Chandigarh, October 18
Over 55 per cent schoolchildren have been suffering from back pain, thanks to heavy school bags. The lower back pain due to heavy school bags has been causing about 23 per cent of absenteeism in city schools.

A study conducted by the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, PGI, also claims that the incidences of lower back pain among children were skyrocketing due to stress on sports activities.

Dr Sanjay Wadhwa, professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, said the fact was that most schoolchildren had been carrying backpacks weighing 10-20 per cent of their body weight. This was against the World Health Organisation guideline (a backpack should not be heavier that 10 per cent of the body weight of a student). The practice could cause life-long health concerns and back pain, he added.

Many health issues initiating lower back pain in adults, such as poor posture, misalignment of vertebrae, trauma, emotional stress and sports injuries, had the same affect on children too.

Dr Raj Bahadur, Additional Medical Superintendent of the PGI, said, “Lower back pain is the most frequent cause of limitation of activity in the young and middle aged, one of common reasons for medical consultation, and the most frequent occupational injury. Back pain is the second leading cause of sick leave”.

He said lower back pain among school students proved a silent epidemic that caused spine injuries and cripple a child completely with the passage of time, if not treated in preliminary stage. The most affected were adolescent girls.

The increased life expectancy and changes in lifestyle and diet had increased non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in developing countries, including India. Those diseases had been causing nearly 40 per cent of all deaths in the developing countries and affect younger people than in industrialised countries, claimed the doctor.

Factors that had been playing a major role in developing pains in bones and joints of children included physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and consumption of tobacco and alcohol, apart from long sitting-hours before computers, added Dr Bahadur.

The number of patients, suffering from neck-pain, (computer executives) had increased drastically in the past. Consumption of all types of colas also led to degeneration of bone calcium, thus causing problem of osteoporosis.

The department has been celebrating world spine day as part of bone and joint decade activity week at the PGI on October 16, said Dr Wadhwa. He said patients attending the OPD with spine-related problems would be attended to. They would be informed about the development of the diseases and methods of their cure and treatment. 

Chandigarh, October 18
Gaurav Puri of St Stephen’s High School, Sector 45, who scored 76, was instrumental in beating DAV Model School, Sector 15, by 81 runs in a pool-D match of the u-16 9th Blessed Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament, being played at St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today.

Put to bat first, St Stephen’s team scored an impressive 178 for 6 in the stipulated 25 overs. Besides Gaurav, other contributors were Akshay 43 and Anurag 40.

In reply DAV could manage only 97 runs. Rozal Batra with 41 runs showed some resistance.

Brief scores :

St Stephen’s 178 for 6 in 25 overs: (Gaurav 76, Akshay 43, Anurag 40, Mohit Singh 2 for10)

DAV-15, 97 all out in 22.3 overs: ( Rozal 41, Prabhjeet 25, Anurag 2 for1 2, Vishal 2 for 15, Prateek 2 for 37)

Chandigarh, October 18
Rajinder, a member of the u-14 football squad of the Chandigarh Football Academy(CFA), Sector 42, and a trainee with CFA, has bagged a scholarship of Rs 5,000 at the Subroto Cup Football Tournament held at Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, recently. He was named the “Most Promising Player of the Tournament.”

Coming from a very humble background, this 13-year-old lean midfielder said, “I am feeling great. Rather, I consider myself lucky for being adjudged the most promising player. It was for the first time that our team got exposure in such a big tournament.”

Praising his protégé, coach Jitender said, “ I am delighted to say that he played in the tournament on another position and not on the actual position. Still, he gave a splendid performance and caught the fancy of the judges. It is a good incentive for an upcoming player.

The FD in his name will reach the school in a few days and the amount will get mature till he attains the age of 18,” he added.

Rajinder, whose idol is The Netherland’s striker Nestlroy said, “I know I have to work hard because if it is easy to achieve something at the same time it is difficult to maintain it. I will leave no stone unturned to prove my worth and will never let down my coaches or guardians who have great expectations from me.”

Earlier, also three u-14 players of the CFA Vikramjeet, Shenaz and Baljit also got the same recognition in the 2004 edition of the Subroto Cup Football Tournament. 

Chandigarh, October 18
The Haryana State Table Soccer Championship organised by the Haryana State Table Association concluded today at The Gurukul, Sector 20, Panchkula. Mr Ravinder was the chief guest of this tournament and guest of honour was Mr K.S. Bharti, Assistant Director, Sports, Chandigarh Education Department.

The overall trophy was won by The Gurukul.

Results:

Singles girls u-16: Neetika 1, Binny 2 and Sahar 3.

Doubles: Sahar 1, Ancy Joseph/Divya 2 and Inderpreet Kaur/Binny Sharma 3.

Singles boys u-19: Kuljinder 1, Harvinder Johal 2 and Ankit Bansal 3.

Doubles: Ankit/Abhinav 1, Maniner/Sarabjeet 2 and Aashish/Harvinder 3.

Singles girls u-19: Jyoti Kaushik 1 and Sunaina 2.

Chandigarh, October 18
The team of Guru Gobind Singh College for Women (GGSW), Sector 26, emerged overall winner with 75.30 points in the Panjab University Inter-College Gymnastics (Girls) Championship at DAV College, Sector 10, here today.

Government College, Ludhiana, came second with 52.50 points, followed by Government College for Girls, Chandigarh, with 25.40 points.

The results :

Individual championship (all-round positions) Pinky 1, Babita 2 and Nazma 3; vaulting horse: Pinky 1, Babita 2 and Nazma 3; balancing beam: Babita 1, Pinky 2 and Nazma 3; Uneven bar: Babita 1, Pinky 2 and Nazma 3; floor exercise: Babita 1, Pinky 2 and Nazma 3. TNS