NEIGHBOURHOOD

Chandumajra uses offensive words against Cong leaders
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 24
Congress leader Ambika Soni would kick off her election campaign after performing religious ceremonies at historical Shiv temple at Jatwar village in Nurpur Bedi and Anandpur Sahib Gurdwara, tomorrow.

MLAs Balbir Singh Sidhu said, “She would be taken to Anandpur Sahib Gurdwara from Chandigarh Airport. The Congress activists would welcome her at various points on the way to Ananpur Sahib, which included YPS Chowk at Mohali, Kharar, Kurali, Rangeelpur, Ropar, Bharatgarh and Anandpur Sahib.”

Kharar MLA Jagmohan Singh Kang added that all the block presidents, district presidents and other key leaders of the party were asked to assemble at Anadpur Sahib Gurdwara to welcome the leader. “After paying obeisance at the gurdwara, we would proceed to Jatwar village for a ‘havan’ at historical Shiv temple in the afternoon.

Chandigarh, March 24
A day after the bloody clash between two groups of the Namdhari sect at a gurdwara in Sector 30, the UT police have booked 19 members of the groups under the charges of rioting, assaulting, thrashing and criminal intimidation.

The accused include those injured in the clash.

Those booked have been identified as Joga Singh, Kesar Singh, Saravjit Singh, Balwinder Singh, Harwinder Singh, Gurbachan Singh and others, all followers of Thakur Uday Singh, and Gurdev Singh, Gurbax Singh, Satnam Singh, Rattan Singh and Gursaran Singh, all followers of Thakur Dilip Singh.

Followers of Thakur Dilip Singh, claimed that they were victims of a conspiracy and alleged that the police did not take any precautionary measure even when they were informed about the incident well in advance. Tension had prevailed at Gurdwara Namdhari Sangat in Sector 30 yesterday following a clash between two fronts of the Namdhari sect during a function. The clash had left at least 12 persons injured. Both the groups used blunt weapons, including wooden sticks and iron rods.

Chandigarh, March 24
Fiat Metro Motors defeated PGI during the final of the CII-ATS Corporate Sports League Cricket Cup organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Yi Solan Chapter at the Cricket Stadium of Sector 16, here.

The losing side, while batting first, set a target of 134 runs for six wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Manoj Fulara led the score chart of the team. He scored 53 off 49 balls including two sixes and three boundaries. Towards the end of the innings, Ravi Dixit made 44 off 41 balls including 5 fours. For bowling side, Mandeep claimed five wickets for 16 runs.

Chasing the target, Fiat Metro Motors scored 135 runs in 18.4 overs with 5 wickets to spare. Lalit Bindra (54 runs off 44 balls, studded with 9 boundaries) and Ritesh (41 runs off 34 balls, including 5 boundaries) guided the team to the path of victory. For PGI, Hira Singh claimed three for 18 runs, while Karan Thakur and Sandeep Negi took a wicket each

Arun Sharma, selector, PCA, RP Singh, junior selector, PCA, Varun Kapoor, chairman, Yi Solan, and Vasu Trehan, co-chairman, Yi Solan, presented the trophies to the winning team.

Winning streak
Fiat Metro Motors scored 135 runs in 18.4 overs with 5 wickets to spare. Lalit Bindra (54 runs off 44 balls, studded with 9 boundaries) and Ritesh (41 runs off 34 balls, including 5 boundaries) guided the team to the path of victory. Arun Sharma, selector, PCA, RP Singh, junior selector, PCA, Varun Kapoor, chairman, Yi Solan, and Vasu Trehan, co-chairman, Yi Solan, presented the trophies to the winning team.

Panchkula, March 24
Hansraj Public School defeated Scholars’ School Cricket Academy, Barwala, by 80 runs in a match during the 2nd Smt Kaushalya Devi Memorial Cricket Cup (Under-15) Championship, held here today.

All-rounder Aman contributed the lion’s share with his 56 runs off 42 balls. He also claimed 6 wickets for 10 runs.

Earlier, the winning side, riding high on powerful innings by Aman and Tushar Goyal enabled the side to post a total of 242 runs in the allotted slot of 25 overs.

Tushar scored an unbeaten knock of 65 runs. He was equally supported by Aman, who chipped in 56 runs.

Later, Shivam Gulati sparked the innings with a quickie 49 runs contribution off 35 balls.

For bowling side, Bhanupartap claimed two for 34 runs.

In reply, the losing side was bowled out on a total of 115 runs in 20.1 overs. Off spin bowler Aman claimed six for 10 runs. For batting side, Mohit Kharab (62 runs) remained the only noticeable scorer for his team.

Tushar Goyal claimed two wicketsfor 18 runs.

Brief scores

Hansraj Cricket Academy-242 for 3 in 25 overs (Tushar Goyal 65 not out, Aman 56, Shivam Gulati 49, Bhanupartap Singh two for 34 runs)

The Scholars School Cricket Academy-115 for 8 in 20.1 overs (Mohit Kharab 62 not out, Aman six for 10, Tushar Goyal two for 18)

Chandigarh, March 24
The Chandigarh Amateur Weightlifting has selected a 16-member contingent to represent the city in the 66th Men and 29th Women Senior (Men and Women) National Weightlifting Championships, here. The championship will be held in Nagpur (Maharashtra) from March 28 to April 1.

Men-Mahan Dipak, Gurpal Singh, Gurpreet Singh Bedi, Pritpal Singh, Sandeep Yadav, Jobanpreet Singh, Kasam Shaik, Gurjant Puri, Manish Sharma (stand-by)

Women-Navdeep Kaur, Balvir Kaur, Mamta Rana, Parnei Chong Kom, Baljinder Kaur

Officials-Pushpinder Singh (coach), HS Bansal (manager)

Chandigarh, March 24
The Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA), affiliated to Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), has announced the probables for the forthcoming Inter-District Tournament for Boys (Under-16), here today.

The tournament is scheduled to start from April 15. The selected players will attend a preparatory camp from March 25. The preparatory camp will be held at the cricket grounds of Guru Nanak Public School in Sector 36, here.

Names of the probables

Mandeep Singh, Safar Sarahan, Tarun, Yogesh Nathani, Tavleen Singh, Saiyam Sareen, Kunaldeep, Avneet Singh, Nikhil, Anurakht, Ayushman, Sanjeet, Ayush Sikka, Bheem, Kanishk Sarthak, Arshdeep Singh, Mandeep, Shekhar, Sanjeev, Chiranpreet, A Mandeep, Sayam, Danish, Yogesh Aggarwal, Hem Pandey, Prince, Ansh, Visual, Jagdeep Singh, Shivam, Sidharth, Prabsimran, Jaspreet, Abhinav Leel.

Chandigarh, March 24
The Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) seems to be least bothered to adhere to its motto ‘Give best to produce best’. Recent reports on bad condition of the state-run hockey and football academy have surely exposed the loopholes in the functioning of the academy. And, here comes another jolt.

According to information, in what could be termed as complete eyewash if documents are to be believed, many overage players are playing in the academy. The bone age test was conducted in January 2012 and most of the players were found overage.

Two players were, however, absent during the age verification test. It is pertinent to mention that till date, the overage players hold the scholarship of CHA (documents are with The Tribune team).

In 2008, around 21 players of almost 10 years of age were enrolled in the state-run Hockey academy. The players were enrolled after proper field trials and age determination medical tests. After one year, when hockey India raised questions over the age of few senior players in the academy, the local authorities conducted an age determination test in 2009 again. The authorities stressed on performing a digital X-ray for age verification. After the test, 9 players were removed from the academy, without any prior intimation. They were just told that due to negative results of medical tests (overage), they have been chucked out of the academy.

After two years, in 2011, the scenario repeated.

Reportedly, during the SN Vohra Memorial Hockey Cup, sub-junior players of the CHA were declared overage by organiser’s medical board.

The organisers, however, allowed the academy to participate in the tournament.

But later, CHA’s coach BS Randhawa, in a written request, stated, “During the medical check-up, 12 boys were found overage, but somehow the CHA participated in the tournament. To avoid any complications during the next sports calendar, it is proposed that medical examinations of the boys may be conducted.”

In December 2011, 14 players were resent for the age verification test, in which, most of the players were found overage and two were absent on the day when the test was conducted.

“If the players of same batch were chucked out from the academy in 2009, then for what reasons the authorities are saving the 'overage' players,” said the coach.

The players (10 years), enrolled during 2008, were 14 years of age in 2012. In the recent age verification test of the 14 players, majority of were found to be 15 to 16 years of age. The UT Sports Department refers the mean age, bracket indicated in the medical, as the base to induct players.

Medical age of players, as per approved by Medical Board in 2012 (should fall as of 14 years)

Mehkeet Singh-bone age-15 to 17 years (mean-16 years), Rainder Singh-bone age-14 to 16 years (mean-15 years), Gurjeet Singh-bone age-15 to 17 years (mean-16 years), Hartaj Singh-bone age-14 to 16 years (mean-15 years), Jasdeep Singh-bone age-12 to 14 years (mean-13 years), Vishal Antil-bone age-13 to 15 years (mean-14 years), Harmeet Singh-bone age-15 to 17 years (could vary from 14 to 16 years) (mean-16 years), Mandeep Mor-bone age-14 to 16 years (could vary from 13 to 15 years) (mean-15years), Nikhil Kumar-bone age 14 to 15 years (could vary 13 to 15 years) (mean-14.5 years), Sukhwinder Singh-bone age-14 to 16 years (mean-15 years), Sandeep-bone age-15 to 17 years (could vary from 14 to 16 years) (mean-16 years), Maninderjeet Singh-bone age-15 to 17 years (mean-16 years), Vishu Panwar-absent, Ravi-absent

Players pay the price for a blunder by officials?

Finding themselves in dock, the authorities, in order to save their skin, has played with the future of these players.

The authorities even reduced the contract of the players from seven years to six years, after finding that most of the players were overage. The step was taken after the coach BS Randhawa, raised the issue.

Notably, even after knowing that these players are overage, the authorities have kept these players in the academy and continue to misuse the public money, which is being used to run these academies.

Selection committee consists of Director Sport, Joint Director Sports, District Sports Officer, Assistant Director, NSTC, SAI, Scientific Officer, SAI, Medical experts, and coaches of the department concerned.

Who is to blame? If 12 players were found overage then why has the coach asked for a medical check-up of all the 14 players again? The players are inducted into the academy after a proper check-up, then, why the age-verification test was performed thrice in the years 2008, 2009 and 2012? If the players were found overage, then why are they still representing the CHA, a state-run academy run by public money? What is the role of the coach in safeguarding players’ interest and action taken against officials who played with the future of players in 2009 and 2012? Who is responsible for adopting a biased approach and making amendments to policy for a particular group?

Chandigarh, March 24
The general body of the Chandigarh Masters’ Athletics Association has unanimously elected Subhash Chander Bhalla as its president during a meeting of the members.

The meeting for electing the office-bearers was attended by 55 members of the Chandigarh Masters’ Athletics Association.

Sat Parkash Verma was elected as general secretary of the association.

Jeewa Lal was elected as the treasurer.

Both Verma and Lal were unanimously elected for their respective posts.