Patiala, February 16
Defeating arch rivals GND University, Amritsar, Punjabi University, Patiala, has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for year 2010-11. The coveted sports trophy was awarded to the university for the fourth time as it had earned maximum number of medals in the All-India Inter-University Championships and registered the best overall performance in individual and team events held in one calendar year.

In a communication received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports), Government of India, the selection scrutiny committee made its recommendations based on the computation of the marks. The Government of India accepted the recommendations and approved Punjabi University, Patiala, as the overall winner.

Apart from winning various medals in international and national championships, Punjabi University players won 36 positions in various team championships in All India Inter-University Championships, including 16 first, 10 second and 10 third positions. GND University and Kurukshetra University are second and third, respectively.

Notably, this trophy was not awarded during last year’s National Sports Awards as the Sports Ministry could not arrive at a consensus. The AIU had invited performance details from the member universities till June 30 but GND University alleged that Punjabi University had sent the entries after the last date, as a result of which this decision was delayed.

Talking to The Tribune in this regard, vice-chancellor of the university Dr Jaspal Singh said, “This trophy will brace and add sting to our efforts to further improve the sports infrastructure and give more facilities to our sportspersons and their coaches so that they can perform still better next time.”

Director Sports of the university Dr Raj Kumar Sharma said under the able guidance and patronage of the vice-chancellor, the university had been instrumental in achieving glorious heights in the field of sports and “We are sure that we will bag this honour for 2011-12 also”. He also congratulated the coaches and players for this achievement stating that it was only because of their effort that the university had been winning this honour. 

New Delhi, February 16
In a significant development, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has appreciated the “concern” of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) about the victims of 1984 Bhopal tragedy, but maintained that Dow Chemicals had no ownership stakes in Union Carbide till 2000.

IOC also said its relationship with Dow Chemicals is well over 30 years and “We were aware of the Bhopal tragedy when discussing the partnership with Dow”.

IOA has repeatedly expressed its opposition to Dow Chemicals being one of the sponsors for the London Olympics, because of its ownership of the infamous Union Carbide, which was responsible for the worst industrial disaster in India. IOA had urged the IOC and London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to withdraw Dow as the Games sponsor.

In a letter to IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, IOC chief Jacques Rogge has said that “IOC recognises that the Bhopal tragedy in 1984 was horrific event for India and the world. The Olympic Movement sympathises with the grief of the victims’ families and regrets the ongoing suffering people face in the region”

“The IOC and LOCOG were aware of the Bhopal tragedy when discussing the partnership with Dow. Dow had no connection with the Bhopal tragedy. Dow did not have any ownership stake in Union Carbide until 16 years after the accident and 12 years after the US$470 million compensation agreement was approved by the Indian Supreme Court. The Court has upheld this agreement twice since then, in 1991 and 2007. We understand that this is being reviewed yet a third time by the Indian Supreme Court and we are aware of Dow’s position in this mater, and of the sensitivities of all parties.

“We only enter into partnerships with organisations that we believe work in accordance with the values of the Olympic Movement. Dow is a global leader in its field of business and is committed to good corporate citizenship. The company has supported the Olympic Movement for over 30 years, providing support and bringing industry-leading expertise and innovation to the Games.”

“We do hope that the Indian Olympic Association is recognising this, while we appreciate the difficult situation you are facing in your country”.

Reacting to the letter, Malhotra said IOA was not convinced by the IOC stand. “We want that the IOC should understand and appreciate the feelings and sentiments of the victims and drop Dow as sponsors”

He also wanted the Union Government to come out with a clear stand on this issue. “We have yet to receive any reply from the Government, while IOC has written to us”, he noted. Malhotra said the question being asked was that while Dow Chemicals operate in India with the full knowledge and permission of the Government, it is throwing the ball into the IOA court when this sponsorship issue is raised. “The Government should come clean on this issue” he added. 

Sydney, February 16
Sri Lanka's sprightly cricketers will look to end their winless streak when they take on an Australia sans talismanic skipper Michael Clarke in the tri-series one-dayer here tomorrow.

Lying at the bottom of the points table, the closest Sri Lanka got to a win in the series was the nerve-wrecking tie against India in their last match.

But the islanders, unpaid for the past several months by their Board, have shown the stomach for a fight and they might just get the elusive win to show for the hard work so far when they take on Australia, which will have an old guard in Ricky Ponting as captain.

With Clarke out nursing a hamstring strain and the selectors not too confident about vice-captain David Warner, Ponting has been handed the job he quit last year.

"I want to make it very clear this is Michael Clarke's team that I'm just stepping up to look after for a couple of days," Ponting said.

"Everyone knows my appointment's been made for hopefully only Friday. Hopefully Michael comes up for Sunday's game (in Brisbane), so really this is just about taking over Michael's team and leading the team well and hopefully getting the result the team's after," he added.

Australia goes into the match on the back of a narrow four-wicket loss to India in their previous match. The biggest concern to emerge from the defeat was the top-order failure.

The flamboyant Warner's fireworks didn't last long enough and the gamble to push Ponting to the opener's slot didn't work either. With Clarke out, Ponting's form would be all the more crucial in tomorrow's match even though Michael Hussey's return will bolster the line-up.

It was left to debutant Peter Forrest and David Hussey to rescue the innings in Adelaide but once they departed, the Aussies failed to build on the foundation they had laid. — PTI

Brisbane, February 16
The India cricket team today chose to stay locked inside their hotel rooms, making it the 16th day in the past 64 days of the tour when the players turned their backs on bat and ball.

Out of 64 days, 22 days have been spent on the cricket field, 10 days were set aside as travelling days, while 16 days for practice sessions.

This after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni asserted, "Our practice sessions are long. We spend close to four hours practicing every day." If so, it must be a case of visualisation technique in which physical appearance is not required.

Today most boys, as usual, were busy with their Xbox and Playstations, while others kept sniffing on what was being written about them back home.

Hence, even their public stances that they do not bother to follow the media could not be taken at face value. In fact one print-hacker recently claimed that "the players are usually the first readers of your story." So one must take it with a pinch of salt when Virat Kohli says, "Not watching television, not seeing news, not reading newspapers. I haven't touched a newspaper in the last one month," or when Dhoni utters, "I have not been reading any newspapers (nor) getting any news from India so I don't know what exactly is going on."— PTI

Gurgaon, February 16
A birdie at the very end gave Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares a share of the lead at the end of the first round of the third edition of Avantha Masters, which commenced at the DLF Golf and Country Club here today. Canizares, 29, started on the 10th and birdied the long ninth to complete a back nine 32 and six under par 66.

Scotland’s Peter Whiteford, who also played in the afternoon sessions, too shot 66 and Italian Federico Colombo (67), another one going out in the second sessions was third.

Indian lad Himmat Rai, who has played at this course since the time he turned pro five years ago, shot 68, the day’s best among the Indians to be in a tie for fourth with five others, including Asian legend Thongchai Jaidee and fellow Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who won the SAIL Open in India last year.

Vivek Bhandari turned the clock back on his maiden attempt at the Avantha Masters with a fine 69, that put him in a tie for 10th, where he shared the position with eight others, including Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri of India. Also in the same bunch was Peter Uihlein, the former World Amateur No. 1.

Defending champion SSP Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur and Mukesh Kumar were in the bunch that came back with cards of 71 each on a day when 46 players went under par.

Two-time Major winner, John Daly, one of the marquee names in the event and playing alongwith Jeev suffered a lot as he carded 78 and Todd Hamilton, playing at the DLF for the first time since his last visit here in 2004, shot 74.

Canizares, who holed a long putt on his closing hole, the ninth, said, “Yes it is always nice to finish on a high like that. I didn’t hit a great wedge shot into the green so it was nice to sink the putt. There were no other highlights, really. I made a couple of long putts but all the others were from inside 10 feet or so. Overall it was very steady and pretty good.”

He had seven birdies and just one bogey and added, “I like it (the course). It’s pretty firm and it’s difficult to keep the ball on the fairway because the surface is very hard and they roll away from you. It’s tricky to keep it in play off the tee, but it’s a nice course and a very good layout. You really have to think your way round it.”

Whiteford had four birdies in a row from the 10th and said, “I had four birdies in a row from the 10th so that was a nice spurt to get me going. I three-putted the ninth for par so it really should have been five in a row, but I’ll take four. That was a good spell. I holed a great putt on the second from miles away so that gave me momentum from the start. It’s always a bonus to start with one of those.” 

Milan, February 16
Robinho scored twice to help AC Milan to an emphatic 4-0 home win over Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday. A stunning early strike from Kevin-Prince Boateng put AC Milan in the driving seat and they never looked back on a freezing night at the San Siro.

Boateng controlled Antonio Nocerino's chipped pass on his chest and scored with a dipping shot which flew over Wojciech Szczesny and in off the crossbar in the 15th minute.

Zlatan Ibramhovic's run down the left set up Brazilian Robinho for the second seven minutes before halftime and the same combination produced the third goal four minutes after the break.

Swede Ibrahimovic completed the scoring when he won and converted a penalty in the 79th minute.

Milan were never affected by the early departure of Clarence Seedorf who limped off in the 12th minute and was replaced by Urby Emanuelson.

Arsenal never got to grips with the nimble footwork of Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Boateng, who pulled their defence all over the place.

Milan could easily have a third goal before halftime as Boateng broke clear but shot into the side-netting and Luca Antonini poked the ball wide after Ibrahimovic sent him clear. — Reuters

Chandigarh, February 16
Organised with tremendous fervor, the 4th Annual Athletics Meet of Lovely Professional University was inaugurated on February 13, where more than 1200 students and 500 members of the staff participated in 58 competitions. The event began with Torch Relay followed by unfurling of University Flag, release of balloons and Pigeons by the Chief Guest Ashok Mittal, chancellor of the University.

On this occasion, chairman of the Lovely Group Ramesh Mittal, vice-chairman Naresh Mittal, pro chancellor Rashmi Mittal, vice-chancellor Dr. Ramesh Kanwar, director general HR Singla, senior deans, deans of the University and other invited guests were present. The Torch-Relay had started from the chancellor's office for the University Sports Stadium at Hardaspur Ground and was led to the Sacred Cauldron by Amit Hans, the Baseball Gold Medal winner.

Congratulating all participants to reveal true spirit of sportsmanship for the honour of LPU and glory of sports, the chancellor Ashok Mittal said students should come out with new records.