HEALTH

185 donate blood

Chandigarh, June 5
More than 185 donors donated blood at the blood donation camp organised by the Thalassaemic Children Welfare Association at the PGI here yesterday. The camp was inaugurated by the Deputy General Manager of SBI, zonal office, Punjab, Ms Usha R. Nair, who praised the efforts of the association in saving the lives of the serious patients through the voluntary donors. She also promised Rs 1 lakh for the treatment of poor children suffering form the disease. — TNS

SPORTS

Skater Shakun finally gets gradation
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, June 5
The Chandigarh Sports Department has finally awarded the provisional sports gradation certificate to international skater Shakun Salwan. It was more than a decade back when the Chandigarh Sports Department had stopped issuing sports gradation certificates to deserving roller skaters seeking admission to professional and other courses on the basis of their sports merit.

After being denied the right to apply this year for sports gradation by the Chandigarh Sports Department, Shakun finally decided to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Based on her merit and other considerations, a notice of motion to the Chandigarh Administration was issued for July 21 by a bench comprising Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice Nirmal Yadav on May 26. It also directed that a provisional sports gradation certificate be issued within seven days to the petitioner by accepting roller skating as a sport. Interestingly the Sports Department officials delivered the same provisional sports gradation certificate to Shakun at her residence on June 3.

Shakun has paved the way for future generation skaters as she fought with the UT Sports Department on the issue of sports gradation. Shakun, who has cleared Class XII examinations with 74 per cent marks had contended that when Punjab, Haryana and several other states in the country were already issuing the sports gradation to skaters, why was Chandigarh denying the same to city skaters.

In her petition she also pointed out that when the UT was following rules of the Punjab Government in terms of employees and other service matters, why is it not following Punjab in respect of the sport. She said even the chairperson of the Chandigarh Roller Skating Association, Ms Madhu Bahl, had made representations to the local authorities for allowing sports gradation to skaters as they were giving excellent performance at the national and international level.

Shakun has stated that she represented the country in the Asian Skating Championship in roller hockey event held at Akita (Japan) in June 2004 and the team bagged the bronze medal. Later she represented Indian women’s roller hockey team that played in the Women’s World Roller Hockey Meet held in Wuppertal (Germany) in September 2004. Shakun had petitioned that in the National Games held in Andhra Pradesh in December 2002, Chandigarh had sent a big contingent which returned empty handed except for the medals in skating. While the men’s roller hockey squad won the gold medal, the women got a bronze and she was a key member of the UT women’s team.

She also contended that Naman Parikh of Maharashtra had been the recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award in the nineties on the basis of his superb performance in three consecutive Asian Skating Championships. The parent national body Roller Skating Federation of India was founded in 1958 and duly recognised by the Government of India and the Indian Olympic Association. She said for the past many years, UT Education Department had been conducting the UT Inter School Roller Skating Tournament.

Moreover, many city based outstanding skaters were honoured by Chandigarh Administration at a sports function held in 2000 and skaters like Kriti Puri and Mehak Paul were honoured on Republic Day and Independence Day, which speaks of the patronage to the sport.

Interestingly, Shakun also quoted the example of the Sector 10 skating rink built by the Chandigarh Administration a few decades back to promote skating.

Gyan Bharti Academy win cricket tie
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
Gyan Bharti Academy defeated United Club in a group league match which was marred by controversy in the Chetan Sports Foundation (Under-14) Cricket Tournament at the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here today.

In a ‘fixed’ match, Gyan Bharti Academy posted 279 for 9 in 25 overs. Fortyfive wide balls were bowled. Abhishek slammed a century (105). More than 35 runs were not recorded in the scorebook. There were heated arguments with umpires.

Drama followed when United Club were persuaded to bat. United Club at last relented and came to bat. They lost Tejesvi (0) bowled by Abhishek and Bharti (0) was adjudged leg before wicket to Abhishek. After nine balls were bowled, United Club conceded the match.

DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of ICLCL XI by seven wickets.

This resulted in a three-team tie among Gyan Bharti, ICLCL XI and DAVSSS-8. They have won three matches and lost one each.

Sonnet Club and Chetan Cricket Academy, both of Delhi, qualified for the semi-finals with three wins and one defeat each.

Brief scores:

DAVSSS-8: 122 for 6 (Anil Sihag 36, Sagarpreet 26, Karan Thakur 18, Ahinav 2 for 21, Mohit 2 for 18) lost to ICLCL XI: 123 for 3 in 18.2 overs (Mohit 46, Vipul Chadha 38, Anil 2 for 8) by seven wickets.

Gyan Bharti Cricket Academy, Delhi: 279 for 9 in 25 overs (Abhishek 105 (16x4s, 4x6s), Ashray 32, Swapandeep 31, Sagan 2 for 20, Tejasvi 2 for 8) bt United Club, Delhi: 4 for 2 in 1.3 overs conceded.

Sonnet Club, Delhi: 158 for 7 in 25 overs (Sumit Sehrawat 50, Kunj Sharma 20,

Shahib Alam 17, Yashdeep 3 for 28, Abhimanyau 2 for 25, Amanpreet 1 for 31) bt Panchkula

Cricket Academy: 68 for 9 in 25 overs (Yashdeep 27, Kunal 2 for 5, Ankit 2 for 22)by 90 runs.

Surinder Khanna Cricket Academy, Delhi: 86 all out (Sourav 46, Divij 2 for 14, Pranan 4 for 16) lost to Chetan Cricket Academy, Delhi: 87 for 4 in 20.2 overs (Divij 40, Sawan 21, Tejas 3 for 9, hat-trick) by six wickets.

Kanpur Club win cricket tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Patiala, June 5
Kanpur Cricket Nursery beat Dronacharya Cricket Foundation (DCF), New Delhi by 82 runs to grab the title in the seventh MES Hot Weather Cricket Tournament (under-13), which concluded here today.

Brief scores: Kanpur Cricket Nursery: 272 for 9 ( Karminder 95, Aditya 92, Shushant 20, Amit Kumar 4 for 61, Puneet Kumar 3 for 36, Kapil 2 for 23). Dronacharya Cricket Foundation: 190 all out (Amit Thakur 45, Puneet Malhotra 34, S. Aggarwal 19, Niladhri Dass Gupta 18, Sajan Malhotra 10, Akash Tolani 3 for 14, Sushant Rai 3 for 52, Karmider Pandey 1 for 27, Angad Singh Bakshi 1 for 33).

Niladhri Dass Gupta of DCF, Delhi, was declared the best bowler, while the ‘boy of the match’ prize went to Karminder Pandey of Kanpur Cricket Nursery. Karan Goyal of Chandigarh Cricket Association and St John’s School was given the ‘boy of the tournament’ prize.

Kavita, Virpal win wrestling titles
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 5
Kavita in 48 kg and Virpal in 51 kg emerged winners in the senior section of the Chandigarh Women’s State Wrestling Championships which concluded here this evening at the Sector 42 sports complex. The prizes were distributed by Mr I.S. Malhan.

Results: Subjunior: below 38 kg: Jaspreet Kaur 1, Charanjit Kaur 2. below 40 kg:Anu 1, Rajni 2. Below 43 kg: Amanjit 1, Nisha 2. Below 46 kg: Pinki1, Meena 2. Below 49 kg: Rupinder 1, Suman 2. Below 52 kg:Virpal 1, Ekta 2. Below 56 kg: Niki 1, Mandeep 2. Below 60 kg:Sushma 1, Neha 2.

Junior: Below 44 kg:Dimple 1, Dimple 2. Below 48 kg:Anita 1, Poonam 2. Below 51 kg: Rajni1, Rita 2. Below 55 kg:Saroj Yadav1, Manisha 2. Below 59 kg: Dimple1, Manpreet 2.

Below 63 kg: Dalwinder 1, Pooja 2.

Senior: Below 48 kg: Kavita1, Priyanka 2. below 51 kg: Virpal 1,Chetna 2. Below 55 kg: Poonam1, Kulwinder 2. Below 59 kg: Rajinder1, Jasmine 2.

More facilities at PU pool
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
The membership of swimming pool in Panjab University (PU) will close on June 6 for outsiders as the pool is already full to capacity in both morning and evening sessions. However, students and employees of the university will be adjusted even after the last date, said Mr DS Toor, Director, Sports Department, PU.

To meet the demand of the members to open the pool for their guests on daily basis, the university is going to introduce this facility very soon. “We have prepared the format. After getting the permission of the Vice-Chancellor, the university will allow the guests of the members on payment of Rs 30 per hour whereas the guests of outsiders will be charged Rs 50 per hour”, said Mr Toor. The coaches will have the prerogative to decide the number of guests.

Briefing about the facilities provided at the pool, he said, “Our pool, where competitions of national level held regularly, conforms to the international standards. To supervise the swimmers, two coaches and one life guard have been deputed. For beginners, we have a small pool with the depth of three feet besides a diving pool for professionals.”

An added attraction this season would be the playing of instrumental music for the visitors at the pool, Mr Toor added. 

Easy win for Little Flowers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
Little Flowers registered an easy 112-run victory over Manav Mangal School in the ICL Certification Limited Inter-School (Under-15) Cricket Tournament, being organized by Chandigarh Cricket Association, at Satluj Public School ground in Panchkula today.

Little Flowers batted first and posted 179 for 7 in stipulated 30 overs. Siddharth Bhandari (38) and Varun Arora (27) propped up their innings. Ashit Chouda bagged three wickets for 25 runs.

In reply Manav Mangal were bowled out for 67 runs in 16.3 overs. Ashish made 29. Vipul Saini (3 for 17) and Shankar (2 for 22) were the main wreckers of the Manav Mangal innings.

Brief scores: Little Flowers: 179 for 7 in 30 overs (Varun Arora 27, Siddharth Bhandari 38, Lovely Thakur 10, Ashit Chouda 3 for 25, Ashish 2 for 20) bt Manav Mangal: 67 in 16.3 overs (Ashish 29, Vishu 15, Shankar 2 for 22, Vipul Saini 3 for 17) by 112 runs.

Navdeep, Abhairaj in main round
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 5
Navdeep Singh and Abhairaj Singh made it to the main round in under 18 section of the AITA Talent Series Tennis Championship played here today at the St Peter’s Senior Secondary School grounds, Sector 37. Arvinder Pal, Dody ,Dinesh, Parth,Damanbir and Sourav also moved into the main draw.

In the under-14 boys section, Vaibhav Gupta, Nitin Sharma,Vishal Suri, Samin Bhargava and Gurinder Singh entered the main rounds.

Tomorrow the opening ceremony of the main draw will be held at 8.45 am.

Manipur topple Delhi
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
Manipur toppled Delhi in a one-sided affair under Regu event (men’s section) 21-18, 21-4 in the ongoing 16th Senior National Sepak Takraw Championship at St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here today.

In the women’s section, Regu contest final, Manipur eves clinched the title beating Assam in a well-contested tie at 21-13, 21-15. The third postion holders were West Bengal who prevailed over Haryana and the score stood at 21-11, 21-13 while in the men’s section, Assam went away with the third position thrashing Delhi at 21-18, 21-4.

Mr Amarjeet Singh Katari, District Judge, Ferozepore, was the guest of honour who distributed prizes to the winners.