HEALTH

Breakthrough in salt iodisation
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 26
Iodine deficiency has become one of the serious health issues facing the country.

According to a data provided by the Indian Coalition for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, (ICCIDD), “278 million Indians are at risk of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Iodine deficiency not only leads to goiter, but also has an impact on the mental development of growing children”. The ICCIDD is dedicated to sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders and works closely with the people and governments of affected countries.

Loss of iodine from iodised salt is a major concern affecting all iodised salts in the country. As per Mr M.R. Gandhi of the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute. “one of the main problems in iodised salts is the loss of iodine under conditions of storage and cooking”. Even government PFA regulations recognise that upto 50% of iodine may be lost in storage and transportation alone. In addition, there are losses arising in Indian cooking conditions that further reduce the actual intake of iodine.

Deficiency of iodine occurs when the daily intake, especially from food and water, does not fulfil the iodine requirement of the body. This leads to a spectrum of disorders collectively referred to as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) which includes mental handicaps and poor educability of children.

Iodine is taken up by the thyroid gland, located in the neck, and is incorporated into thyroid hormones. These hormones have several essential roles to play in the normal functioning of the body, such as brain development and temperature regulation (important during birth). Lack of iodine at various stages of human development has serious consequences.

Interestingly, as per a study conducted by the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute even “ leading brands of salt lose upto 40% in cooking whereas Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) has “successfully stablised the iodine content in iodised salt”.

HLL’s breakthrough technology has been patented in India as well as several other countries. This new technology encapsulates iodine in a manner that it not only prevents it’s loss during storage and transportation, but also during Indian cooking conditions. HLL has incorporated this technology in its Annapurna salt, which makes it the only salt in the country that does not lose iodine.

As per a study conducted by the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute, even “leading brands of salt lose upto 40% in cooking whereas HLL has “successfully stablised the iodine content in iodised salt”.

Annapurna is now the leading brand of iodised salt in the market and is now further consolidating its leadership position with the launch of its new stable iodine salt. According to Mr. Gunender Kapur, Director, Foods, Hindustan Lever Limited: “We have always had our consumers best interests in mind. It is our endeavour not only to give them the best quality of salt, but also to ensure their good health and nutrition. With this technological breakthrough, Annapurna will be the only salt in the market that can deliver the right level of iodine to the consumer every time”.

SPORTS

SPORTS ROUND-UP-I
A year that witnessed women power
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, December 26
The year 2001 saw a strong women sports power emerging from this region. And what a coincidence! The five sportswomen from the region who have upsurged as a force to reckon with in their respective disciplines are Punjabis and they all are teenagers. They had already done well this year and will bring more glory in times to come. The foremost among them is Irina Brar, a golfer, Gurpreet Kaur, a rower, Sabeeha Dhillon, a shooter, Shruti Dhawan, a tennis player, and Rajni Sharma, a gymnast. All of them were ranked top three in the country in the senior category in their respective disciplines.

Irina Brar, is a name synonymous with golf. You name any women golf tournament in the country, one could always find Irina leading. Only recently she surprised everyone all by winning fifth major title consecutively held in Bangalore. Earlier also she had won at Kolkata, Chandigarh, Delhi. Irina is ably supported by her mother golfer Madhu Brar. Irina over the years has now become more confident in her outlook as felt by her mother.

Gurpreet Kaur, the rowing sensation, is another 18-year-old rower who for the past two years has made name in this tough sport. Gurpreet belongs to a middle class family and in these two years she has with her achievements such as silver medal and bronze medal in two successive Asian Junior Rowing Meet in 2000-2001 and very recently won gold medal in single scull event in the National Games. Her parents said they encouraged her in every second she spends in her sports activities.

Sabeeha Dhillon, another 18-year-old damsel from Chandigarh, who bagged the bronze medal in the just concluded National Games despite the presence of heavyweight seniors. She also took part in various international shooting meet. She said the game required a lot of patience and concentration to excel.

Shruti Dhawan, 19, has recently made it to the last four of the women’s section of the national tennis meet. She is now in the first five of the Indian women .Only last September she had surprised everyone by remaining at number two in the $10,000 ITF Women Tennis meet held in Delhi. Shruti had also participated in various ITF tournaments in Europe and Asia.

Rajni Sharma (18) won three gold medals in the last National Games. She is now the best rhythmic gymnast in the country. Rajni belongs to Patiala. She also had with her many laurels in the All-India inter varsity level. Though India fared poor every time in the gymnastics event in the international level but Rajni was quite hopeful that she just needed a few of the international exposure to carry the forte in this sport.

Skaters resent mismanagement
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, December 26
KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7, in junior boys section and Guru Harkishan Public School, Sector 38, in sub-junior section emerged winners in the roller hockey event of the Chandigarh Skating Championships, which concluded at Skating Rink, Sector 10, here this evening.

There was resentment among various international and national skaters. In a written representation to the press, they highlighted the mismanagement in the Chandigarh State Roller Skating Association. Fifteen skaters alleged that they were not informed about the meet, which reflected the sad affairs prevailing in the association. These skaters charged that concerned officials had never promoted skating, which had, over the years, suffered badly.

Weightlifting team

The Chandigarh Amateur Weightlifting Association had selected a 12-member UT junior men team for the 38th men and 14th women Junior National Weight, lifting Championship to be held at Sangli (Maharashtra) from December 30, 2001, to January 2, 2002.

The team is: Baljinder Singh, Surinder Singh, Sukhdev Ram, Jaswinder Singh, Jasminder Singh, Harminder Singh, Palminder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Dalbir Singh, Mandeep Singh, Kamaldeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh, with Avtar Singh as standby. Mr Vijay Kumar and Mr H.S. Bansal will accompany the team as coach and manager, respectively.

St Xavier’s win

St Xavier’s Public School, Sector 20, outplayed Moti Ram Arya Public School, Panchkula, by 60 runs in the sixth tie of the second Satluj Cricket Tournament at Satluj Public School, Sector 4, Panchkula.

Taekwondo test

The Punjab Taekwondo Association held taekwondo colour belts promotion test at Shivalik Public School, SAS Nagar. Players from different training centres took part in this grading test. This information was given by Mr Satpal Singh Rehal, general secretary-cum-technical director of the association. The team is: Karanvir (yellow to green belt) Sant Isher Singh School, Gagandeep (white to yellow) Housefed Complex, Phase X), Ajay Kumar (white to yellow), Damandeep Singh, Javed Iqbal, Maninder Singh, Lobzang, Satbir, Amoldeep, Rasjeet, Harkaran, Kasim Ikram, Siranpreet, Satwinder, Jasdeep, Rishav and Amrit (all white to yellow) from Shivalik Public School).

Cricket tourney

St John’s High School, Sector 26, outplayed St Kabir’s School, Sector 26, by five wickets, while Edmund Rice-26 defeated YPS, SAS Nagar, by 26 runs in the under-12 section of the second St John’s Challenger Cricket Trophy-2001. In the under-14 section, St John’s High School, Sector 26, got the better of YPS, SAS Nagar, by nine wickets.

Cricket India’s national game!
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, December 26
When a 12-year-old school-boy was asked the other day during the cricket Test match between India and England at SAS Nagar if he knew what was India’s national game, the boy said, “Just see how many persons have come to watch the match. What else could be our national game, but cricket.” Like this boy, there are many cricket fans who are unaware that hockey is our national game.

Cricket now more runs on commercial lines than any other games. Even if the Indian cricket team win or lose, but one thing is sure that cricketers in India worshiped like any deity. These die-hard cricket fans just eat, drink and sleep with cricket in India. As one sport critics the other day said at the PCA stadium, SAS Nagar, that there should be some mantra devised for these virtual ‘semi-gods’ of Indian sport. He quoted: ‘Om Sachin namah....Om Saurava namah...’ to fit in best to adore Sachin Tandulkar, Saurav Ganguly, the heartthrob of every cricket lover.

But why all this astounding love only for cricket which was played by not more than 10 to 12 countries of the world. When this reporter asked the same fellow, if he does not like cricket, then why he had come to watch. He said just to enjoy the glamour world of cricket.

Even on the last day one could witnessed a large number of people waiting with anxious looks just to have glimpse of their beloved stars.

Over the years the cricket has acquired the status of a full-fledged industry. The last year 2000 was bad for cricketing world when the match-fixing issue busted, thus giving bad name to the corporate sector under whose agreement these tainted cricketers were associated. The cola giants in their TV commercials even switched to film stars during those days thus leaving in astray the top cricketers.

Many of those cricket stars whose name was allegedly involved with the scandal were removed from print media advertisements and television commercials by the industry.

But now after more than one-and-half-year, when the scandal was at a low ebb, the cricket has turned into a full-fledged enterprise. It is ruled by big money.

Interestingly, a TV news channel in its news bulletin daily gives all sports news under different heads while separate time for cricket. The glorious wins in other sports like hockey, badminton, tennis and chess gets eclipsed even with just one win in any Test match by Indian cricketers.