Qila Raipur Sports Festival begins

Tribune reporters

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 28

With the 79th chapter of Qila Raipur Sports Festival, popularly known as the Mini-Olympics, commencing tomorrow, sports enthusiasts have already started visiting the stadium.

Braving the chill, a large number of sports enthusiasts thronged Grewal Sports Stadium at Qila Raipur. Farmers and owners of horses and dogs are coming to check the preparations at the stadium.

Paramdeep Singh Deepa of Dehlon said some of his friends had come to check the tracks where their horses and mares would be racing. It is for the first time that the organisers have replaced bullock cart races with horse races. Dog races will take place on Friday (January 30).

Balwinder Singh Jagga, an office-bearer, said arrangements for the comfortable stay of sportspersons and managers of teams coming from foreign countries and other states had been completed.

Jagga claimed that the victorious participants would be honoured with cash prizes. One village open Kabaddi winner and runners-up will be given Rs 75,000 and Rs 51,000, respectively while owners of first four horses will be awarded Rs 51,000, Rs 41,000, Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000, respectively.

More than 6,000 sportspersons are expected to participate in the festival.

Grey hound races, mule cart races, tug-of-war, loading/unloading a trailer, gymnastics, cycle races, time horse races, horse races in heats of fours, cycle races and hockey tournament for boys and girls will be held during the festival.

Students excel

Khanna: Two students of AS College have done the town proud by winning two gold medals in the inter-college boxing competition. Ram Singh Gurna, Dean, Sports, said the competition was held at Punjab University from January 15 to 17. Randeep Kaur, an MA student, participated in the 75kg weight category while Raveena Sahota bagged a gold medal in the 81kg weight category. College principal RS Jhanji congratulated the winners.