Chandigarh, January 17
As many as 102 persons donated blood at a camp organised by the A. G. Punjab Blood Donor’s Society at the new office of Mr R. P. Singh, Principal A. G. (Audit), Punjab, in Sector 17, here today. The camp was conducted with the assistance of the Blood Transfusion Department, PGI. Mr Singh inaugurated the camp and appreciated the donors for participating in the noble cause. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 17
A Jalandhar-based intra-peritoneal dialysis fluid manufacturing industrial unit heaved a sigh of relief, with the Food and Drug Laboratory, Sector 11, submitting favourable reports on five fluid samples to the UT Health Department here today.

According to Mr Gurdeep Singh, drug inspector, the laboratory sent five test reports, confirming no fungus inside bottles of the dialysis and other fluids manufactured by the company.

Reports of certain other samples were expected in a day or two, he stated.

The appearance of a fungus-infested intra-peritoneal dialysis fluid at the CCU of the PGI had raised eyebrows.

The UT Health Department had taken samples of fluids manufactured by the company and restricted the sale of its products in the city.

Chandigarh, January 17
Tanvi Bhargava, an 11-year-old girl of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26 and 14-year-old Sultan Singh of St Stephen’s School-45, were adjudged the best girl rider and best boy rider, respectively in the inter-school horse riding competition. The competition was organised for the first time by St John's-26 and the Chandigarh Horse Riders Society (CHRS) at St John's High School ground, here today.

The overall running trophy was bagged by St John's High School whose riders won 22 medals and Strawberry Fields World School finished a close second. The captain, Pukhraj Jeji, a terrific rider, collected the trophy on behalf of the school. As many as 53 participants from various schools of the city took part in the 27 events that were held.

Tanvi bagged two gold medals, one each in the trotting and jumping event, and another silver medal in pole bending. Elated over her success, Tanvi, said, “I am on ‘top of the world’ as this is my first medal-winning event. The competition was tough but my horse ‘Lilly’ didn’t let me down.” Earlier, Tanvi, who took to horse riding about two and half years back, had participated in two national horse riding events held at the TA grounds, Mani Majra, in March and November of 2005.

Sultan Singh won a silver medal in jumping and three bronze, one each in hack, ball and bucket race and pole bending events. “There was not much competition, I suppose. But it was really a thrill to be part of the tournament. My lucky horse, ‘Louis Shefir’, made me feel like a ‘maharaja’. I aim to represent our country in the International Equestrian meet one day”.

Pukhraj, a 13-year-old, class 8 th student of St John, who won a bronze in jumping and silver in hack has his own view. “I think it is 80 per cent the horse’s ability and 20 per cent is the rider’s. It is just thrilling to watch these animals perform.”

“I like the speed at which a horse can gallop. It is thrilling,” said 12-year-old Jayanti Jha, a Class 7 student of Sacred Heart-26. ‘This is my first ever win’, she said, just after winning a silver medal in the horse jumping event.

“Siting astride a galloping horse makes me feel proud. Lilly and Shehzadi are my lucky horses. I got a gold medal on ‘Lilly’ and a bronze on ‘Shehzadi’,” quips 10- year- old St Johanian, Rishab Jha, who grabbed one gold in the trotting event and a bronze in the pole bending event.

“I won two bronze medals in the jumping and trotting events on my lucky horse named ‘Winning Melody’, said nine-year-old Kartik. “I also won a silver in trotting”, piped 10-year-old Aarushi Lal, who took to riding about six months ago after seeing horses gallop at a show. “The horse is a very handsome and royal animal,” he added.

Chandigarh, January 17
The final encounter of Chaudhary Vishnu Pal Singh Memorial 9 -Ball Open Prize Money tournament saw two of the finest cueists- Gagandeep Makkar and Sumit Talwarin an absorbing pool contest. The tournament concluded at Sector 22 Chandigarh Billiards Coaching Centre, here, today.

The winner Gagandeep displayed the best of his skill and registered a 9-6 victory over seed No 1 Sumit Talwar. Gagandeep dominated from the initial stages of the encounter and grabbed first 2 racks. Smitten by this lead, Sumit bounced back into the match still the score line being 5-3 in favour of Gagandeep after 8 racks. After that , the match saw many swirls but eventually Gagandeep won the match. The final score stood at 9-6.

Despite this loss, Sumit eventually is placed at No 1 due to high margin wins against other opponents in the final league. Gagandeep’s win over Sumit made his tally to +6 points and beating Sameer Bhalla by 1 rack enabled him to grab the second place. However, Sameer Bhalla had a tally of +5 points after all the encounters. 

Chandigarh, January 17
As many as four matches will be played on the first day of the inaugural Inter-School Adviser's Cup Limited Overs Cricket Tournament for Boys (Under-19) being conducted by the Chandigarh Sports Department tomorrow.

Releasing the fixtures here today, Joint Director, Sports, Dr JPS Sidhu, said that two matches would be played at DAV Senior Secondary School ground in Sector 8 and two at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium. Chandigarh Finance-cum-Secretary, Sports, S K Sandhu, will inaugurate the tournament at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium at 9.30 a.m.

At DAVSSS-8 ground Nav Bal Niketan will meet Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, at 8.30 a.m. and DAVSSS-8 A are pitted against Government Model Senior Secondary School-27 at 12.30 p.m.

At the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, last-minute replacement DAVSSS-8 C XI have been drawn against DAV School-15 at 8.30 am, while Government Model Senior Secondary School-23 will face Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, at 12.30 p.m.

Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, pulled out of the tournament at the last moment and the organisers substituted them with yet another DAVSSS-8 team-'C'. The number of overs has been reduced to 25-a-side to 30-a-side.