Chandigarh, June 10
The PGI Resident Doctors Association revived the anti-quota protest in the city today by organising a massive candle light procession, which was attended by 2000 medicos from all over the city.

Nearly 1500 students from all over the country, who were in Chandigarh to appear for the PGI's All-India MD/MS Entrance examination held today, formed a major part of the rally's strength.

Over 5000 aspirants from all over the country took the examination today. Of these 5000, nearly 1500 found the time to voice their dissent against the Union Government's reservation policy.

The important part of the rally, organised from the PGI to Sector 17 Matka Chowk today, was the participation of these entrance examination candidates who were targeted by resident doctors of the PGI.

Dr Jaspreet Singh, President of the Resident Doctors Association of the PGI, said the idea was to keep the flame of protest alive lest the vital anti-reservation issue took a beating.

PGI resident doctors were in touch with the aspirants for the PGI entrance examination, who were housed at various locations in the city, including Indira Holiday Home in Sector 24 and PGI hostels. But the major motivation drive was held today at the six examination centres.

At 11 am, teams of resident doctors went to different locations with the objective of garnering support for tonight's anti-quota rally.

That they succeeded in their task was clear from the massive participation at the candle light rally. The protest was peaceful, and was part of the weekly protest programme, which PGI doctors have conceived to keep the issue burning.

Chandigarh, June 10
HelpAge India organised an eye check-up camp at the Ram Darbar dispensary here today. A team of HelpAge India doctors examined 200 patients. Twentyfive persons were operated upon for cataract free of cost.

The mobile medicare unit of the organisation has prepared a plan to eradicate cataract in areas covered by it.

Chandigarh, June 10
To upgrade the level of their players and local coaches, Amateur Baseball Federation of India (ABFI) is planning to conduct more coaching clinics and invite foreign coaches to impart training to local coaches.

Addressing mediapersons on the concluding day of a week-long coaching clinic by Japanese coaches Masakazu Satake and Zengo Ikeda for the probables of the forthcoming junior Asian Championship and local coaches, P.C. Bhardwaj, secretary general of the ABFI, said: “Our players and coaches have been benefitted a lot in the camp. And we can expect a good show from them in the coming junior Asian meet in Japan in August.”

Highlighting the importance of foreign coaches, he said: “In baseball, we are far away from the best in the world and the major problem we are facing is the lack of quality coaches. With foreign coaches coming in, we can improve the level of the sport.”

Talking about their future plans, he said: “The federation is organising another coaching camp-cum-clinic in July and this time we have rope in a Korean coach.” He added: “We will try to continue these camps at least for two to three more years, so that we can uplift the standard of our game to match the world standards.”

Releasing the 2006-07 events calendar, Bhardwaj informed that the national federation had allotted the 17th Sub-junior National Baseball Championship, which will be held in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, June 10
Bhavna Sharma of AG Haryana lifted the Women’s singles trophy by defeating K. Durga of AG Karnataka in the All India Inter Zonal Audit and Accounts Department Badminton Championship, which is being played at the Indoor Badminton Hall of Sports Complex, Sector 42, here.

Bhavna, keeping an attacking pace, never missed any chance to score over her opponent and registered an easy victory in straight sets by 21-9, 21-6. In the final of team events, defending champion AG TN retained their supremacy by ousting AG Rajasthan by 3-1 and lifted the Team Championship Trophy.

In the final of the veterans section, J. Shisir Kumar of AG TN lifted the trophy by beating Rajiv of Delhi Audit in straight sets 21-7, 21-7.

Results:

Women singles (finals): Bhavna Sharma beat K. Durga 21-9, 21-6; Team Event Final: AG Tamil Nadu beat AG Rajasthan 3-1; 1st singles: Parveen conceded to S.S. Kannan after losing the set 10-21; 2nd singles: Ranbeer beat T Maran 21-8, 21-8; 1st doubles: K.R. Shivakumar/SS Kannan beat Anil/Parveen 21-13, 21-16; 3rd single: K.R. Shivakumar beat Anil Kumar by 21-16, 21-10; 1st semifinals: AG Tamil Nadu beat AG Nagaland 3-0; 1st singles: S.S. Kannan beat Areb Ao 21-9, 21-11; 2nd singles: K.R. Sivakumar beat T. Yabang 21-12, 17-21, 21-12; 1st doubles: SS Kannan/R. Srinivas Reddy beat AP Chophy/Amardeep Gurang 21-8, 21-8; 2nd semifinals: AG Rajasthan beat AG Bihar; 1st singles: Anil Kumar beat Kanishka Dass 21-10 (Kanishka retired hurt); 2nd singles: Shafaq Nawab Khab conceded to Ranveer after losing first game 21-7; 1st doubles: Anil/Parveen Yadav got walk over Kanishka Das/Anuj Kr. Singh; Veteran’s final singles: J. Shishir Kumar beat Rajiv by 21-7, 21-7;

Men singles: quarterfinals: 1st quarterfinal: Ranveer Singh beat Ashish Sharma 16-21, 21-12, 10-01 (retired hurt); 2nd quarterfinal: SS Kannan beat Arvind Sharma 21-9, 21-8; 3rd quarterfinal: Utsav Mishra beat Aleem Sheikh 21-11, 21-6; 4th quarterfinal: K.R. Shivakumar beat Anil Kumar 21-16, 21-13.

Men Doubles (semifinals): 1st doubles: T. Yaband/Areb Ao (East-Zone) beat K.R. Shivakumar/T Maran (South-Zone); 2nd doubles: Utsav Mishra/Salil (North-Zone) beat Ranvir/Anil (West-Zone) 21-18, 21-17.

Mohali, June 10
The ICC team will visit the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium tomorrow to have first-hand information regarding the arrangements being made for hosting the matches of forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy in October.

Earlier, two ICC panels had checked the facilities, provided by the association authorities here, on April 6 and 25 this year. After their visits, they instructed the authorities to improve the facilities for television coverage, which includes uplinking, camera positions, more space for commentator boxes and media boxes and fixed points for photographers outside the boundary to avoid interruption with their movements during the game.

It is to be mentioned that the Mohali stadium will be hosting five matches of the trophy on October 7, 25, 27, 29 and one semifinal on November 1. Besides Mohali, the other venues will be CCI Mumbai, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. 

Mohali, June 10
Harmeet Singh and Pankaj in the men’s singles while Sheshna and Ganeer in the women’s singles reached in the finals of under 12 category in the Tricity Lawn Tennis Championship being held at tennis courts, State Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Phase 6, here today.

Harmeet Singh and Pankaj routed Uday Singh Mann (6-5) and Srijan Uppal (6-3), respectively. Sheshna beat Aastha by 5-2 while Charvee Saxena lost to Ganeer 3-6.

The other results are as follow:

Semifinal matches: Under 12 boys: Harmeet bt Uday Singh Mann by 6-5, Pankaj bt Srijan Uppal by 6-3.

Under 12 girls: Sheshna bt Aastha by 5-2, Ganeer bt Charvee Saxena by 6 -3.

Under 14 boys (3rd round): Srijan bt Dhaval 6-2, Gurinder bt Pankaj 6-3, Devbir bt Gurbinder 6 -3, Gaurav bt Shagun 6-1.

Under 14 girls: Ravnoor bt Sheshna by 5 -4, Prabhamrit bt Ganeer by 5-0.

Under 18 boys (2nd round): Amanjeet Singh bt Bhagwan Singh 5-1, Karanvir Singh bt Soren Narula 5-0.

Men’s doubles: Prabhjit and Gurpreet bt Riar and Karan 6-2.

Men open singles (2nd round): Karan bt Sukhmeet 5 -0, Prabhjit bt Amandeep 5-0, Sukat bt Parvesh 5 -1, Karanbir bt Sham 5-1, Gurmit bt Virt 6-0, Sidharth bt Harjit 6 -0. Veteran doubles: T.R. Sarangal and A.K. Kaushal beat R.S. Saggu and Harjit Singh 6-4.