AITA Series
Raghav, Jaspreet steal the thunder
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15
Raghav Singhal of Chandigarh defeated Suraj Beniwal in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) in the boys’ under-16 final of the AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament at the centre court of the CLTA stadium, Sector 10, here today.

In the final played in the afternoon due to rain, Suraj Beniwal committed a number of unforced errors to give an edge to the opponent.

The final lasted one hour and 35 minutes.

On the adjacent court, top seed local Nischay Rawal defeated Ranjeet Singh of the CLTA 6-4, 6-3 in the boys’ under-12 singles final.

Top seed Jaspreet Kaur of Harvest Tennis Academy of Jassowal (Ludhiana) and student of Government Senior Secondary School, won the girls’ under-16 singles crown by beating Rajvir Kaur, studying in St Xavier’s School-44, Chandigarh, 6-4, 6-0.

Suraj Beniwal (Haryana) and Manoj Kumar (Chandigarh) won the boys’ under-16 doubles title by beating the local duo of Nischay Rawal and Srijjan Uppal in straight sets (6-4, 6-2).

Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association secretary M. Ramsekhar distributed the prizes.

The results (all finals): Boys’ under-12 singles: Nischay Rawal (Chd) b Ranjeet Singh (Chd) 6-4, 6-3.

Boys’ under-16 singles: Raghav Singhal (Chd) b Suraj Beniwal (Har) 6-3, 6-2.

Girls’ under-16 singles: Jaspreet Kaur (Punjab) b Rajvir Kaur (Chd) 6-4, 6-0.

Boys’ under-16 doubles: Suraj Beniwal (Har) and Manoj Kumar (Chd) b Nischay Rawal and Srijjan Uppal (Chd) 6-4, 6-2.

Inter-District Cricket
Vijay fashions Panchkula win
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 15
Superb bowling display by medium-pacer Vijay Kumar enabled Panchkula district register a 23-run win over Bhiwani and enter the last-four stage of the league phase of the Haryana State Inter-District (under-19) Cricket Championship.

The championship is being played at Bhiwani.

Vijay ripped through the batting lineup of Bhiwani with the figures of 7-0-24-7. He was supported by Bhupinder Dhiman who claimed 2 for 15.

Winning the toss, Panchkula decided to bat first but lost top four batsmen with just 20 runs on the board. Shanker Nair played a patient knock of 49 n.o. off 78 balls.

Vijay Kumar’s quick fire 18 runs off just 12 balls helped the score reach three figures as the Panchkula innings came to an end at 101 in 32.4 overs.

Pawan claimed three for 14 runs whereas Deepak Chaudhary scalped three for 28 runs and Amit Kumar chipped in with 2 for 12.

Chasing a modest total of 102 to win, Bhupinder Dhiman got the wicket of Hitesth on the very first ball.

Pawan Sharma too fell two balls later and at the end of first over the hosts were tottering at two wickets without even a single run on the board.

Soon, Bhiwani were seven down for just 22 runs.

Deepak Chaudhary and Vinit Rathi then took the scoreboard to 46. Bhiwani were bowled out for 79 runs with just one batsman reaching the double figures.

Panchkula won the match by 23 runs to enter the last-four stage. The winners will play in the league phase starting June 17.

Brief scores: Panchkula: 101 all out in 32.4 overs (Shanker Nair 49 n.o, Rajat Taneja 11, Vijay Kumar 18; Pawan 3 for 14, Deepak Chaudhary 3 for 28, Amit Kumar 2 for 12).

Bhiwani: 79 all out in 19.3 overs (Deepak Chaudhary 17; Vijay Kumar 7 for 24, Bhupinder Dhiman 
2 for 15).

Olympic bhavan to come up in Mohali

Mohali, June 15
The Punjab government has given its nod to the construction of Punjab Olympic Bhavan on a piece of land opposite the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Phase 9 here.

This was decided at a meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with a delegation of the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) led by its president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa consisting senior vice-president R.S. Gill, secretary-general Raja K.S. Sidhu, treasurer P.S. Virk, life presidents M.S. Bhullar, Umrao Singh, P.S. Kumodan and Dr Parmar.

Other present were education minister Upinderjit Kaur, sports minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, sports secretary R.P.S. Pawar. A conference hall for meetings, museum-cum-hall of fame, audio-video sports library, multi-gym, outdoor sports activities and suites for the stay of visiting sports dignitaries will be constructed in the bhavan. — TNS

Camp for boys
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 15
A 10-day preparatory coaching camp for under-15 boys will be held at the PCA stadium from June 17 to 26.

As many as 43 boys have been selected from the inter-district matches held earlier.

The camp will be conducted under the supervision of coaching committee chairman D.P. Azad.

Azad will be assisted by former Ranji players Arun Bedi, Sukhvinder Tinku and Rajeev Kumar.

Dr T. Pawan Kumar and physical trainer Maninder Kumar will look after the physiotherapy aspect.

Edmund Rice Trophy
2 matches washed out
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15
Points were equally distributed among all teams as today’s matches of the Edmund Rice Challenger Trophy, currently under way at St John’s ground, Sector 26, were washed out due to rain.

The two match washed out today were between ERCA and DP Azad Academy, and between Shivalik Public and MCM Blues.

Erring liquor contractors nailed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15
The UT excise department is on a challaning spree. Getting tough with liquor contractors who sell liquor below the minimum retail price, the department has found 29 erring contractors. Only last evening, the licence of a shop in Sector 31 was suspended for seven days after being caught for the second time.

Despite repeated warnings, certain contractors have been selling liquor below the MRP. There have been complaints that certain liquor contractors have lowered the prices of different brands of whisky to woo customers, said sources in the excise department.

Since April 1, 2007, at least 43 licensees have been challaned till date.

These include violations like display boards of liquor companies, not maintaining proper records and allowing ‘unapproved’ employees to sell liquor at the counters.

The sources said the retailers had been categorically told not to offer popular brands of whisky at prices below the MRP, as fixed by the department.

If a customer opted to buy a case of 12 bottles, the discount offered at times was up to 30 per cent. “Even the department does not object to the trend of retailers charging for 10 bottles for a case of 12 bottles,” says a contractor. The sources said the department had allowed a margin of around 40 per cent to the retailers.

However, due to a number of new entrants, the profit margin was being lowered to boost sales. It could also result in liquor contractors lifting stocks from another and still make profit, said a contractor.