Chandigarh, June 23
Snoring is actually an ailment and half of the population above the age of 25 in the world is suffering from it. This was stated by Dr Iqbal Singh Dhillon, who held a 10-day orientation course at Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Sector 15, here.

Dr Dhillon, former director and head of the department, youth welfare, Panjab University, Chandigarh, has written a book titled ‘Vitory Over Snoring’, describing the problem of snoring.

“I am feeling fully cured after attending the orientation programme, which concluded yesterday,” said Ratan Singh, a resident of Sector 37, adding that “my snoring was a nuisance for my family.”

Shishpal, another participant from Sector 7, Panchkula, said he was feeling relieved of the problem to some extent.

B.B. Singh, a resident of Sector 10, Chandigarh, who uses Bi PAP, a machine to control snoring, also claimed to benefit from the programme.

“I could not attend the orientation programme completely, but still found it effective,” he said.

The traditional approach towards analysing and tackling the ailment of snoring was based chiefly on the belief that sound of snoring was produced when some of organs in the mouth like velum, uvula and back of the tongue created an obstruction in the air passage while one breathed during sleep, said Dr Dhillon.

But the real cause of snoring lay in the lungs and not the throat, he said.

“Snoring actually takes place when muscles of the diaphragm and the chest area around the lungs go dormant during sleep, and, therefore, the lungs fail to generate normal respiration,” said Dr Dhillon.

Chandigarh, June 23
Guru Nanak Public School Academy defeated LIC XI by 24 runs in the semifinal of the Hot Weather Cricket Tournament, being organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department, at the cricket stadium, Sector 16, here today.

GNPS Academy won the toss and elected to bat first. Punjab Ranji player opener Uday Kaul (82) and skipper Bhalla opened the innings with a 35-run partnership.

Bhalla was run out after contributing just 11 runs. Seven runs later, Gourav Gupta was bowled by Amitoj Singh (1 for 28).

Uday Kaul and rookie Bipul Sharma (47) propped the innings with a 99-run partnership for the third wicket.

Amit Kakaria broke the partnership when he trapped Uday Kaul for a stump out when the score read 141. Kaul faced 87 deliveries and hit six boundaries.

After the addition of 12 more runs, Bipul also departed. His knock contained one six and one four in 58 deliveries.

GNPS Academy made 186 for 6 in a rain-curtailed 32-over-a-side semifinal. LIC XI’s Amit Kakaria got two wickets for 55 runs.

Needing 187 for victory, LIC were given a flying start by openers Rakesh Renni (32, 7x4s) and Gurinder Saini (41) who scored 78 runs for the first wicket. Renni was the first to go, caught by substitute Aman of Anil Siyag. Two runs later, Saini also returned to the pavilion as the score read 80.

His knock of 41 was studded with four fours and two sixes in 33 deliveries.

Thereafter, their wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Only Gajinder Singh played a breezy knock of 30, which came in 26 balls with two fours. LIC’s innings terminated at 162 in 29.4 overs.

Left-arm spinner Naresh Gogiayan (3 for 20) and leg-spinner Karanveer (3 for 42) were instrumental in the GNPS Academy win.

Siddharath Kaul, Anil Siyag and Sumit got one wicket each for 29, 23 and 24 runs, respectively. The final will be played on June 27.

Brief scores: Guru Nanak Public School Academy: 186 for 6 in 32 overs (Uday Kaul 82, Vishwas Bipul Sharma 47; Sumit Diman not out 11, Amit Kakaria 2 for 55).

LIC XI: 162 all out in 29.4 overs (Rakesh Renni 32, Gurinder Saini 41, Gajinder 30, Rajiv not out (10); Naresh Gogian 3 for 20, Karanveer 3 for 42.

Chandigarh, June 23
“I work on all three important Ss of the game - speed, stamina and skill - because badminton these days is a power game,” said Oscar Bansal, a Chandigarh badminton player. Oscar and his coach Surinder Mahajan were honoured by the Chandigarh Badminton Association at a function, held here, yesterday.

Oscar has made the city proud by getting selected to the under-19 Indian Junior Badminton team, which will participate in international championships in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand from July 24 to August 19. Oscar has yet to join the preparatory camp being conducted at Cochin from June 25.

This talent was spotted by famous national badminton coach Surinder Mahajan of Chandigarh. “I noticed a potential and spark in the boy and I knew that he would be a national-level player. He will definitely come out with flying colours in the forthcoming tournament,” opined Mahajan.

Oscar, a bright student of Vivek High School, Sector 38, here, had secured 84.5 per cent marks in the recently announced CBSE Class XII examination results. He was also a school captain.

Oscar is also one of the probables for the coming Commonwealth Games 2010. The exposure as member of the junior badminton team will give him more confidence and the Chandigarh Badminton Association is certain that he will get a berth in the team for the Commonwealth Games as well.

Oscar has been Chandigarh’s mini, sub-junior and junior champion for the last many years. Earlier, he had won the All-India title at Bihar. He has also been runner-up of the All-India Junior Championship twice and also secured the third position in the National Championship.

Founder-chairman of the Chandigarh Badminton Association D.K. Mukherjee, president M.C. Sethi and general secretary T.P.S. Puri highlighted the achievements of Oscar and his coach Surinder Mahajan.

Chandigarh, June 23
Two CLTA-10 trainees Vijayant Malik and Sunil Kumar Sipaeya are among 20 probables that have been identified for support by the All-India Tennis Federation for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010, Asian Games and the Olympic Games.

On the recommendation of the CLTA, the AITA has decided to fund Vijayant Malik up to Rs 5 lakh from April 2007 to March 31, 2008.

Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association president Rajan Kashyap thanked AITA secretary-general Anil Khanna for honouring recommendations for support to Vijayant. Impressed with Vijayant’s performance, Kashyap had sought support from the AITA, the Government of India and other sponsors for 16-year-old Vijayant.

In a letter to Anil Khanna, Kashyap had said Vijayant, who hails from Panipat in Haryana, had been training with the CLTA for the past four to five years.

A member of the Indian Junior Davis Cup under-16 team, Vijayant had finished runner-up to third seed Alexey Tikhonov in the ITF Junior World Ranking (Grade 3) Tennis Tournament held in Chandigarh in January.

"Vijayant is clearly one of India's future champions. In order to encourage him, we should give him maximum support for training as well as participation in international tournaments in India and abroad," wrote Kashyap.

Kashyap said the AITA had also informed him that Sunil Kumar Sipaeya had also been shortlisted among the probables for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Another CLTA product Sanam K. Singh could have also been among the Indian probables. However, Sanam's name was not included as he had sought admission in the US.

It may be mentioned that Sunil Kumar and Vijayant Malik are trainees of the CLTA Rural Academy, popularly known as CHART. 
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Development Advisory Committee of the AITA will spend around Rs 15 crore annually to support tournaments, adoption of tennis players, coaching camps, physical trainers, visiting teams and sports medical facilities, etc. The committee had met under the chairmanship of Jaidip Mukerjea with Akhtar Ali, Nandan Bal, T. Chandrasekaran and Lt Col Ranbir Chauhan with an eye on winning medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2010 Asian Games and Olympics. — TNS 

Chandigarh, June 23
He played cricket for over two years, but his passion for individual sports made him turn to tennis.

And the decision turned out to be good for Dig Vijay Singh (12) as he bagged nine titles in 2006 and six this year. He holds the 11th rank in the AITA’s under-12 category.

Dig Vijay starts his practice at 6 am and continues up until 11 am everyday.

Dedicated and passionate about the sport, he aims to be a grand slam champion one day.

Born in Nayagaon and a student of Chandigarh Baptist School, Sector 45, he has cornered glory many a time on court.

In spite of his focus on sports, he fared well in Class VI as well. “I missed school frequently but I studied hard during the examination days”, he quips.

The budding champion also plays basketball, football and goes for a swim to keep fit and build up stamina.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are his role models. His father is also passionate about his children’s sports career. Dig Vijay’s sister is also a tennis player and has made it to the top 100 in under-16 category.

“He is very aggressive and has good footwork. He moves well in the court,” said Lalit, his coach. He is diet conscious and never takes junk food, he adds.

“My son is crazy about video games and tennis. Sometimes his father gets angry when he fails to live up to his expectations in a game. Then I have to step in and cool down things,” said Rekha Naruka, his mother.

Dig Vijay beat Vijay Bhardwaj of Noida in under-16 super series and Manpreet Chawla of Delhi, a seeded player, in the under-16 champion series.

This has helped him secure 127th rank in under-14 and 254th rank in under-16 championship.

He has toured all over the country and played at places like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Ahemdabad.

“We have always encouraged sports at home,” said V.S. Naruka, his father who is a businessman.

“The game is expensive and I feel it will get harder for me to spend on his coaching especially now when he needs foreign exposure,” he laments.

Chandigarh, June 23
The Chandigarh administration is upbeat over the hosting of an international cricket match after a gap of 14 years. Top brass of the administration have assured Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) general secretary Ranbir Singh Mahendra that all the required facilities for the forthcoming match would be provided.

Mahendra visited the city on Wednesday to meet the finance secretary, the chief engineer (UT) and the director public relations and work out further modalities.

Mahendra told Chandigarh Tribune that assurances have been given to him and everything would be ready in time for the return of big cricket to the city. “We have sought a helping hand from the Punjab Cricket Association as well,” he said.

“We have only 113 days left as the match is to be held on October 8. All the roads and roundabouts of the city need repairs. It will be done as soon as possible. This is a prestigious international event and we are ready to make it successful,” said chief engineer V.K. Bhardwaj. “To impress the Australian team, the ‘City Beautiful’ will be decorated as a bride during the event,” added Bhardwaj.

Director public relations Vivek Attray said, “We are going to install floodlights at the Sector-16 stadium, even though the match will be only a day match. We do not want to take any chances.

“The stadium has been recently renovated and all the basic facilities have been upgraded. It may further cost us Rs 25 lakh. It has also been decided to install an electronic score board,” Attray added.

Finance secretary-cum-secretary sports S.K. Sandhu assured Mahendra that the administration would take all efforts to make the India-Australia one-day match a success.