The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

City doc back after clinical training
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2
Dr Kamaldeep Sandhu, a city-based dermatologist, has returned after undergoing a month-long clinical training at one of the UK’s top dermatology centre at Manchester. During the training period, she worked with world-renowned dermatologists and updated her knowledge and skills in the management of chronic skin disorders.

She had also been invited by the European Association of Dermatologists and Venereologists to present a paper at their annual meeting held at London in October this year.

Dr Sandhu did her MD from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, and worked as a Senior Resident in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, and has been awarded with various international fellowships.

SPORTS

‘Golden fish’ promises more gold
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Upcoming swimmer, Harsimran Kaur, poses with her medals and trophy
Upcoming swimmer, Harsimran Kaur, poses with her medals and trophy.

Chandigarh, November 2
She jumps into the water and comes out with gold. This is not the magic but the inborn talent and hard work of swimmer Harsimran Kaur of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41.

At the age of 13, the ‘golden fish’ of the school had bagged a lot of gold medals. “Swimming is my passion and I want to make a mark at the international level in the sport” said Harsimran, a student of eighth standard.

She has cornered glory by winning almost over 20 gold medals in different swimming tournaments, including at the competitions of state and national level. Harsimran won two gold and one bronze in the CBSE north zone swimming competitions in 2004-05.

In the same year, she participated in sub-junior Punjab swimming championship in which she bagged five gold medals and one silver medal.

To give her more exposure the school sent her to participate in the senior Punjab swimming championship. Much to the surprise of school authorities, organisers and the participants of the competition, Harsimran beat her senior counterparts to win two gold and three silver medals there.

While participating in inter-state school competitions, she got three gold. She was declared also as UT best swimmer-2005-06 as she won three gold medals in UT State Swimming Championship. In junior Punjab swimming championship, she had set a new record in 1500 m freestyle besides obtaining three gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

She had represented Punjab state in the national swimming championship held at Kolkata this year.

The list of winning medals by her is very long. In CBSE North Zone, Delhi, she clinched three gold besides one silver medal.

She also proved her mettle and determination by beating senior swimmers and pocketing three gold medals besides three silver and one bronze, in the Punjab State Senior Men and Women Championship held at Ludhiana in March this year.

“My ultimate goal is to set new records in the Olympic games besides winning the gold for my country in other competitions of international repute”, said gritty Harsimran, an ardent fan of Olympic medalist American swimmer Michael Phelps.

The school has been providing all facilities and necessary paraphernalia to her free of cost. “Besides full fee concession, the school authorities offered special help in studies and bore all sports expenses to inspire her”, said Mr K S Cheema, Director Sports of the school.

“We are sure that this talented girl will bring the laurels for the country and make a mark in the sport”, said Mr Cheema.

Young gymnasts win 40 medals
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, November 2
A rich haul of 40 medals won by the Gymnastic Coaching Centre at DAV College, Sector 10, has once again proved the fact that it is the dedication of both coach and trainees which help in improving their performance.

While visiting the DAV College Indoor hall, one could notice more than 50 trainees undergoing coaching, thanks to the college management which has provided free coaching centre to youngsters who are mainly drawn from poor families. Despite the fact that in July last, the Sports Authority of India Gymnastic coach, Mr Rajinder Sharma, was transferred to Haryana, still gymnasts continue to do well in various tournaments.

As Principal of the DAV College, Sector 10, S.Marriya says, children from various schools daily come for practice here. Equipment have been provided by the Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration. The centre had been visited by dignitaries like Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister Punjab, Chander Mohan, Deputy Chief Minister, Haryana, Kapil Dev, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia among others.

Recently, the DAV Centre gymnasts won 40 medals in the just-concluded first Chandigarh State Games-2005 in different events. Earlier, the gymnasts trained by Rajinder Sharma had won titles in the Panjab University Inter- College Gymnastic meet. Later, DAC Centre gymnasts also clinched gold, silver and bronze medals in the All-India Inter university Gymnastic meet, Senior National Gymnastic meet and National School games.

But the young gymnasts when asked have just one common demand, to bring back their favourite coach, Rajinder Sharma with them as their practice suffer a lot.