NEIGHBOURHOOD

Saif’s bodyguard slaps press lensman
Gagan K. Teja
Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 28
Persistence for Deepak Thakur has finally paid, as the striker’s name has finally been included in the list of probables for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Having been in wilderness for more than two years, Deepak got the selector’s nod after he dished out good performances in the recently conducted Guru Tegh Bahadur Hockey Tournament held in Mumbai and the MCC Tournament, which concluded in Chennai last week. Incidentally, Deepak was declared the best player in the Chennai tourney.

Dedication, determination and diligence over the past few years had made Olympian Deepak Thakur a key member of the Indian hockey team till he was pushed into the cold by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) in 2005.

The 24-year-old Hoshiarpur-born player is a product of the Patiala-based Sports Promotion Development Area (SPDA) and the Centre of Excellence, both of which are SAI schemes.

A veteran of two Olympics (Sydney and Athens), Thakur was eyeing the Beijing Olympics as well but that was till India made a history of a different kind when the country failed to make the grade. Thakur has lasted longer than many of his colleagues, which is a tribute to his fitness as well as his ability to perform consistently at the highest level.

Thakur made his debut at the international level in September 1997, when he turned out for the Indian (under-21) team for a Test series against the visiting Russians. Since then there have been subtle changes in his role in the team. Sometimes, he acts as the team’s spearhead, like in the Junior World Cup final in Hobart, 2001, where he bamboozled defenders by scoring 10 goals, including a hat trick, in the final.

Chandigarh, September 28
Alleging denial of justice and persecution for no fault of her, counsel for Capt Poonam Kaur, who had alleged harassment by her superior officers, has sought a personal interview along with her and her parents with the President to explain the facts of the case in detail.

In a petition sent to the Rashtrapati Bhawan today, the counsel, Col S.K. Aggarwal (retd) claimed that the court of inquiry (COI) convened on July 15 instead of investigating her complaint, focused on allegations against Capt Poonam that did not exist on or before July 14.

A perusal of the charge sheet, he claimed, would show that out of the 21 charges leveled against her, 10 charges pertained to July 15 or thereafter and the rest were an afterthought. Investigations of such charges by the COI, he added, was improper and without jurisdiction.

The counsel also alleged that the officer recording the summary of evidence had threatened to place her under arrest and not allow her to go to the military hospital for treatment. The evidence was being recorded under pressure to complete a formality without giving her adequate time to even study the COI or to consult her defence counsel, he added.

The petition also states that she had been informed that her driver, Sepoy Sunil Kumar, with whom she was alleged to have an improper association, would not be examined as a witness.

This, the counsel, claimed meant that the army had decided to drop three charges that amounted to character assassination. Claiming that the action against Poonam was a veiled warning to women officers not to report cases of sexual harassment against their superiors, Col Aggarwal contended that it was the first case in the history of the Army where a victim had been made an accused and the accused had become complainants.

Chandigarh, September 28
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Bharti Airtel to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to a resident of Sector 32 for disconnecting his mobile phone.

The petitioner, K.R.Thakur, alleged that in October 2007, he received a demand letter dated October 8, 2007, wherein the total outstanding bill against his mobile phone connection was for Rs 7,506.

Thereafter, the petitioner was approached by the company and they settled the matter by making a one-time full and final payment of Rs 3,000 against all dues for the telephone connection. The incoming call facility was restored for two days which was later discontinued.

The forum stated: “When the receipt regarding full and final settlement had been issued to the petitioner, the company was not justified in disconnecting the telephone. By doing so, they have caused harassment to their consumer.

Chandigarh, September 28
Four persons were injured when a liquor vend was vandalised this afternoon after a man succumbed to his injuries after allegedly being beaten up by a liquor contractor’s men yesterday.

The injured have been admitted to the GMCH-32. The injured, all working at the vend, told the police that a mob of around 50 persons attacked the vend at around 3.30 pm. They smashed bottles and also looted the vend before bashing them up.

Sources in the police said it all started with the death of 36-year-old Surinder Singh of Darua village at the PGI today. Surinder was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition yesterday and was operated upon.

Quoting his brother, Narinder Singh, the police said Surinder came home injured late in the night. They took him to the General Hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, the next morning, from where he was referred to the GMCH. He was further referred to the PGI.

The police said Narinder told doctors at Panchkula that Surinder was injured in an accident, but later claimed that Surinder told him later that he was beaten up by the employees at the liquor vend.

Devi Singh, an employee with the electricity board, was accompanying Surinder. They asked for beer, but the employees refused as they had closed the vend. An argument ensued and the employees thrashed them. Devi Singh managed to flee. A case has been registered

Panchkula, September 28
The police has rounded up at least three students accused in the murder of Khushaal, a student of Government College, Sector 1, here today. Though no arrests were made, the police has questioned several students of the college belonging to Badhona village and Raipur Rani to identify the accused youths. The police parties were sent to Badhona and Raipur Rani from where majority of students involved in the crime belong, it was learnt.

Khushaal was killed while two others were injured when a group of boys from the same college attacked them near the college at Majri Chowk here today. The injured Munish and Arun alias Ankur, both residents of Raipur Rani, were treated at General Hospital, Sector 6.

The police has registered a case of murder against Muneesh, Tinku, Pawan, Rinku of Raipur Rani and Mukesh of Dhandalru village, along with many others.

As no eyewitness of murder had come forward to pinpoint the accused of hitting Khushaal, the police was still groping in the dark to identify the accused.

Meanwhile, the body of Khushaal was cremated at his native village of Dharwala in Morni after postmortem.

Chandigarh, September 28
Punjab Cricket Club (PCC) stormed into the finals of the 15th All-India J.P. Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament for Pearls Trophy, thrashing India Cements (IC), Chennai, by five wickets in the first semi-final at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, here today.

The decision of IC to bat first went wrong, when the team were bundled out for paltry 129 in 46 overs. S. Sharath (34) and Srikumar Nair (23) played defiant knocks for the team.

For PCC, Jaskaran, the leading wicket taker of the tournament so far, struck the first blow for PCC by claiming opener K.B. Arun Karthik (4) at the team total of 17. He gave another jolt by sending skipper R. Prasanna on zero.

When IC kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, Vasudev Das (19) and southpaw S. Sharath provide a little respite with their 30-run partnership for the fifth wicket stand.

Sharath, who was seen settling down by the time, lost his wicket in a try to accelerate the scoring rate. He made 34 of 77.

Jaskaran emerged the main wicket taker, snapping 4 for 28 while Manpreet Gony could not take any wicket despite his tight spell. He conceded 19 runs in 8 overs. Karan Goel, Varun Khanna and Sarabjit Lada claimed two wickets each.

PCC too started on poor note as the team lost four wickets for mere 24 runs in 8.2 overs. Openers Karan Goel (8) and Ravi Inder (5) went cheaply. The next batsmen Ravneet Ricky and Mayank Sidhana too, could not deliver.

Skipper playing judiciously, Pankaj Dharmani, and Taruwar Kohli steered the team to safe zone by stitching 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket stand. Dharmani made 41 in 74 balls, hitting six boundaries. Taruwar Kohli, who chipped in unbeaten 60 runs, was joined by Gurkirat Walia steered the team to victory, scoring 132 for 5 in 35.3 overs.

Suresh Kumar (3 for 31) was the pick of the bowlers for IC. The PCC won by five wickets.

Kohli was declared man of the match for his superb knock.

Brief scores

IC: 129 for all out in 46 overs (S. Sharath 34, Srikumar Nair 23, Vasudeva Das 19, M.K. Siva Kumar 18, Jaskaran 4 for 28, Karan Goel 2 for 22, Varun Khanna 2 for 32, Sarabjit Lada 2 for 22).

PCC: 132 for 5 (Taruwar Kohli 60 not out, Pankaj Dharmani 41, Suresh Kumar 3 for 31).

The second semi-final between Indian Oil, Mumbai, and MRF, Chennai, will be played at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, at 9.15 am.

Chandigarh, September 28
The Chandigarh Twenty20 Cricket Association is all set to host 2nd Senior National Twenty20 Cricket Championship from September 30 at various venues here.

According to I. D. Kamboj, chairman of organising committee, a total of 25 teams, including 19 state and UT teams and six corporate and club teams, would vie for the top honours, which consists a cash prize of Rs 1.75 lakh, besides a trophy.

“The runners-up will get Rs 75,000, while the second runners-up team will pocket Rs 35,000,” added Kamboj.

Giving details, organising secretary of the association, Satish Gandhi, said, “The defending champion, Chandigarh, has been given direct entry to the quarter-final, while the other best losers from all six pools will qualify as the eighth team.”

The matches will be played at three venues: DAV College, Sector 10, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, and Sector-16 Cricket Stadium.

The organisers also announced that as many as 150 players would be selected on the basis of their performance in the forthcoming tournament for the multi-crore prize-money league to be held next year. 

Chandigarh, September 28
In a nail biting third quarter-final, IOB got the better of EME through sudden-death to enter the semi-final in the 38th S.N. Vohra’s All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament held here today at Hockey Stadium, Sector 42.

In the electrifying match, the first half was dominated by IOB. Though EME’s Avtar Singh (3rd minute) struck the first goal in the beginning with a reverse flick. But after their team couldn’t strike even a single goal in the first half.

While IOB’s Senthil netted a field goal in the 7th minute of the game and leveled the score by 1-1. This goal was soon followed by Vinod’s field goal in the 8th minute. EME tried to lead the game when they hit two flicks to the goal but IOB’s goalkeeper made scintillating saves to stop them.

Later in the first half, with the help of a well-executed pass D. Felix netted an easy goal with the score reading 3-1.

EME made a brilliant comeback in the second half with Gurjinder scoring two goals (51st and 61st minute) for his team after IOB’s goal in the 4th minute, which was scored by Vinod Rayer. Till the 64th minute IOB was leading with the score reading 4-3 when EME’s underdog Jagjit struck a field goal in the 65th minute and leveled (4-4) the score.

Till the regulation time, both the teams tried their utmost to get a goal but they couldn’t make it and later the match went in the favour of IOB by 10-9 through sudden-death. 

Chandigarh, September 28
For newly appointed Indian hockey coach in charge Harendra Singh, the foremost priority is to instill confidence in players to put the national game back on the rails.

Former international player Harendra said there was drastic need to adopt confidence-building measures, especially after the fiasco in Olympic qualifier.

“The Olympic qualifier debacle made the game to touch new low and after that our players did not get a chance to play much hockey at the big level. I know that their morale is at low and they need to be rejuvenated”, said the coach.

With holding physiology tests, bio-mechanic tests and to work on technical and tactical aspects of the selected bunch of the senior players, the coach in charge is all set to boost the morale of the players.

“This is my top most priority and I have told them (the players) about the expectations, we have from them”, Harendra said while maintaining that he did not want to put the players under pressure.

In my viewpoint, the desired results only come when the players enjoy the game without any pressure, added Harendra.

Harendra, who has been entrusted with the top job by the IOA-run ad hoc committee till 2010, said he was fully aware of his responsibility as well as the expectations of people and the management.

“I am prepared for the forthcoming big events, including World Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games 2010. At the moment, I have the best available talent. So there is no excuse for me if I would not live up to the expectations”, said Harendra.

About his aim, Harendra said, “Nothing less than a gold medal in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games while in World Cup, I want to see my team in semifinals”.

The whole programme is being prepared under which the players would get foreign exposure, scientific training and confidence-building measure camps to excel in the game, summed up Harendra.