Chandigarh, December 3
The police today claimed to have busted a major gang of thieves with the arrest of three of its members, later identified as Guru Dutt, Vishal and Pawan. Following a tipoff on Thursday, a joint PCR and operation cell team led by subinspectors Surinder Kumar and Rajdeep Singh laid a ‘naka’ (barrier) near the Sector 26 waterworks and nabbed the three suspects.

According to the cops, during preliminary interrogation the suspects admitted they had first stolen motorcycles for committing burglaries. Dutt is already on bail in a murder case.

The three will produced before a court to obtain police remand for them. The cops expect to gather more information from them after their sustained interrogation.

Following a spurt in theft and burglary cases in the city during recent months, the police had set up the joint PCR and operation cell team before drawing up a special strategy to check such incidents.

Panchkula, December 3
The police achieved a major success by arresting two robbers, who had burgled Rana Hospital Kalka on the National Highway-22.

According to police, the CIA team of the district police headed by Inspector Karanveer had been successful in arresting the two from Meerut and Delhi.

However, the other four accomplices were still at large and the police was hopeful of nabbing them soon, the sources added.

It is important to mention that six armed robbers, pretending to be patients, decamped with Rs 1 lakh and jewellery worth around Rs 20 lakh at gunpoint from Rana Hospital on June 3.

The incident occurred around 4 am when two of them came to the hospital located on the National Highway- 22.

The nurse on night duty Meenu had opened the door as the two out of the six accused had complained of stomach pain and asked her to call the doctor.

When Dr Randhir Singh Rana came and checked them, the other four robbers, carrying country-made pistols, tied his hands and took the cash from the locker.

The robbers then took the doctor inside the house on the hospital premises and had told him to take the keys and hand over to them.

Dr Rana said one of the robbers kept a pistol on his head and the other placed a knife on Meenu’s back.

They took jewellery and cash from the house. They had also threatened the medicos of dire consequences in case they raised the alarm.

Chandigarh, December 3
Shaurya Gupta of St Anne’s and Paavan of Saupin’s have won the under-12 cadet boys and girls’ singles final of the 23rd Manav Mangal Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship being held at the Table Tennis Hall, Sector 23, here today. Shaurya Gupta (St Anne’s-32) beat Ishu Dhingra (DAVPS-8) by 14-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, while Paavan (Saupin’s) beat Shubhangi (DPS-40) by 11-9, 11-7, 11-4.

Brief results: Kids boys’ singles (U-10): Semifinals: Ishan Kapoor (DAVPS-8) beat Mivaan Singh 11-2, 11-5, 11-6; Nikhil (Manav Mangal) beat Ishaan (St Soldier’s-28) by 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 6-11, 11-6); final: Ishan Kapoor (DAVPS-8) beat Nikhil (Manav Mangal) by 11-2, 10-12, 11-2, 11-5.

Kids girls’ singles (U-10): Semifinals: Shubhangi (DPS-40) beat Aayushi (DPS-40) by 11-8, 11-4, 11-8; Khyati (Sacred Heart-26) by 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5); final: Anushka Bajaj (Sacred Heart-26) beat Shubhangi (DPS-40) by 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7.

Cadet boys’ singles (U-12): Semifinals: Ishu Dhingra (DAVPS-8) beat Mukund Kakkar (Ryan International School-49) by 11-5, 11-8, 12-10; Shaurya Gupta (St Anne's-32) beat Lovnish Jindal (DPS-40) by 11-3, 11-1, 11-5; final: Paavan (Saupin’s) beat Khyati (Sacred Heart-26) by 11-3, 11-2, 11-4; Shubhangi (DPS-40) beat Inayat (Sacred Heart-26) 10-12, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6. — TNS

Chandigarh, December 3
Government College for Girls, Sector 42, won the team championship by obtaining 182 points in the 5th Junior Women Chandigarh Weightlifting Championship organised by the Chandigarh Amateur Weightlifting Association at Sector 42 here today.

Weightlifting Coaching Centre (WCC), Sector 42, bagged the second position with 157 points, while SGGS, Sector 26, finished third by obtaining 28 points.

Twenty-eight women weightlifters participated in the championship.

In +75 category, Avtar Kaur (WCC) clinched the first position, while Asha and Rajwinder (both Chandigarh) bagged the second and third position, respectively.

In 75 kg, Tejinder Kaur (WCC) secured the first position whereas Kirandeep Kaur and Renu (both Chandigarh) got the second and third position, respectively.

Inderjit Kaur (WCC) got the first place in the 69 kg category, while Manpreet Kaur and Jyoti (GCG-42 and Chandigarh) got the second and third place, respectively.

In 63 kg, Asha (GCG) secured the first place, while Sangeeta (WCC) and Kanchan Rani (Chandigarh) got the second and third place, respectively.

Patiala, December 3
National College, Bhikhi, and Akal Degree College, Mastuana Sahib, won the overall championship in men and women categories, respectively, during the Punjabi University Annual Athletics Meet, which concluded at the Raja Bhalindra Singh Stadium of the university here today.

Commonwealth Games medallist Gagandeep Kaur, world inter-university gold medallist shooter Harveen Sarao and international handball player Rajwant Kaur gave away prizes to the winners.

Hardeep Singh and Roma Devi were declared the best athletes.

Results:

Men section: 1st National College, Bhikhi (six gold, five silver and one bronze), 2nd Malwa College, Bathinda (three gold and two silver), 3rd Akal Degree College, Mastuana (two gold and one bronze).

Women section: 1st Akal Degree College, Mastuana (eight gold, six silver and six bronze), 2nd Akal College of Physical Education, Mastuana (three gold and one silver), 3rd Shaheed Udham Singh College, Sunam (three gold).

Chandigarh, December 3
Resuming from overnight score of 25 for no loss, Orissa batsman crawled to 216 for seven in 97 overs at the close of the third day play.

Orissa lost their first wicket on the overnight total of 25 when medium pacer MS Gony induced an edge from PC Patel to wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera for eight. NJ Behra joined Natraj Behra and the duo took the total to 67 in 39.4 overs when right arm leg spinner Sarabjit Ladda had Natraj Behra caught by wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera for 32, inclusive of six boundaries.

Soon after Ladda struck again and had NJ Behra snapped by Mandeep Singh for 24, reducing Orissa to 87 for four.

At this stage, GB Poddar and SS Biswal raised 45-run partnership for the fifth wicket before SS Biswal fell a victim to Gitansh Khera, Gony combine for 11.

GB Poddar was castled by Lumba for 23, while BB Samantaray and SD Sahoo put on 33 runs for the sixth wicket before BB Samantray was disposed by Gony for 33.

SD Sahoo and AR Sahoo then combined to take the total to 213 when AR Sahoo was caught by Ravi Inder of Sarabjit Singh Ladda for 28 off 24 balls, inclusive of five boundaries.

Skipper D Mohanty (zero) and SD Sahoo, unbeaten on 43, were together at close of the play.

For Punjab, right arm leg spinner Sarabjit Ladda, three for 44, and medium pacer Gony, three for 57, were the main wicket takers. Gitansh Khera was instrumental in four dismissals behind the stumps.

Brief scores:

Orissa: 216 for 7 in 97 overs (Natraj Behra 32, NJ Behra 24, GB Poddar 23, BB Samantaray 33, SD Sahooo 43 not out, AR Sahoo 28; Sarabjit Ladda 3 for 44 and medium pacer MS Gony 3 for 57). 

Chandigarh, December 3
Excellent performance of Yashu Sharma with bat and ball has put Haryana in a strong position with Haryana having the first innings lead of 100 runs in their last league encounter of North Zone Inter-State Under-14 Tournament for Dhruv Pandove Trophy played at Palam Ground, New Delhi, today.

After winning the toss, Haryana elected to bat first. However, the team was bundled out for 176 runs. They were well served by Yashu Sharma 104 and Abhishek 25. For Punjab, Lovin Kapoor was the pick of the bowlers, as he scalped four wickets for 76 runs. Shubham Chand 2 for 25, Sanvir Singh 2 for 21, were the other wicket takers.

In reply, Punjab scored 276 for all. Sahil Chander (110) and Shubham Chand (50) with four boundaries were the main contributors for their team. For Haryana, Yashu Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, as he scalped four wickets giving away 30 runs.

Haryana were 76 for four in their second innings at draw of stumps. Off spinner Eshan Mavi, two for 30, was the most successful bowler for Punjab.

Brief scores: Haryana 1st innings: 176 all out (Yashu Sharma 104, Abhishek 25; Lovin Kapoor 4 for 76, Shubham Chand 2 for 25, Sanvir Singh 2 for 21, Eshan Mavi 1 for 12).

Punjab 1st innings: 276 all out (Sahil Chander 110, Shubham Chand 50, Aashim 22; Yashu Sharma 4 for 30).

Haryana 2nd innings: 76 for 4 (Eshan Mavi 2 for 30).

Panchkula, December 3
The Kenyan Cricket players have been taken for a ride, as organisers failed to arrange teams for practice matches to be held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium from December 4.

According to sources, the OBI Sports Academy had told Megpie Sports Pvt Ltd (MSPL) that they were interested to play practice matches in India especially in Chandigarh or its satellite towns in view of the Junior Cricket League matches to be held in 2012.

After getting positive response, the Kenyan U-16 team had arrived in the city on December 2, but it was yet to find any team to play with.

One of the BCCI officials could be seen pulling up the organisers for their lackadaisical approach, as it was going to tarnish the image not only of the board but also of the country.

The official was a busy arranging team for the seven-day tournament to be held from December 4.

MSPL representative, Munish Kumar, said they had requested cricket coach RP Chopra to arrange for the cricket ground besides arranging teams for the practice matches and the tournament.

He said four teams had already confirmed their participation in the tournament and three teams from Delhi, Chandigarh, Sankalp Cricket Academy from Haryana besides OBI Cricket Academy from Kenya would be arriving in the evening.

However, despite repeated attempts Chopra could not be contacted. Meanwhile, Vijender Goel, former Jharkhand minister and Commissioner Junior Cricket League, said they would be holding practice matches at various places in the country in February and March next year.

He said Pakistan and Afghanistan cricket teams had already confirmed their participation and each team would have foreign players.

He said two venues, including Jamshedpur and Andhra Pradesh had already been selected for the league matches.

The players were also critical of the organisers as the washrooms in the stadium were found locked.

Women players were a harassed lot, as they were asked to use washrooms on the second floor of the stadium.