HEALTH

Measures to check spread of viral hepatitis
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28
In the wake of detection of few cases of viral hepatitis at Hallomajra village, the Health Department has instituted the prevention and control measures to check the further spread of such cases in the affected areas.

Members of the Rapid Response Team visited the area and investigated the cases of viral hepatitis. Special teams consisting of a medical officer and laboratory technicians were also deployed for the collection of blood samples from the patients and other suspected cases of jaundice.

In order to check the quality of the water five water samples were collected on December 26 for bacteriological examination. Like wise, special squads were also deputed for carrying out anti-fly measures at the refuse points scattered in the area.

A team of doctors and para-medicos collected blood samples. The investigations of the case and area revealed that the residents have installed unauthorised hand pumps on the water supply line which could be one of the cause of contamination of water leading to such cases.

The Health Department has decided to deploy the mobile van along with a team of doctors for spot treatment of the patients. They will continue to visit the area for another few days till the cases are cured permanently.

The department has launched an awareness drive by holding “group meetings” with the residents and distributing the pamphlets containing “do’s and don’t” for the prevention and control of disease. Constant awareness drive was carried out in all areas through mega phones and the members especially trained for the propose.

Office-bearers of dental association
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28
The following have been elected office-bearers of the Indian Dental Association, Chandigarh branch: president — Dr Krishan Gauba; president elect — Dr Satinder Pal Singh; vice-president — Dr Vidya Rattan; CC members — Dr H.S. Chawla, Dr K. Gauba and Dr R.P. Gupta; CDH convener — Dr Jagjit S. Dhaliwal; CDH co-convener — Dr Nidhi; CDH representatives — Dr Sanjay Suri and Dr Sandeep; CDE convener — Dr Ramesh R. Fry; CDE co-conveners — Dr Gurvinder Singh and Dr Gautam Munjal; and executive members — Dr Ashok Utreja, Dr Subhash Dawra, Dr O.P. Verma and Dr Ashish.

SPORTS

Top-seeded players excel in YMCA tennis tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, December 28
The day belonged to seeded players in The Fort Ramgarh YMCA Total Tennis Championship, being played on the YMCA Total Tennis Academy’s Sector 11 premises.

The quarterfinal match played between Inderbir Bains and Andrew Pradeep in the boys under-10 age category has been the most challenging one so far. Inderbir took the first set with ease 6-1, but Andrew came back strongly to win the second set 6-1 to level the score at one set all. In the third and final set, it was Inderbir all the way. He played a few good forehand winner shots to bag the third set and the match.

The final score read 6-1, 1-6 and 6-2 in favour of Inderbir. Now he would face top seed Digvijay Naruka in the semifinals. The top seed Digvijay Naruka was too good for his unseeded opponent Harmandeep Dhillon, as he whitewashed him at 6-0, 6-0.

In the boys under-14 quarterfinal, top seed Akshat Joshi, and second seed Raghav Singal won their matches without any trouble by defeating their respective opponents in straight sets. Akshat would now face Vishal Suri and Raghav Singal would face Shobhit Phuttella in semifinals on Friday.

The girls matches also began today. In the girls under-10 category, Charvi Saxena beat Nandni Sharma with ease 8-1.

In the girls under-16 group, Tanya Chouhan had to fight for over an hour to defeat her team-mate from St Peter school, Avneet Kaur, 7-5,6-3.

According to Mr Devinder Kapoor, the boys under-16 semifinals matches, along with boys under-10 semifinal matches would be played tomorrow from 10 am, whereas boys under-14 semifinals would be played on December 30 at 10 am. All finals would be played on Saturday.

Following are the results:

Boys under-14 quarterfinals: Akshat Joshi b Deepak Garg 6-0, 6-2; Vishal Suri b Kunal Bansal 6-4, 6-1; Shobhit Phutella b Sadeev Kang 6-2, 6-4; Raghav Singal b Srijan Uppal 6-1, 6-1; boys under-10 quarterfinals: Digvijay Naruka b Harmandeep Dhillon 6-0, 6-0; Inderbir Bains b Andrew Pradeep 6-1, 1-6, 6-2; Shubham Vij b Tanveer Kang 6-0, 6-0; Srijan Uppal b Aniket 6-2, 6-2; girls under-10 first round: Charvi Saxena b Nandni Sharma 8-1; girls under-16 first round: Tanya Chauhan b Avneet Kaur 7-5, 6-3; Rajvir Kaur w/o Hanisha Aggarwal; Shivangi Bansal b Tanvi 6-2, 6-2.

A promising local cricketer
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28
Promising local cricketer Himanshu Chawla has been creating waves in the sport with his dynamic performances at national-level tournaments held recently. Himanshu was instrumental in Chandigarh winning the Under-16 Vinoo Mankad Trophy in the School National Games for the first time. He was declared man of the series as he performed brilliantly with the bat in the tournament and remained unbeaten in all the matches.

In the quarterfinals against Delhi, he scored 41 not out. Against Andhra Pradesh in the semifinals, he scored an unbeaten 74 runs and got the title of the man of the match. In the final against Uttar Pradesh, he played a key role in the team’s victory with his knock of 87 not out and was declared man of the match again. SS Company gave him a full cricket kit as prize for his performance in the tournament.

This was not the first time that this teenager, a student of Class X at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, shone with the bat. Last year, he led the Punjab under-15 team in the Polly Umrigar Trophy and scored 68 runs in the first match against Jammu and Kashmir. In the second match against Delhi, he scored two half centuries (58 and 57) in two innings. He slammed a century (125) in the next match against Haryana and in the last match, he scored 48 and 38 not out against Himachal Pradesh.

On the basis of his performance, he was selected in the Punjab under-17 team, which would participate in the under-17 All-India Knockout Tournament, to be held in Kolkata.

Himanshu had been honing his skills under the guidance of Sukhwinder Bawa at DAV Coaching Centre, Sector 8.

“He is a very hard-working and talented cricketer. The positive aspect is that he always tries to learn new things about the game. He will definitely make a mark in the sport one day,” said Bawa.

Stage set for ITF junior tourney
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 28
Kinshuk Sharma, young promising CLTA player with world ranking of 269, will be the local favourite in the first international tennis tournament of 2006, — ITF Grade 3 Junior Tennis Tournament — to be held at the Sector 10 CLTA Tennis Stadium here from January 2 to 6.

The tournament involving boys and girls in below 18 years category will, however, miss the local star and world number 12 Sanam Krishan Singh who would be playing in the Australian Open-2006. The tournament will also be without another Indian favourite, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan. He is ranked 24th.

Indian Rupesh Roy, ranked 84th , will be the top favourite in the boys singles. CLTA Chairman Rajan Kashyap said 24 players, including two special exempts, would get direct entry into the main draw on the basis of points secured in the tournaments. Four players will be awarded wild cards and other four will qualify for the main draw of 32 for boys as well as girls singles.

Other players from north India, who will figure in the boys main draw are — Gursher Harika (506th) and Navinder Pal Singh (793th). Other Indians in the main draw are Sujit Prakash Gupta (170th), Akshay Bajoria (245th), Tejesvi Rao (347th), Siddharth Alapati (409 th ), Allan Gomes (416th), Aswin Vijayaragavan (535th), Kaushik S. Raju (776th), Priyank Gangadharan (825th) and Rubal Sandilya (829 th).

Players from other countries who have found entry in the main draw are — Ivan Anikanov (228th), Min-Woo Shin 366th (Korea), Mark Fridaev 478th (Israel), Neil Rajpal 531st (Canada) and Jiang Chuan (780th). Danish Ahmed of Pakistan is in the list of alternates.

Ksenia Palkina from Kyrgyztan, with a ranking of 121 and Julia Glushko of Israel, ranked 176th, are the top rank players in the main draw of 32 in the girls section. Poojashree Venkatesh (209th) and Sanaa Bhambri (212th) will lead the Indian challenge in the main draw. Other Indian girls in the main draw are — Sweta Solanki (275th), Tajeshwini Datla (288th), Karina Ahuja (293rd), Parija Maloo (331st), Shweta G. Kakhandki (340th), Shivika Burman (376th), Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (413rd), Bhavani Tirumurti (415th) and Gayatri Krishan (472nd).

Foreigners in the field are Ksenia Palkina 121st (Kyrgyztan), Julia Glushko 176th (Israel), Elizaveta Titova 263rd (Russia), Jung Yoo Shin-311st (Korea), Satijaporn Mahajaruenkul 366th (Thailand), Nadine Fahoum-390th (Israel), Liu Shao-Zhuo 398th (China), Anna Varik-420th (Russia), Liu Chang 431st (China), Ratchaya Chaichanachaicharn 464th (Thailand) and Guo Xuan-Yu) 500th-(China).

Mr Kashyap said all arrangements had been finalised for the smooth conduct of the tournament. The CLTA will provide board and lodging to all main draw players. Besides, one coach from each country will be provided free board and lodging. The boys and girls from India, Israel, Ukraine, China, Korea, Canada, Indonesia, Pakistan, Italy, Kyrgyztan, Russia, Thailand and Turkey would be seen in action in the qualifying and the main draw. The qualifying matches will be played on December 31 and January 1.

According to Tournament Director SM Sharma the matches will be played on eight courts, including two centre surfaces. If required the matches could be conducted under floodlights. ITF White Badge Parveen Kumar has been appointed as referee for the tournament.