Chandigarh, January 10
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Chandigarh Administration to furnish its comments and observation on the draft report submitted by Rorkee-based National Institute of Hydrology on its integrated study on Sukhna Lake.

For the purpose, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul also set a three-week deadline, and also directed the Administration to release the payment to the NIH, Roorkee, for carrying out the study. The directions came after the High Court was informed by NIH counsel Onkar Singh Batalvi that the Administration had failed to furnish its comment or observation, even after submission of the report to the Administration.

The counsel further told the Bench that the institute was ready to incorporate the comments or observations, if made by the Administration.

The NIH also clarified that the draft study submitted by it to the Administration was the final report on Sukhna Lake.

Digging deep into the “Save Sukhna” issue, the institute had earlier suggested with a slew of measures, which if implemented could prolong the lake's life. It suggested the checking of evaporation to preserve water in the lake. The report also recommended an increase in the overall capacity of the lake; and lowering the capacity of check dams. Data collection and awareness programmes were included in some of the other recommendations.

The report suggests reduction in evaporation. “Certain evaporation retarding chemicals are available which are known to reduce evaporation. However, to avoid any possible negative impacts of such chemicals on the flora and fauna of the lake, they are not recommended for Sukhna Lake. Instead, it is suggested that a physical method such as reduction of exposed water spread area be adopted for the lake because evaporation is predominantly a surface phenomenon”.

The report made it clears that deficiency in rain, coupled with evaporation, played havoc with the lake. “Evaporation is observed to play a significant role in deciding the total volume of water lost through the lake particularly during summer months…. In deficit rainfall years when the water levels are significantly low, evaporation is the single most important factor determining water losses from the lake with contribution above 90 per cent”. 

Chandigarh, January 10
Manan Vohra, a 20-year-old city cricketer, has been retained by Kings XI Punjab, making him one of the only two uncapped players to be retained by any IPL team.

“It’s a great news for me, I am delighted and thankful for the trust shown by the franchisee in my abilities,” said Manan, who is currently a part of the Punjab Ranji Trophy team playing against Jammu and Kashmir in quarterfinals at Baroda.

The attacking opener, a resident of Chandigarh, has been in red hot form this season. He forced his way into the Ranji Trophy squad with three back-to-back hundreds in the BCCI’s U-25 tournament, and then played a crucial role in helping Punjab qualify for the quarterfinals by smashing 187 against Jharkhand in the last league match.

“I am sure all these performances were noticed and played a part in me being retained by the Kings XI,” said Manan

The youngster was joyous over not going to the auction pool and playing for his home team in the IPL. “There’s nothing better than playing for your home team in the IPL. You get more chances, the connect is stronger and the level of motivation is a little higher. So, I will be in a great frame of mind when I walk out on to the field for Kings XI,” said the upcoming opener.

Sanjeev Vohra, his father, too, sounded ecstatic. “It’s a great opportunity for him. I am sure he will make the most of it,” he said. 

Chandigarh, January 10
Top seed Teeradon Tortrakul of Thailand made it to the final by outplaying Wei De Lin of Taipei in the boys' category of the ITF Grade-3 Junior World Ranking Tournament being held at the CLTA courts in Sector 10.

Both the players fought till the end. Wei De Lin used his powerful attacking groundstrokes to win the first set

6-2. But top seed Teeradon Tortrakul used his experience and variation of strokes to take the second set at 6-1.

The third and the main set was full of suspense. Wei De Lin took a 3-1 lead in the third set, but Teeradon Tortrakul fought back and made it 3-3. Soon after Wei De Lin broke Teeradon Tortrakul's serve and took a 5-3 lead in the last set. But Teeradon Tortrakul came back and won the next two games to make it 5-5.

As the match entered the final set tiebreaker, Wie De Lin had an early mini-break to take a 3-1 lead, but Teeradon Tortrakul bounced back with a 5-3 lead and then finally won the tiebreaker at 7-5. In the second semifinals in the boys' category, Xander Veys (fourth seed) upset second seed Liang Yu Richard of Chinese Taipei. In the first set, left-hander Xander Veys moved his opponent with his strong forehand and took the set at 6-2.

But in the second set, Liang Yu Richard bounced back to take the set at 6-4. In the final set, it was the battle of nerves as Xander won the set at 6-4.

Doubles’ final

In the boys doubles' final, it was all Chinese Taipei affair. Liang Yu Richard Lin and Shao Fan Liu won the doubles title by defeating their countrymen Ho Ju Lee and Wei De Lin 6-4, 6-3.

In the girls doubles' final, Indian pair Vasanti Shinde and Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal lost to top seed pair of Thailand Tamachan Momkoonthod and Plobrung Plipuech. Thai pair won the match in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Boys singles (first semis): Teeradon Tortrakul of Thailand beat Wei De Lin of Taipei 2-6, 6-1, 7-5; second semis: Xander Veys (fourth seed) beat Liang Yu Richard of Chinese Taipei 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Girls singles (first semis): Pranjala Yadlapalli beat Karman Kaur Thandi 3-6, 7-6, 6-2; second semis: Seventh seed Thai player Bunyawi Thamchaiwat beat Vasanti Shinde 
6-4, 6-4.

Doubles' final (boys' category): Liang Yu Richard Lin and Shao Fan Liu beat Ho Ju Lee and Wei De Lin 6-4, 6-3; girls' category: Tamachan Momkoonthod and Plobrung Plipuech of Thailand beat Indian pair Vaccinates Shinde and Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal 7-5, 6-4. The final will be held tomorrow after 10 am.

Semifinals in girls’ category

Top seed Pranjala Yadlapalli was given a tough fight by eighth seed Karman Kaur Thandi in the first semifinals. Karman dominated the first set 6-3. In the second set, both the players made it 6-6, forcing a tiebreaker. But top seed Pranjala Yadlapalli proved too good to take the tiebreaker at 7-0. In the final set, Pranjala Yadlapalli took a 4-1 lead and then she maintained the lead till 2-5. In the eighth game, Pranjala Yadlapalli got an advantage and closed the match at 6-2. In the second semifinal, seventh seed Thai player Bunyawi Thamchaiwat beat Vasanti Shinde in straight sets. Thamchaiwat won the match 6-4, 6-4.

Chandigarh, January 10
Sarvitkari Cricket Academy, Mohali, defeated GNPS Cricket Academy, Chandigarh, in the U-14 three-match series tournament being held at the GNPS in Sector 36.

GNPS-36 won the toss and elected to bat first. They played well and piled up 165 runs for 4 in 35 overs. Yuvraj Rai with 68 runs and Saksham gupta with runs 33 were the highest scorers. For Sarvitkari Cricket Academy, Tushar and Mandeep took one wicket each

In reply, Sarvithkari academy achieved the target of 166 for the loss of three wickets in 34.4 overs.

Kunwar's 69 runs and Feroj's 58 runs led the team to victory. The next match will be held at the GNPS on January 14.

Brief score

GNPS-36: 165 runs for 4 in 35 overs (Yuvraj Rai 68 runs, Saksham Gupta 33 runs and Bheem 28 runs).

Sarvitkari academy: 166 for the loss of three wickets in 34.4 overs (Kunwar 69 runs and Feroj 58 runs). 

Chandigarh, January 10
Chandigarh handball team finished third in the National School Games (U-19 boys) in Delhi. Onkar Singh, handball coach, sports department, UT, accompanied the team.

The team beat Maharastra 26-24. The main scorers were Ajay (eight goals), Davinder (six goals), Sanju Lal and Deepak (three goals each). The coach and the other officials congratulated the team.