Kalka, October 5
BJP candidate Latika Sharma has accused candidates of other political parties of using money power in the elections. Latika made this statement before Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while addressing a rally in the local grain market on Saturday.

Riding high on the “Modi wave”, she pointed out that the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unstoppable, following which other parties, who are scared of losing the elections, are banking on money power.

The BJP candidate promised overall development of the constituency. “I will change the direction and condition of the constituency,” she said.

Latika said the area had been neglected by successive governments, which failed in bringing any projects for the development. To boost the industry and create job avenues for the youth, Kalka should be declared a backward area. It needed special tax concession package.

The oldest tractor manufacturing company, HMT, is on the verge of closure and its employees were not paid salaries for the past one year. She demanded revival of the HMT and Rs 100 crore for it.

The BJP candidate said Pinjore should be developed as a popular tourist destination.

Latika listed major problems faced by people such as shortage of electricity and water, lack of proper healthcare institutions, sports stadium and relief from fly menace caused due to poultry farms in the Raipur Rani area.

Those who attended the rally included Satya Pal Jain, former MP, Chandigarh; Sanjay Tandon, BJP state president, Chandigarh; Heera Negi, Senior Deputy Mayor; Devesh Moudgil and other party supporters.

Mohali, October 5
A brilliant ton by Sandeep Sharma helped ONGC sail into the semifinals of the 21st All-India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament being held here today.

The first semi-finalist defeated Reliance-I by 59 runs at the PCA Cricket Stadium, Mohali.

After winning the toss, Reliance-I opted to field first. However, their decision failed to pay off. ONGC openers - Samrath Singh and Sandeep Sharma - started the proceedings with 200-run partnership for the first wicket in 36.5 overs.

Sandeep dominated the match and scored 117 off 126 balls before being caught by Akshdeep Nath off medium pacer Pawan Suyal.

Second opener Samrath Singh scored 72 off 97 balls before being caught by Amitoze Singh off right arm medium pacer Baltej Singh.

Nitish Rana pushed the score further by scoring unbeaten 43 off 37 balls. The ONGC side posted 290 for 4 in the allotted 50 overs.

For the bowling side, Pavan Suyal claimed 2 for 63.

In reply, Reliance-I made a shaky start. Rakesh Solanki and Smit Patel stabled the team’s inning. The duo added 60 runs for the second wicket before Rakesh was claimed by Sohail Sharma for 30 off 32 balls.

However, Reliance-I failed to carry the momentum and lost wickets at regular intervals to slip down at 153 for 7 in 29.3 overs.

Thereafter, Yuzvendra Chahl and Apoorav Wankhede scored 55 runs for the eighth wicket. Apoorav remained unbeaten on 64 off 63 balls. The Reliance-I side ended their innings for 231 in 42 overs.

Chandigarh, October 5
Local skater Sahil Ashat, a student of SGGS Collegiate Public School, Sector 26, here, bagged the gold medal in the 16th Asian Roller Skating Championship for Boys (U-19) Team Event held in Haining (China) from September 23 to 29.

He was the member of the Indian team that strike the gold in the roller skating event. He started skating at 
the age of 5 years. Since then, he participated in various events of skating, including speed skating, roller hockey, at the school level, state level, zonal level and the national level.

He has won around 150 medals (100 gold, 35 silver and 15 bronze).

In 2010 and 2013, he captained the Chandigarh Sub-Junior and Junior Hockey Team and won the silver medal.

“I was feeling proud to see my National Flag fluttering high in China. In the final, we defeated Macau by 22-1. Our coaches - Harpreet Singh, Jaswinder Singh Goldi and Sarabjeet Singh - supported us throughout the competition,” Ashat said.

Chandigarh, October 5
Adding another tale to its brilliant performance in the national soccer circuit, the Chandigarh Football Academy (CFA) sub-junior side returned home after claiming runners-up spot in the All-Nation Subroto Football Cup for Boys (U-14), which concluded in New Delhi recently. The team bagged a cash prize of Rs 1.25 lakh along with a runners-up trophy.

In the survival-of-the-fittest Subroto cup final, the CFA side went down against Greenwood High School, Nagaland, (5-4) in a tie-breaker.

Earlier, the team without even losing a single match reached the final of the tournament. In its campaign, the CFA squad defeated Bangladesh Kidha Siksha Pratisthan, Nilmani English School, Manipur, Army Boys XI, Zahira College, Sri Lanka, and IPSC School, Gujarat, to reach the title clash.

A total of 32 teams participated in the championship. The CFA also became the only team from the northern region to reach the quarter-finals and later in the final of the championship.

The former skipper of the Indian football team, Harjinder Singh, under whose guidance the team achieved the feat, termed the win as a boost for the sub-junior side. Gupreet Bedi, assistant coach, also accompanied the team.

“We played well in the entire tournament. However, in the semi-finals and the final, we suffered due to our own mistakes. The team is still learning and needs to stay focussed,” said Harjinder.

The CFA, which has gone through a rough patch after its few players left the institution in the past in the middle of their seven-year contract, has brought the laurels after a gap of four years.

The exposure trip to Goa, where six CFA trainees were shortlisted to attend the preparatory camp for the 2017 FIFA’s U-17 World Cup after the team’s performance in friendly matches against the sub-junior Indian side, has helped the team to bring the laurels.