Faridabad, December 28
People of the northern states, including Haryana, are prone to the formation of renal stones in their bodies, says Dr SP Yadav, a well-known urologist of the region and president of the Haryana Urological Services Society.

According to him, the formation of renal stones in the body is on the higher side among people in the age group of 35-40 years. This age group is the bread winner of the family and the engine of its growth as well as forms the productive backbone of society.

According to Dr Yadav, his version is based on medical research and surveys conducted in the country. He says it has been empirically proved also by his own research and observations.

Dr Yadav, who is also the managing director of Pushpanjali Hospital in Gurgaon, says labourers and working class are particularly prone to the disease.

Dwelling on the issue, he said the northern areas of the country, especially Haryana and Rajasthan, constitute the core of the rocky and stony region. The climate in the area is hot causing immense perspiration and dehydration.

This causes accumulation of calcium content in the kidney and other parts of the body. According to him, all stones in the body originate from the kidney area.

The most worrying part is that even after the removal of the stone, its reformation is almost a certainty. To further add to the patient’s woes, the reformation occurs not only once but several times. Surgical intervention is a costly affair apart from the loss of man days.

He says the patient starts suffering severe pain in the abdomen. He starts losing his potency and vigour. In case, the stone is not removed, the patient can even suffer from kidney failure.

The disease occurs especially among the working class. This is the class which forms the wheel of growth engine of development and progress in any society.

Comparing the situation with advanced countries, he says people abroad are conscious. In India, people are less aware and unable to afford the surgery.

Hence, patients, more often than not, from the working class keep on delaying the treatment, allowing the stone to grow bigger and bigger. He cites a case where a patient from Samargopalpur village in Rohtak, Mahavir Singh, allowed a stone in his body to grow beyond his body could carry. The stone was in his bladder and when he was operated upon, a stone of 1.3 kg was removed.

As a preventive cure, he advises intake of lot of water to the people of the area. Also, he feels that the government would do well if it promotes endoscopic surgery as compared to the traditional surgery. “It is cost-friendly and requires less time of stay in hospital. Also, the patient becomes functional soon as there is no surgical intervention”. He laments that though the state has all latest medical facilities, the in this area leaves much to be desired.

Chandigarh, December 28
By the time voters of Ellenabad vote in the byelection in the second half of next month, the first unit of the 1200-MW Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Project (RGTPP), Khedar (Hisar), will start pumping additional 600 MW of electricity in Haryana’s grid.

The unit will be synchronized with the grid tomorrow by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. However, it will start generation to its full capacity only by the third week of January after certain mandatory trials.

The synchronization of the unit will also set a new record for the fastest implementation of such a project. Incidentally, this is the first 600-MW unit in the country to be synchronized with the grid in a record period of 35 months.

The construction work of the project was given to Reliance Energy Ltd., (now Reliance Infrastructure Ltd.), on a turnkey basis in January, 2007 and the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 19, 2007.

This is the first project in northern India to be accorded the mega project status with the attached benefits under the Centre’s mega project policy .This has resulted in reduction of the project cost and, inter alia, a lower cost of generation.

The project comprises two 600-MW units, which is the highest capacity of an individual unit in the northern region. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 4,297 crore. The cost of Rs 3.19 crore per MW for this project is the lowest in the country and is being considered as a new benchmark.

The project has been allocated coal linkage of 5.55 million tonnes per annum of F-grade coal from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd., Orissa. The Haryana Irrigation department has arranged the supply of 50 cusecs of water from the Barwala branch of the Bhakra canal for this project. As a standby arrangement, a channel of 25 cusecs capacity parallel to the Sarsod minor irrigation channel has been constructed for meeting the immediate water requirements of the project.

With the commissioning of these two units, the state will be able to provide additional 288 lakh units per day to its consumers.

Rewari, December 28
With 225 families going in for the solar lighting system, Bhoorthala village in Kosli subdivision of Rewari district has probably become the first village of Haryana where nearly all houses will now be lit up with solar lights at night.

While solar lights have been supplied to the villagers by the Tata Solar Company, their entire acquisition has been financed by the Bhoorthala branch of the Gurgaon Gramin Bank (GGB).

Each solar light comprises one solar panel, two tube lights of 12 volt each, one battery and one fan. The villagers will have to repay the price of the solar light to the GGB through 60 monthly instalments of Rs. 300 each.

At a function held at Bhoorthala village, 30 km from here, recently, NT Hegde, chairman of the GGB, said while the use of solar lights would fairly mitigate the villagers’ hardships often caused by power paucity, it would also reduce their power tariff bills to a great extent.

Stating that the number of the GGB-financed beneficiaries of solar lights had already gone up to 7000, Hegde further said they would cover all villages of the Kosli region in due course of time.

Enumerating benefits of the solar lighting system, Ajay Kohli, director of the Tata company, also provided useful tips to the villagers regarding its proper maintenance.

Simultaneously, the chairman also distributed GGB’s kisan credit cards to the tune of Rs. 222,49,000 among 326 farmers of Bhoorthala, Berli, Nahar, Jatusana and Lukhi villages of the region.

Sirsa, December 28
Former INLD MLA from Ellenabad and now Congress leader Sushil Indora has urged the Haryana government to provide alternative residential sites to residents of the local Ther Mohalla, who have been served notices of eviction by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Talking to mediapersons here recently, Indora said the Congress had always come forward to help the poor and residents of Ther Mohalla, who had been living atop the Harappan era mound for the past 50 years, deserved the government’s support for their rehabilitation.

Indora said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had taken several steps for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden and had provided 100 sq yd plots to BPL families.

The former MLA, who has also been elected to Parliament twice, said the Congress was prepared to contest the forthcoming bypoll in Ellenabad and claimed that the party would win it comfortably.

Rewari, December 28
Thanks to Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav, Finance Minister, decks have been cleared for the commencement of classes from March 1 next year in the newly constructed Postgraduate Regional Centre (PGRC) of MDU, Rohtak, at Mirpur village, 10 km from Rewari.

The PGRC, started in October, 1988, had been running in a rented accommodation here for the past over two decades.

The teaching-cum-administrative block of the PGRC spread over 100-acre land donated by the Mirpur village panchayat is ready. Besides, while work was in progress on the boys’ hostel, the one for 100 girl students was being given final touches.

The government has so far spent Rs. 15 crore on its construction by now.

Rajan Gupta, financial commissioner, Education and Languages Departments, during a recent inspection visit to the PGRC directed the PDW to ensure speedy accomplishment of the on-going construction work so that teaching could commence here on March 1, 2010, positively.

Gupta assured additional funds for expeditious construction of a separate administrative block, a faculty house, a teaching block for MBA, a stadium and other essential appendages in the second phase.

Stating that a separate cadre for the PGRC staff would be constituted, Gupta directed the university officials to put a segregated financial management in place for the PGRC.

SK Sharma, director of the PGRC, said the MBA, MCA, 5-year integrated M.Com, MA (geography) and PG Diploma in Retail Management courses would also be started at the PGRC from the next academic session.

Sonepat, December 28
The Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, plans to introduce in-service qualification enhancement programme for diploma engineers in government service from the next year.

B.Tech study programmes will be offered to all diploma holders in the departments of chemical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and communication engineering, computer science and civil engineering. Weekend classes will be conducted so that existing employees can get professional training. The four-year course will have an intake of 60 seats in each course.

Giving details of the plan, Dr HS Chahal, vice-chancellor of the university, said the university had planned to increase its Centre of Excellence from the present two to five. “The Centre of Excellence for Energy Studies and Environment Management and the Centre for Community Development are being run and introduction of other three Centres of Excellence for Highway Safety, Estate Management and Business Incubation Centre are in the pipeline,” he added.

Besides consolidating the existing postgraduate programmes, the university had plans to introduce a new PG programme on material science (nanotechnology) during the next academic session, he said, and added, “Under the School of Tourism and Hospitality, the university proposes to take up three-year Degree In Hotel Management and Catering Technology recognised as Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (BHMCT), Master’s Degree in Tourism and Hotel Management recognised and Skill Training Programmes (certificate courses)”.

The VC said under the public-private partnership plan, a university testing house, a centre of very high caliber, would be established in the campus for carrying out testing and providing consultancy services of various material and projects case studies would be undertaken for the government and public sector. The testing house would have divisions of environment and assessment, materials division, food and pharmaceutical, calibration and automotive, energy and fuels and quality assurance and publication division.

Giving details of infrastructure development in the university, Dr Chahal said convention centre, totally based on energy saving designs and costing Rs 25 crore, was nearing completion. Library and computer centre, a four-storeyed building costing Rs 29 crore, was currently under construction. Guest house with 16 suites being built at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore was nearing completion and new hostel for girls costing Rs 7.60 crore would make available accommodation for 300 more students.

In an effort to improve sports facilities for students, he said the action was being undertaken to set up a tennis academy, a new basketball court and a cricket ground very soon.

Kurukshetra, December 28
There is urgent need for making the students break their intellectual silence and make them raise questions against conventional values and systems, said

Prof. Shelly Walia, Director, Academic Staff College and former chairman, Department of English, Panjab University, Chandigarh, in his inaugural address at a discussion at the Department of English and Academic Staff College, Kurukshetra University.

Prof. Walia stressed upon the need for reviewing the coaching of literature and literary theory in the context of changing economic and political scenario of the world. He said the purpose of education in the present scenario was to pose questions to the established rules and conventions set up by state machinery.

Talking about the role of individuality in the framing of the syllabi as stated by French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre, Prof. Walia underlined this need in the Indian educational system. The role of a teacher was not to transfer information to students, but the real purpose of education was to infuse curiosity, inquisitiveness and a capacity to challenge the outmoded values established by the conventional knowledge system.

He called upon the participants to make their students break their silence and raise voice against atrocities afflicted upon societies and individuals in many forms.

Prof. D. Mukherjee, Dean, Academic Affairs; Prof. Brajesh Sawhney, chairman, Department of English, Kurukshetra University; Dr R.P. Grover, Prof. Dinesh Kumar and Dr. Ram Niwas were present on the occasion.

Kalka, December 28
A seven-day NSS camp for girls conclude recently at the local Aruna Asaf Ali Govt P.G.College. On the first day, a seminar was organised in which Dr. Kashmira Singh, a homeopath, not only spread awareness about swine flu but also distributed preventive medicines. Dr. Kashmira Singh checked around 100 villagers and distributed free medicines among them.

NSS volunteers conducted a survey in the target area of Seuri village, Kalka, to sensitise people about issues related to health and hygiene, literacy and environment management. Experts from the Cancer Awareness Society, Chandigarh, acquainted villagers about various kinds of cancer.

Besides, a mehendi competition was organised for NSS volunteers in which Anita (B.A.II) stood first. In an essay writing contest, NSS volunteer Kshama (B.Sc II)stood first.

Kurukshetra, December 28
Various local schools celebrated Christmas by organising various events.

The Millennium School organised a Christmas carnival. Children accompanied by their parents participated in the events of face painting, drawing, dance and fancy dress competitions held to mark the occasion. Children and grown-ups equally enjoyed the fun games and antics the magician played with them.

The Santa Claus was busy distributing toffees, chocolates and gifts among children. Some of the children came decked up as Santa Claus and danced to the tunes of jingle bells making everybody tap their feet.

Vaibhav Arora and Divyanshi Singh were adjudged winners of dance group-1 and group- II competitions, respectively. Ajman Singh Sodhi was declared first in fancy dress while Inderjeet was declared winner in drawing competition.

The local D.A.V. Public School organized an exhibition in which medals, shields and appreciation letters won by students at the state and national levels during the past two years were displayed.

An inter-school competition and winter carnival were organised at TERII Public School on December 24 to mark the occasion in which various competitions like pot-decoration, slogan writing on current issues like global warming and foeticide, painting, fancy dress etc were organised. Students drawn from Guru Nanak Sr. Sec. School, Mahavir Jain Sr. Sec. School, S.D. Sr. Sec. School, Kesri Devi Lohia Public School, St. Peter Convent School and Lord Krishna Public School participated in the contests. Some children acted as Santa Claus and distributed sweets among children as well as parents on the ocassion.

Other city schools, including Shri Mahavir Jain Sr. Sec. School, St Paul Public School, Seth Tek Chand Memorial Public School, Pearl International Public School and H.C. Public School, Mathana, also organised different events to celebrate Christmas.

Yamunanagar, December 28
Learning is an inseparable part of our life and now and then we learn something or the other. Therefore, we should always strive to learn as much as possible. In the seemingly unending saga of technical education, there is a need to motivate students and teachers who are the real driving force behind the nation building, said Dr PC Tewari of NIT, Kurukshetra, while addressing a seminar on “How to Inculcate Motivation Skills Among Teachers and Students” here recently. He was addressing the gathering at Maharishi Ved Vyas Engineering College, Jagadhri.

While highlighting the New Age techniques of motivations, he said motivation was actually concerned with personal energy that should always be directed towards the achievement of particular goals. Motivation of learning was ensured by the stimulus followed by man’s need. The stimulus based on the need to do something to satisfy a need is called motivation, he added.

He further said the most important factors in the motivation counts include successful and meaningful experiences, relevant learning goals, and teacher’s enthusiasm for positive relationship with students.

“While teaching different courses, we can easily impart information to motivate students during their normal classes. Teachers have to put a little more effort to adopt some creative techniques,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr SC Verma, director of the institute, appealed to the staff and students to be positive and make efforts to learn as much as possible.

Kaithal, December 28
Gaurav Jogi has brought laurels to state by presenting a paper at the “7th World Conference on Muslim Education - 2009”. The conference was held at Sah Alam, Selengor in Malaysia, from December 21 to 23.

Gaurav Jogi, an M.Phil student of the Zakir Hussain Centre For Educational Studies, JNU, Delhi, presented his paper on “Indian Madrasa Education: Failures and Social Implications in the Era of Globalisation”.

Dr Rajbir Parashar of RKSD College here, who has taught Gaurav, said the conference was organised by various associations of world level, including Selengor International Islamic University; The Islamic Academy, Cambridge (UK); and The Association of Malaysianb Muslim Intellectuals. In his paper, Gaurav has argued for a drastic transformation of Madrasa education to meet the challenges of globalised cultural processes which he feels are inevitable. Scholars from the UK, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Pakistan and the UAE participated.

Gaurav’s father, Jogi Ram Pathania, is a bank official, and a social activist.

Panipat, December 28
A stunning performance by Santoor maestro Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma cast a spell on audiences with various raagas during the Panipat Mahotsav organised by the Panipat Foundation at Kala Amb.

The master of strings came up with one raaga after another to keep the listeners glued to their seats during the performance.

Frequent applauds from spectators added to the flavour of the evening where dignitaries from various walks of life were present. The musical event also drew audience from top notch Marathi speaking professionals working in and around Delhi and eminent dignitaries from Panipat.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was the chief guest on the occasion. Also present was Union Minister of Heavy Industries Vilas Rao Deshmukh, who while speaking of the occasion called upon the state government for setting up a chair to study the three battles of Panipat, which had left a long lasting impact on the socio-economic aspects of the country.

The function was hosted by the Panipat Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation run by Ajeet Balaji Joshi, Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat.

The foundation had been working for the past three years and is engaged in cultural, educational and social activities. Established in 2006, the foundation has already received patronage from people from all over the country. Padmashree Shri Sadashiv Gorakshakar (a former curator, Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai) and many eminent personalities from Panipat are associated with the foundation and its activities.

On the occasion, the Panipat Foundation also honoured Gagandeep Sethi, head (manufacturing), SABMiller, in recognition of the support extended by the company in holding the event.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?

A. I don’t take stress.

Q. What are your favourite leisure activities?

A. I perform yoga regularly, which keeps me stress-free all day long.

Q. What do you always carry?

A. Public service is a mission for me. I don’t require a “must-carry” list for that.

Q. Anything you learnt from your parents that you would like to share?

A. One learns everything from one’s parents and family. I was taught to stick to my resolve and perform my duty to the best of my ability.

Q. Who are your closest friends and what do they do?

A. There are no close friends and, in a sense, everybody is a friend.

Q. What is the job that you have valued most and found most rewarding?

A. Politics, I think, by itself, is a very rewarding job.

Q. Are you a good leader or a good follower?

A. The public should be allowed to decide whether I am a good leader or a follower.

Q. Do you come up with ideas or allow others to ideate?

A. Discussion adds value to any idea. So any idea that is in public interest and in accordance with their need is always welcome.

Q. Do you consider yourself a fast or a slow learner?

A. I choose to take the middle path because if you are slow, you fall behind. Going too fast, too, has a flip side.

Q. Do you set goals for yourself and your departments?

A. I do.

Q. How do you divide your working hours?

A. There are no working hours and no off hours. My entire time is that of the public since I am there because of them.

Q. Who is the first person you consult in the departments?

A. Secretary and head of the department on all policy issues.

Q. How well do you know your departments?

A. Reasonably well. I, however, believe that everyday is a learning process.

Q. What difference would you like to make in 2010?

A. Though there are no special goals, power will be our priority especially for the farming community. In about three years, Haryana should be self-sufficient.

Q. Between time you were younger and now, what are the changes you have seen in Haryana?

A. There has been a sea change. Earlier, south Haryana was nothing. Former Chief Minister Bansi lal brought roads and power. That can truly be called the beginning of development. If that was the nirman of Haryana, this is certainly the phase of nav nirman when the state is forging ahead in practically every field.

Q. What are the three most serious challenges the state will face during the next five years?

A. The biggest challenge comes from catering to the power requirements of the state. It is a challenge that impacts agriculture and industry alike. Then, our industry should adopt science and technology to showcase Haryana as a developed state since technology is changing very fast.

Q. What are the handicaps under which your own departments work?

A. In any department, you can find some shortcomings. I see implementation on ground as a big challenge even though Haryana has carved its own place in various fields.

Q. Are your departments overstaffed or understaffed?

A. We are understaffed when it comes to technical staff.

Q. What kind of people will your departments require during the next five years?

A. We will require all kinds of people right from Class IV to technocrats.

Q. Should the Anti-Defection Act be made more stringent?

A. I think it should be made more stringent.

Q. If defection by 1/3rd of members is unlawful and immoral, why should defection by 2/3rd of the members be deemed acceptable?

A. In the recent Assembly election, the Congress managed to get 40 seats while the INLD got 31 seats. The Congress had to seek the support of HJC MLAs who merged into the party for a stable government. I think a merger, of 1/3rd or 2/3rd, cannot be justified. However, such a merger is unjustified, we should also ensure that the party with the largest number of seats should be asked to form the government and it should be allowed to continue even if it is in minority. It has to work both ways.

Rohtak, December 28
A former state minister, Krishan Murti Hooda, once an opponent of the present Chief Minister, has now a different colour to show on his political canvas.

Now, he does not hesitate in calling himself as one of the best friends and an ardent follower of the Chief Minister when it comes to defending or supporting any move of the state government, although it was just the opposite a few months ago.

Things changed when Krishan Murti severed ties with former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and joined the ruling bandwagon just before the recent Assembly polls.

While the Chief Minister's camp appears to be satisfied over the events in the past few months as far as the political opposition is concerned, it the opposition parties which have lost a vocal opponent of the ruling party. There has been hardly been any agitation or demonstration staged in the city or the district since the last elections.

"Earlier, events targeting the government or criticising the authorities on one issue or the other had been a regular feature here, when leaders like Krishan Murti were in the opposition," claimed a worker of the Congress.

"There was hardly any day when there was no press release issued by the Krishan Murti camp against the alleged failures or irregularities on the part of the government, but after his joining the Congress, there was no opposition left now in Rohtak, he claimed. Incidentally, Murti hails from the Kiloi Assembly constituency which he had represented himself earlier.

He was one of the most prominent Jat faces in the Bhajan Lal government and later, a leader of the HJC. Other main parties though have their offices here, but have not been regular in raising a voice against the present government, claimed Pawan Bansal, a social activist here.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had quipped at a function organised by Murti here recently that he was still caring and helpful to those who had burnt his effigies in the past, indicating towards the role of Krishan Murti Hooda.

When asked about the reason behind his change of opinion and opposition towards the Chief Minister, Murti admitted that he had failed to recognise the leadership qualities and the good person in Hooda and had remained mainly misguided by certain people who he said had been responsible for damaging the political system itself. He would now devote his energy and efforts in defending Hooda and his government as it had been the best rule so far since the state came into being.

In the latest statement Murti defended the government against the allegations levelled by the INLD regarding the Madhuban scandal.

Yamunanagar, December 28
The ongoing second Haryana International Film Festival at DAV College for Girls has turned out to be a major event for giving a message of unity, positive thinking and motivational spirit.

“Khuda Kay Liye”, the film which was screened in the festival, was about the difficult situation in which Pakistanis in particular and Muslims in general were caught up since 9/11 terrorist attacks. The film highlighted the ongoing war between fundamentalists and liberal Muslims. It also focused on the real meaning of Islam by highlighting false propaganda for ‘jihad’ and suppression of women by fundamental Muslims.

The film highlighted how educated and modern muslims were in a difficult situation because of their approach towards the life and their western attire and how Muslims were criticised and harassed by fundamentalists.

Similarly “ No Man’s Land”, the grim futility of war between Bosnia and Serbia, is reduced to its essence as two enemy soldiers are forced to share a wary trust for one another.

While a Persian movie “Osama” highlighting the plight of a 12-year-old girl of Afghanistan was shown at the inaugural session of the festival. “Osama” is a film made in Afghanistan in 2003 by Siddiq Barmak. It tells a story about a young girl who disguises as a boy Osama which shows the life under the Taliban and was the first film to be shot entirely in that country since 1996 when the Taliban régime banned the creation of films.

The film was an international co-production between companies in Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Japan, Ireland and Iran. Although the title of the film highlights an allegorical relevance to Osama Bin Laden, there is no further similarity.

While “The Old Man and The Sea”, John Sturges’s adaption of Ernest Hemingway’s short novel, highlighted the struggle of a fisherman who has been nearly three months without a significant haul. Heaped with ridicule by other fisherman, he once again pushes off in his decrepit ketch hoping that the trip will finally bring success. After a time at sea, he hooks a powerful marlin that drags that man’s tiny craft for a couple of days.

Fatehabad, December 28
Dr Prabha Batra, who passed away on December 20, will always be remembered for her qualities of head and heart. She was the first qualified gynecologist of Fatehabad district and met an untimely end due to a heart ailment.

Dr Batra was one of the few professionals, who placed medical ethics much above the rest considerations in this materialistic environment. Daughter of an eye surgeon, Dr Batra passed her MBBS from Bikaner and married her classmate Dr Vinod Batra, the first pediatrician of Fatehabad town.

The two made a perfect couple and incidentally their two sons as well as both daughters-in-law are qualified doctors specialising in different disciplines of medicine and surgery.

She did her postgraduation from Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi, after her marriage.

During her stint as medical officer in the local general hospital and later as private gynecologist in the town, she never gave precedence to money over the ethics. A person of a few words, she was known in the area for her kind-heartedness and nobleness. She was associated with several social organisations and made a niche for her in the hearts of everyone she met. The Manohar Memorial Group of Educational Institutions were closed for a day as a mark of respect for Dr Batra.

The Indian Medical Association, the Loins Club, the Rotary Clubs, the Bharat Vikas Parishad, the National Integrated Medical Association, the Chemist Association and several other associations have condoled the death of Dr Batra.

Sonepat, December 28
Murthal village girls have earned the rare distinction of winning all state-level football tournaments organised in the state during 2009. Moreover, Priti of the village has been adjudged the best footballer of the state for 2009 and more than 30 girls of the village have represented the state in national-level football tournaments held during the year.

According to DPE Vijender Singh and football coach Balbir Sharma, Priti, Manju and Priyanka were the members of the Haryana team which bagged silver in the 54th School National Games held in Mumbai from January 3 to January 7, and as the captain of the team, Priti was declared the best player of the tournament.

The Murthal team won the Senior Women Championship organised at Yamunanagar from January 16 to January 19. Five girls - Priti, Nishi, Deepa, Priyanka and Deepa - from the village were the part of the Haryana team which participated in the 17th National Senior Women Football Championship held at Naveli in Tamil Nadu from February 27 to March 15.

As many as 12 girls - Priti, Nishi, Deepa, Sweety, Pooja, Sonia, Suman, Nirmala, Deepa, Anju, Manju and Kusum - represented the state in the National Junior Women Football Championship held at Udgir in Maharashtra from July 20 to July 24 and won the championship. As the captain of the team, Priti scored 18 goals in six matches and was adjudged the best player of the championship.

The Murthal school football team got the first position for the fifth consecutive time in the Under-19 category of the 44th State School Games held at Bhiwani from September 7 to September 9 defeating Bhiwani by 3-0.

The team also bagged the gold for six times consecutively in the Under-14 category of the State School Games held at Yamunanagar from September 24 to September 27. As member of the Sonepat team, Murthal girls won the third consecutive gold in the Haryana Olympic Games held at Rohtak from November 21 to November 24.

Besides participation of number of girls of the village as members of the state team in different national championships, the team with five Murthal girls - Priyanka, Sonia, Nirmala, Arti and Seema - shared the bronze jointly with Tamil Nadu in the Under-17 group of the 55th National School Games held at Allahabad in UP from December 15 to December 20.

Rewari, December 28
A large number of sportsmen from various parts of the state and Rajasthan participated in the open sports and athletics competitions held under the auspices of Disha Sansthan, Rewari, a voluntary organisation, at Bhoorthala village, near Kosli, recently.

The Jhanswa team of Jhajjar district won the cricket tournament and the second position went to the Bahala team of Rewari district.

In 5000-m race, international athlete Sunil Kumar won the first position while Vishram of Alwar city of Rajasthan stood second.

Similarly, national athlete Bharthari Jakhar bagged the first position in 100-m race while Rajender Kumar secured the second place.

Ajit of Kiloi village and Surender of Rohtak city won the first and second position in long jump while Vipin of Bhiwani city and Surender of Rohtak bagged the first and second position in high jump, respectively.

In the veterans’ race, Kanwar Singh of Jahidpur village won the first position while the second place went to Hanuman Singh of Basai village.

National athlete Pinki won the girls’ high speed race while Usha stood second in the competition.

Vijay Singh Yadav, chairman of the sansthan, gave away prizes to the winners.

The Jhanswa cricket team athlete Sunil Kumar were awarded cash prizes of Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000, respectively.