HEALTH

Leprosy patients promised better deal
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 6
The Leprosy Welfare Mission, Chandigarh, organised various functions at different places to observe the Leprosy Week in the city. A number of leprosy patients from different parts of Punjab and Chandigarh participated in the function.

Prem Singh Bhutte, member, Governing Council, Punjab State Leprosy Society and President of the Leprosy Welfare Mission, Chandigarh, while addressing the audience said leprosy patients should stop begging and join the mainstream.

Leprosy patients from Ropar handed over a memorandum of their demands to Mr Bhutte. The memorandum mentioned that leprosy patients were living in very bad condition. The case of rehabilitating them somewhere else had been started by the then Deputy Commissioner, Vini Maharaj but nothing had been done so far. Mr Bhutte assured them that he would take up their case with the District Administration, Ropar.

Mr Jatinder Singh, general secretary of the Leprosy Elimination Society, assured the leprosy patients that the society would hold a camp for their reconstructive surgery.

Mr Bhutte and Mr Sohnia, vice-president of the society visited the Ghaggar Kusht Ashram at Mubarakpur near Dera Bassi and listened to the problems being faced by the inmates of the ashram. Mr Madan Pal, general secretary of the ashram said the inmates were living in very shabby condition and added that they should be provided with loans to start self-employment ventures.

Healing is her mission
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, October 6
Healing is just another form of love for her. Dr Cynthia S. Padao from World Pranic Healing Foundation in Manila is driven by a mission to alleviate the suffering of all individuals in pain and to accelerate the spiritual growth of humanity. And as a part of her mission she is currently in Chandigarh to stir interest among residents in pranic healing.

Pranic healing as the name signifies (pranic originates from the Sanskrit word ‘prana’) deals with life energy that keeps the body alive and healthy, says Dr Cynthia. The job of a healer requires removing of the diseased energy and revitalising life energy into the patient without even touching the patient, she adds.

All Sanskrit terms like ‘prana’, ‘chakra’ (energy points) give the impression that the roots of pranic healing lies somewhere in India. But it is not so. “It is hard to pinpoint the place pranic healing originated form because evidence says pranic healing under different names had been practised by Chinese, Philippions as well as Greeks during the historical times,” says Dr Cynthia.

Dr Cynthia, who is a qualified dentist, left her dental profession for pranic healer. “Pranic healing came to the Philippines in 1987 when Choa Kok Sui, who is considered to be the founder of modern pranic healing, set up World Pranic Healing Foundation,” she says. It was the holistic nature of the process that attracted Dr Cynthia to take up pranic healing.

Any regret for giving up a flourishing dental practice? “Not at all,” she says.

Though there is no defined criteria for being a pranic healer, it requires an ability to learn and the willingness to heal. “As the nature has endowed each individual with a certain degree of healing power, anyone with good health and an open mind and a certain amount of persistence can learn the basic principles and techniques of pranic healing in a short time,” she adds.

SPORTS

Arjun, Anu shine in shooting
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 6
Arjun Pratap shot an impressive 385 out of 600 in small bore free rifle (ISSF) three position for senior men on the penultimate day of the 26th Chandigarh State Shooting championships here today at Patiali Ki Rao shooting ranges, Sector 25. Earlier yesterday, Arjun, a Class XII student of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, had shot 554 in the Air Rifle (ISSF). He had taken to shooting only last year. Anu Prashar was another shooter who had taken to shooting last year and today she shot 336/400 in Air Pistol (NR) women section and 227/300 in .22 std. rifle OS (NR) prone NCC Junior women section. The prize distribution function will be held tomorrow at 2.30 pm. In other events, Preeti Sharma shot 355/400 in Air Pistol (ISSF), Manjit Singh shot 255/300 in.22 std rifle (NR) prone senior men, Holinder Singh shot 560/600 in Air Pistol (ISSF) senior men and he also shot 80/100 in centre fire pistol senior open, Manish Jai shot 59/100 in civilian section, Harmandeep Sidhu shot 267/400 in Air Rifle OS( NR) Sub Junior men, Gurinder Singh shot 207/300 in .22 std rifle OS (NR) three position senior men, Akhil Pahuja shot 195/300 in .22 std rifle OS (NR) three position senior and junior woman and Aarti Mehta shot 215/300 in .22 std rifle women section.

CBSE basketball

In the CBSE basketball boys final played here on Saturday at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, it was DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, who prevailed upon Sri Guru Nanak Khalsa School, Sector 30, 71-37, with half time score of 41-17. In the girls final, IS Dev Samaj Girls School, Sector 21, outplayed Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, 44-37, with half time score of 23-18 in favour of winners. Mr Chander Mohan, vice-chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chandigarh, was the chief guest. He lauded the spirit shown by participating teams.

Carrom meet

The XIth Chandigarh State Carrom Tournament was inaugurated by Mr D.S. Bedi, president, Independent Schools Association, Chandigarh, here today at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45. As many as 13 events were being organised. Winners of the events held on Saturday included, Sudhir Sidhu, Ashutosh, Mohd Irshad, Ravinder Kumar, Sunit, D.S. Aaithani and Taranpreet in the men’s section while Abhinandan, Harmanpreet, Akashdeep, Piyush Sood, Shellaz Singla and Arshdeep Brar emerged winners in sub-junior section. In the boys section, Vijay Garg and Deepak won their respective matches while in the junior girls section, Shikha Thakur remained winner in her first round tie.

Abinav bereaved

Colonel Bir Singh, grandfather of shooter Abhinav Bindra, died on September 30 after showering his last blessings on Abhinav on September 29, when he received the coveted Arjuna Awards in Delhi. Col Bir, a former hockey player of repute leaves behind one son and two daughters. He was 84. He had been Abhinav’s one of the main sources of inspiration. Bhog and prayers will be offered at New Gurdwara, Defence Colony, New Delhi, on Sunday at 2.30 pm.

Trials

The Chandigarh Amateur Body Building Association will hold selection trials to select the UT senior team for the North India bodybuilding championship going to be held from October 20 at Nainital. The trials will be held at SCO 62-63, Sector 17, on Sunday at 11 am. In the senior section, there will be eight weight categories while for junior section, there would be five categories and an open weight category for the ‘he man’ of North India.

Honoured

Mr Avtar Singh member of the International Hockey Federation and FIH coach from Kenya was honoured by Mr D.L. Manwani, general manager. (Development and personal banking) NRI Branch of the State Bank of India, Sector 17, here on Saturday. Avtar Singh represented in hockey Olympics from 1960 to 1972. Manwani highlighted the services being offered to NRIs by the bank.

Athletics meet

The UT athletes clinched 19 medals with four gold, two silver and 13 bronze medals in the just concluded 13th Inter-zone National Athletics Championship held at IIT, Kanpur. According to Mr Ravinder Chaudhary, Secretary, Amateur Athletics Association, Chandigarh, those who bagged gold medals were Harinder Singh, Manoj Kumar, Lakhvuir Singh, Amanjot Kaur. Mukesh Kumari and Manjit Kaur secured silver medals and bronze medals went to Demingo, Pawandeep Kaur, Veena Yadav, Mukseh Kumari, Hardeep Kaur and Amandeep Kaur in different sections.

Cricket probables

The UT Education Department has selected 34 probables in the under-14 cricket section for a coaching camp which began here on Saturday at Sector 16 cricket stadium. They will participate in the National School Games going to be held from October 17 to 24 in Delhi. The probables are, Varun Kaushal, Amit Prasher, Simrat Singh Bawa, Anupam Ghambhir, Summit Dhiman, Ashutosh, Saurev Kumar, Abhijeet Singh, Vishal Dev, Neeraj Sharma, Sandeep Bhattacharya, Jaskaran Malhotra, Deeshant, Sahil, Saurav Bhandari, Satvir Singh, Ashwani Khokhar, Deeraj Sharma, Sidhharth Kaul, Mohit, Amandeep Singh, Girish Sharma, Kulwinder Singh, Robin Kalia, Tanjit Singh, Shevender Singh, Yatin Sharma, Inderjeet Singh, Abhishek, Amanjeet Singh, Gurinder Singh, Paravdeep Singh, Ritvek Chauhan and Yudhister.

CBSE sports

PML SD Public School, Sector 32, Chandigarh, bagged the boys kho-kho title by beating Guru Harkishan Model School, Chandigarh, by one turn and four points while third place went to Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, Chandigarh in the CBSE sports meet. GHMS-Chandigarh clinched the girls kho-kho title by defeating IS Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, by five points while third place went to Sacred Heart Convent School, Sector 26, Chandigarh. In volleyball, Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, won the title by defeating PML SD Public School, Sector 32, Chandigarh, 27-25,25-13,25-19, while the third place went to DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh. The girls title in volleyball was claimed by PML SD Public School, Sector 32, They defeat Sharda Sarvhitkari School, Sector 40, 25-21,23-25,25-16, 25-15. Third place in this section went to Manav Mangal school, Sector 21.

Badminton tourney

The Punjab State Junior Badminton Championships-2001 in boys and girls section below 19 years will be held at Patiala from October 7 to 9. This was stated by Mr MS Narang, Subdivisional Magistrate-cum-Chairman, organising committee. The three-day meet would have five events — junior boys singles and doubles, junior girls singles and doubles and mixed doubles, said Mr Vinod Vatrana, organising secretary. He said more than 100 top-ranked players from each affiliated unit of the Punjab Badminton Association would be seen in action.

Tennis tourney

The Lake Club Open Tennis tournament for both boys and girls in below-10, 12, 14 and 16 sections will be held from October 7 to 11. This was said by Lieut Col M. Berry, general manager of the club. Cash prizes will be given to the winners.

SPORTS ROUND UP
A soccer team of note
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh
Sanjay Public Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, once again established its supremacy in football when it won the CBSE tournament which concluded here on Thursday. Schools in Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Punjab took part in the event. This school had earlier won titles in different age groups. “Football now is our main priority”, said Mr TR Sethi, Director of the school. He said their annual budget for sports was about Rs 25 lakh and most of it was spent on football. Two boys from this school, Kalarjit and Harish, had in 1999 made it to the Indian schools football team which took part in the Asian Schools Football at Bangkok. This year also, two boys Kagedudum and Cheten Thakur, attended the national football camp for selection of the team for the Asian Schools Football Championships to be held at Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Sethi said the idea of promoting football came to them when they saw that a number of boys from the neighbouring states were studying in the city but their potential was not fully tapped. He said that 50 boys were now enrolled in the Sanjay Football Academy of whom 27 were boarders. They were being provided with free boarding, lodging and training facilities.

Mr Sethi said that for the second consecutive year, their team would participate in the Subroto Cup.

Attrsy Cricket

The annual JP Attray Cricket Tournament, now in progress at SAS Nagar, Chandigarh and at Patiala has become an important cricket tournament. Top national players such as Vinod Kambli, Praveen Amre, Sameer Dighe, Mohd Kaif, Rohan Gavaskar, Sarandeep Singh, and Neeraj Patel are participating besides a number of young players anxious to catch the selectors’ eye.

CBSE sports

This week saw a series of CBSE (Cluster XI) tournaments, such as table tennis, kho kho, volleyball, basketball, football, all in a week’s time. This was good exposure for the players but the dates clashed with some other tournaments. As one of the organisers of the regional basketball meet said, they were unable to decide whether to send their team to the CBSE meet or to another. The CBSE could have planned its cluster tournaments in coordination with other sports bodies such as the School Games Federation of India, the state sports departments and different sports associations.