Chandigarh, July 4
While the first week of the current month will be observed as cleanliness week, the entire month will be observed as cleanliness month in Chandigarh. As part of it, UT home-cum-health secretary Krishna Mohan will flag off a cycle rally for awareness about prevention and control of dengue and chikungunya on Friday.

This was stated at a meeting of senior medical officers and medical officers of various dispensaries, poly clinics, the block hospital and CHCs organised by the Directorate of National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Chandigarh, here today. The meeting was organised to sensitise them about various steps to be taken the for prevention and control of dengue and chikungunya.

The assistant director, health (malaria)-cum-state surveillance officer, Chandigarh, Dr R.K. Sharma, said as per guidelines of the centre, awareness activities were to be carried out by SMOs, MOs in their respective areas.

Doctors in charge of dispensaries were asked to organise special meetings through sanitary inspectors with different sections of society like members of sector welfare associations, voluntary agencies, elected members, members of the Nehru Yuva Kendra and other self-help groups.

The assistance and collaboration of sarpanches, panches and other departments such as rural development, PRI, social welfare, engineering and railway would also be sought, said Dr Sharma.

Anti-malaria officer-cum-state nodal officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, H.C. Gera said various activities would be undertaken during July which was being observed as anti-dengue month.

Anti-dengue camps would be held on July 6, 13, 24 and 31 at Hallo Majra, Aganwadi Centre, Bapu Dham, Sector 26, the main market, Indira Colony and Maloya, respectively.

Chandigarh, July 4
A swashbuckling knock of 174 runs off 127 balls by Sumit Dhawan enabled the hosts, DAV Academy, to thrash the visiting Lahore Schools XI team by 188 runs in the opening match of the Indo-Pak Brotherhood Cup (u-15), being played at the DAV Senior Secondary School grounds, Sector 8, here today.

Batting first, the hosts piled up 362 for 4 in 45 overs. Displaying top-class batting skills, Dhawan hit a splendid century (174) in just 127 balls. Fours and sixes virtually rained during his marathon innings. He was well supported by Vipul Chadha, who also made another century 
(104 in 89 balls). All the bowlers from the visiting team seemed helpless as the duo didn’t give them any chance to stop the flow of runs.

The other notable contributor was Vaibhav with his 41 runs off 38 balls.

For Pakistan, Rohit Ali, Adil, Kamaran and Sikandar took one wicket each.

Chasing the mammoth target of 363 runs, the visitors were bundled out for 175 runs in 32.2 overs. Zishan and Shah Rukh tried to salvage the team with their good knocks. Shah Rukh played a patient innings of 42 whereas Zishan hit 43 off 26 balls.

The other batsmen who provided some respite to the team were Adil, Rohil Ali and Mudassar. The trio contributed 17 runs each.

For DAV Anirudh was the maximum wicket-taker, snapping three wickets. Vaibhav claimed two wickets whereas Gaurav, Karan Goel took one wicket each.

Sumit Dhawan, who was declared the man of the match, got a trophy from CCA secretary Mohinder Singh, who was the chief guest.

Brief scores:

DAV: 362 for 4 in 45 overs (Sumit Dhawan 174, Vipul Chadha 104, Vaibhav 41);

Lahore: 175 all out in 32.2 overs (Shah Rukh 42, Zishan 43, Adil 17, Rohil Ali 17, Mudassar 17).

Chandigarh, July 4
Their excitement knew no bounds when they heard that the face they see so often on the small screen back in their country Pakistan is in the city for a film shooting.

‘Unbelievable’ was the only word the young cricketers and their coach Mohammad Shahzad Qureshi could utter on hearing that Bollywood star Preity Zinta was in the city for the shooting of ‘Mera Bharat Mahaan’.

“We hardly miss any of her films. Although Indian movies are not shown in theatres in Pakistan, we see the movies of our favourite stars on DVDs and VCDs. Seeing her in person will be a dream come true,” said excited Mohammad Ahmed Chaudhary, Awais Zarardar and Shah Rukh Ali Khan.

The guests from across the border are in the city to play a Friendship Series with budding cricketers of the DAV Cricket Academy, Sector 8, here.

Impressed with the Indians, the Pakistani cricketers are all praise for the country’s people. “We found the country and the people here exactly as we had thought they would be,” said Akir Khalid, a Class VIII student of Lahore Grammer School.

Three-wheeled tempos and motorbikes and two-wheelers being ridden by girls here have interested them. “In our country, we do not see a lady driving a two-wheeler. The beautiful temples, big shopping malls, magnificent theatres and fashion trends are also new to us,” said Moeez Ali Khan.

Apart from this, Indian dishes like spicy ‘chana-bhatura’, ‘shahi paneer’, ‘kheer’ and ‘spongy rasgulla’ have excited these young sportspersons. “I will try to get the recipes of these dishes so that my family can also have taste them,” said Adil Sardar.

Hamad Zaffar and Zishaan want to shop from the city. “I will buy a pair of jeans of the latest fashion from the city,” said Zishaan with a twinkle in his eyes.

This is the maiden visit for most of the guests. “Although our first aim is to play cricket, we also want to make new friends and spread the message of brotherhood,” said Vikas Ahmad Dar, a Class IX student of Lahore’s Park Milat High School.

Chandigarh, July 4
This lad is virtually on a roll to success. Meet Arshdeep, a 17-year-old Class XII student of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 41, Chandigarh.

“Right from the beginning, I was not attracted to toys or petty street games. I just wanted to make a name in some sport. For team games like cricket, hockey or football, you need a complete set of players. But in this sport, you can practice on your own; whenever you find the time and wherever you want,” Arshdeep said.

Since 2002, there has rarely been an occasion when Arshdeep went home empty-handed. At the state level, he grabbed silver during the 14th Punjab Open Roller Skating Championship held at Patiala in November 2002.

At the 50th Punjab School Games and the zonal inter-school tournament, Arshdeep won two gold medals.

Now, the young wants to make his presence felt in the forthcoming CBSE National Roller Skating Championship.

Coach Navdeep Singh is all praise for him. “Arshdeep’s versatile attitude is his asset. He is proficient in the three Ss - Speed, Stamina and Skill,” Navdeep said.

But Arshdeep’s excitement of being victorious in the sport is dampened by the lacklustre attitude of the administration here. “People here take it as a leisure sport and do not understand that skating is a very technical game. It also involves accurate speed, where one has to make decisions in the fraction of a second. The moment you lose your concentration, the results are disastrous,” explains Arshdeep.

“I know there is no future for skating in our country, but I believe this will change with time,” signs off Arshdeep hopefully.

Panchkula, July 4
The district administration finally sealed the chemist shop running from the premises of General Hospital, Sector 6, here today. SDM Varinder Dahiya, who headed the team, said the chemist was continuing to sell medicine, despite the fact that his contract was over.

The shop had been at the centre of controversy for long, first for the ongoing court case seeking extension of tenure and for functioning without a drug licence.