HEALTH

Dr Vij gains US experience
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 21
Dr Brinder Vij, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), has attended world renowned Mayo Clinic at Rochester Minnesota (USA) as visiting clinician for one month.

During his stay there, Dr Vij carried out research work in rheumatological manifestation in ‘‘Graft versus host disease’’, which was a significant complication of different organ transplants. This condition was more common in cancer-related transplants. He also participated in different interactive sessions and conferences during his stay at Mayo.

Sharing the experience of his stay at Mayo Clinic, he said the visit was very informative and unique. He maintained that early and aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis could definitely prevent joint deformities and resultant handicaps. Rheumatoid arthritis was not just a problem of joints, but it could affect the whole body. Therefore, more comprehensive approach was called for to manage this disease and obtain best results in the arthritic patients.

Eyes donated

Amloh, July 21
The family of S.P. Goel donated his eyes to the eye bank, Mandi Gobindgarh. He died yesterday.

Goel worked as a lecturer and Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Amloh and Mandi Gobindgarh. He was 72. OC

SPORTS

Council decision on grant hailed
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 21
The sports associations have hailed the Punjab State Sports Council’s (PSSC) decision to give grant to the sports bodies affiliated with the Punjab Olympic Association.

Appreciating the announcement of the council of granting a lump sum grant of Rs 1.5 lakh per annum to each sports association in the state, the office-bearers of the various sports associations have termed it a decision in the right direction. They have expressed the hope that with this resolve of the council, a new lease of life would be infused into the sports activities in the state.

Mr Raj Kumar and Mr Balraj Sharma, general secretaries of the Punjab Volleyball Association and the Punjab Swimming Association, respectively along with Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Punjab Basketball Association have said that Pargat Singh, Director, sports, Punjab, deserved appreciation for prevailing upon the PSSC to announce annual grant to associations.

“This would certainly put the sports activities on track as the associations were forced to run the show with limited sources. The PSSC’s step to give grants would boost the morale of the members of the associations and they would organise tournaments more frequently and vigorously which would ultimately improve the standard of the games in the state,” they remarked.

Arjuma awardee, Inder Singh, secretary, Punjab Football Association, Mr Balkar Singh Brar, honorary secretary, Punjab Handball Association and Mr P N Passi, secretary, Punjab Softball Association also thanked Pargat Singh and Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (sports and youth affairs), Punjab for their role in taking this decision.

7 Saraswati School students for kickboxing meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 21
Seven students of the local Saraswati Modern School, Rajpura Road, Civil Lines, have been selected to represent Punjab in the 18th National Kickboxing Championship to be held from July 27 to 30 at Anna Stadium, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari.

According to Ms Neelambra Sharma, Principal of the school, out of 16 members of the Punjab squad, seven are from Saraswati Modern School. The students are- Dev Sagar ( u-10 years); Vidhu Anand (u-11 years), Dishu Diwan (u-12 years); Puru Mittal (u-13 years); Padam Bali (u-14 years); Ekta Sharma and Kanika Kataria (16-18 years). Shambhu Sagar, incharge, sports, will compete in this meet in the 18- 40 years section.

Ms Sharma wished good luck to the students leaving for Nagercoil on July 24.