Good sleep key to baby's health: Survey
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 15
“Uninterrupted sleep is next best to breast feeding or balanced diet for development of infants and 93 per cent paediatricians believe that uninterrupted sleep helps babies develop healthier than those who have interrupted sleep.”

These findings came to light in the first-ever Baby Sleep and Development Survey, conducted among 200 paediatricians in 12 metros and class-I cities across India by manufacturers of “Pampers”, the world's number 1 diaper brand.

The survey revealed several other benefits of uninterrupted sleep in babies like building immunity, allowing the brain to produce growth hormones, de-stressing, energy recovery and motor skill development.

These and more new-to-the-world insights from the survey were revealed by Mr J.P. Kuehlwein, Associate Marketing Director, Pampers, P and G, at the “sleep secret revelations” which also marked the launch of new Pampers here today.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the innovative product of the company had given 150 million babies across 150 countries the gift of uninterrupted sleep every night.

"With 45 million babies, India is home to the largest number of babies in the world and it is our quest to provide every Indian baby the gift of uninterrupted sleep and healthy development."

Inter-varsity hockey meet begins
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 15
The 44th edition of the North-Zone Inter-Varsity Hockey Tournament for men got off to a colourful start at the Prithipal Singh Astro Turf stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here today.

Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU inaugurated the tournament, in which 26 teams drawn from the north zone are taking part.

In his inaugural address, Dr Aulakh said PAU was lucky to have a great tradition of hockey. It was an honour for the university that three international hockey players and a captain of the Indian hockey team in the Olympic games have served the university. These were Charanjit Singh and Prithipal Singh, who served the university during 60s and 70s. Mr Ramandeep Singh is presently the Deputy Director of Sports in PAU.

Commenting upon the dismal performance of the Indian hockey team in the ongoing Asian Games at Doha, Dr Aulakh remarked “We had a glorious past but our present hockey status is very unpleasant and future looked uncertain.”

He called upon the players to concentrate on their game with a zeal to excel. “We have a lot of talent which we need to channelise in the right way,” he said.

Dr Aulakh was critical of the money, publicity and media attention given to a few games/players that distract the players from their main target. “One should take the game with missionary zeal, only then one can excel,” he said.

Dr Aulakh honoured three hockey players of the university who represented the Combined University Hockey Team in the National Nehru Cup Hockey Tournament. The players honoured were Pawinder Singh (captain), Jagjit Singh and Manpreet Singh.

On the occasion, Harinder Singh Bhullar, former hockey coach of the university and an ace hockey player, donated Rs 1 lakh to the university to institute a prize for best hockey player in the memory of his father Arjun Singh Bhullar.

Earlier, the chief organiser of the tournament and Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Dr S.S. Chahal, welcomed the chief guest.

The Director, Students’ Welfare, and Dean, College of Agriculture, Dr G.S. Chahal, proposed the vote of thanks.

PAU lads lose to Gurukul University
Anil Datt
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 15
Hosts, Punjab Agricultural University, began their campaign on a dismal note, losing first encounter 1-3 to Gurukul University, Hardwar, in the 44th North Zone Inter-varsity Hockey Tournament for men on the university campus here today.

The visitors went into lead in the 9th minute through a penalty corner conversion by Abhishek. Three minutes later, PAU neutralised the lead through a field goal scored by Daljit.

A few seconds before the half time, Gurukul University went ahead when Devender sounded the board to make it 2-1. They added another goal in the 67th minute through Abhihsek which sealed PAU's fate 3-1.

In another match, Jammu University routed Chaudhary Charan Singh Agricultural University, Hisar, 10-0. The winners were leading 6-0 at half time.

In the third match, Himachal Pradesh University proved too good for the Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, whom they thrashed 5-1 after leading 1-0 at the breather.

Dr Ambedkar University, Agra, recorded 7-3 win over Amity University, Noida, while Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna University, Garhwal, prevailed over Dr RML Avadh University, Faizabad, 5-3. In a one-sided match, Kumaon National University blanked Allahabad University 10-0.

Meanwhile, CJSM University, Kanpur, and MJPR University, Bareilly, got walkover since their respective opponents, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, and Guru Arjun Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, failed to turn up.