ Maybe the annual exams and holidays were the main cause. We hope that 25 to 30 new boxers would join after one or two months”.

He seemed totally disappointed about the state of the game in the city. “Besides providing all boxing paraphernalia like head guards, boxing gloves, punching bags with gloves, skipping ropes, punching pads, boxing is unsuccessful to attract the sportspersons from the city”, he said. “Being a tough game, this is mainly adopted by the sportspersons belonging to low class or middle class. The monthly charge of Rs 50 may be the repellent”, he added.

Despite being in less number, the boxers of this centre brought glory to the city as Chandigarh won bronze medal in the Senior National Championships 2004. In the All-India Inter-University Championships-2004, the pugilists of this centre brought two silvers and one bronze. In the Sub-Junior National Championships, too, they also won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

Besides these, the lone woman pugilist of the centre, Satinder Kaur, brought laurels by winning gold and silver medals in 4th Senior National Championships-2004 and 3rd Sr. National Championships, respectively.

The government provided one time scholarship of Rs 1,000 to 1,500 on winning the gold in the event of state level or above.

Revealing his plans to prompt the students to this game, Bhagwant Singh said, “I am planning to visit schools and colleges to motivate students to adopt the game”. To make the game popular some tournaments with handsome cash prizes should be started, he opined.

Talking about the facilities provided by the department, Bhagwant Singh said, “The government is fully supporting us in every manner. There is no dearth in infrastructure in the city but the only shortcoming is lack of devotion and participation on the part of boxers here”.

Amritsar totters at 39 for 4
Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 26
Due to sheer negligence on the part of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), the second day of the semifinal match between Chandigarh and Amritsar in the U-15 Sushil Bali Inter-district Tournament was wasted as the pitch was found to be wet following overnight rain.

The match being played at the PCA grounds here could not be resumed this morning as scheduled since the pitch was left uncovered last night after the first innings of the Chandigarh team.

The match could start only at 5.30 pm today. Amritsar resumed their innings from yesterday’s score of 12 for 3 in 7.3 overs. Only 27 overs were bowled today. At the close, Amritsar was struggling at 39 for 4 in 34 overs. Earlier, Chandigarh made 275 runs in the first innings.

Brief score: Chandigarh 275 all out in 87.3 overs. Amritsar 39 for 4 in 34 overs

Tomorrow is the final day of the match.

ADMINISTRATION

Transfer order of Art college lecturer stayed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today stayed the operation of the transfer order of a lecturer of the Government College of Art, Mr Sanjeev Kumar, to the Government IIT in Sector 26 here.

The transfer orders had been issued by the Joint Secretary, Technical Education, after an allegation of sexual harassment was levelled against the lecturer by certain students of the college. However, the allegation did not find substance during the course of inquiry.

In his plea before the tribunal, Mr Sanjeev Kumar lamented that he had been transferred despite no substance having been found in the allegation.

He further stated that he had come through the UPSC against Group “ A” post , he was transferred against the post of instructor, which was a Group “ C” post.

He further stated that he had not been charge-sheeted nor had he been given any documents to prove the allegation in the past three months.

The case would come up on May 11.

Awareness camp at Hallomajra
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26
The Panchayat Department of the Chandigarh Administration today organised an awareness campaign at Hallomajra. The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Director Panchayats, Mr Arun Kumar, said earlier such camps were held in Maloya and Kajheri villages. This camp mainly focussed on sanitation, cleanliness, female foeticide, AIDs awareness, women empowerment, literacy, enrolment of children in schools, afforestation, functioning of Panchayati Raj institutions and use of renewable energy sources.

Some prominent persons also delivered lectures. The DC said this entire awareness camp had been coordinated by the Panchayat Department of the UT Administration and supported by the Health Department, Family Welfare Department, Forest Department and the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources of the Chandigarh Administration.