Ludhiana, November 25
The two-day annual meet of the Indian Psychiatric Society, Punjab and Chandigarh branch, started here today.

The meet has been organised by Dr Rajeev Gupta, a city based psychiatrist. Over 100 psychiatrists from Punjab and Chandigarh would be attending the meet.

Dr Gupta said during the annual meet, the focus would be on the burning issues in psychiatry like problems of adolescence, psychological illnesses in the elderly, drug addiction, stress and heart illness and general psychiatry.

Today's session was inaugurated by Dr Daljit Singh, Principal Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. Dr Singh talked about the importance of identifying and treating psychological ailments in clinical practice at an easily stage. 

He emphasised the role of stress and strain in modern life which created vast number of stress-related illnesses. He also stressed the need of counselling for managing many psychological problems. 

Dr G.S.Wander, Chief Cardiologist of Hero DMC Heart Centre, gave a talk on - 'Stress and heart illness'. According to him, rising level of stress was playing a significant role in increasing the number of cases of high blood pressure and heart illness.

According to him, stress had started affecting the life of younger people also. He advised the psychiatrists to focus on positive mental health

A panel discussion was held on 'Cruelty towards psychiatric patients'. Various panelists discussed about violence, cruelty and neglect of psychiatric patients by the community and stressed the need of increasing the health education of the masses to reduce stigma and neglect of these patents.

The panel discussion was chaired by Dr.B.L.Goyal from Amritsar and Dr Anil Malhotra from the PGI, Chandigarh.

Ludhiana, November 25
The BCM Arya Senior Secondary School students registered victories in the boys as well as girls’ section on the first day of the first Ludhiana Maple Leaf Basketball League being played at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. 

In the boys’ section, BCM school players outplayed S S School, Khanna, 19-11 while the girls had to fight it tooth and nail before emerging winners 10-9 against Gujjar Khan School.

In other matches (boys), Ashish Club defeated Vipan Club 28-20, KVM Senior Secondary School outclassed Jagdeep Club 16-9 and Rajiv Puri Club outnumbered Guru Nanak International Public School 24-17. In the girls section, Government Multipurpose School beat Gymkhana Club 39-24.

Earlier, Ms Kamalpreet Kaur, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana inaugurated the league in which eight teams are taking part.

Mr Gurpreet Singh Toor and Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, president and general secretary, respectively of the Ludhiana District Basketball Association, Mr Balkar Signh Brar, Mr Vijay Chopra, Mr Rajiner Sharma, Mr Manmohan and Mr Pawan Sharma were also present at the inaugural function.

Ludhiana, November 25
Nine teams in the u-19-year category and four in the u-14-year section have confirmed their participation in the inaugural edition of the Challenger Trophy Cricket Tournament to be organised by the Shivam Cricket Academy, in association with the Ludhiana Bhalai Manch, in the city from November 27 to December 2.

According to Mr Nirmal Kanda, general secretary, Ludhiana Bhalai Manch, the tournament would be played on knock-out basis and matches would be of twenty overs each side. The winners would be given attractive trophies.

The teams which will take part in this tournament include (u-14): Green Land Senior Secondary School, Shivam Cricket Academy, Sun Rise Cricket Club and Bharat Box Factory XI; (u-19): Sun Rise Cricket Club, Bharat Box Factory XI, Bachan Singh Academy, Shivam Academy, Ramgariha Senior Secondary School and Lions Club XI.