Ludhiana, August 28
The RCF sports wing, Kapurthala, and the Ludhiana sports wing clinched titles in the boys and girls sections, respectively, in the Punjab School Wings Hockey Tournament organised jointly by the Punjab School Education Board and the Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club which concluded at Jarkhar, near here, yesterday. The RCF sports wing boys outplayed the Tarkhanbadh sports wing, Moga, 1-0 while Ludhiana eves prevailed over the Tarkhanbadh sports wing 2-1.

In the girl’s final, the Tarkhanbadh wing of Moga fought valiantly against the Ludhiana sports wing. However, they lost it 1-2. The Ludhiana wing went ahead in the 11th minute through a goal scored by Lakshmi. In the 22nd minute, Tarkhanbadh eves restored parity through Seema Rani.

After changing ends, players of both teams played attacking hockey and stormed each other’s territory time and again. Lakshmi struck again in the 49th minute which sealed Tarkhanbadh fate 2-1.

In the boy’s final, the RCF sports wing, Kapurthala, drew the first blood in the 15th minute when Ranjit Singh sounded the board. They managed to hang onto the lead till the long hooter.

Hira Singh Gabria, Punjab minister, gave away prizes to the winners. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the state government had chalked out a programme to provide jobs to outstanding sportspersons. He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the extension of the Jarkhar stadium.

The minister said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had assured in providing an astro turf for the Jarkhar stadium so that hockey could regain its lost glory.

Officials of the education department and office-bearers of the organising club were present on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, August 28
Sixteen teams - 10 from the last National Football League first division and six from the second division league — will be seen in action during the 29th Federation Cup Football Tournament slated to be held here at Guru Nanak Stadium from September 4 to 15.

Giving this information at a press conference here last evening, Arjuna awardee Inder Singh, honorary secretary, Punjab Football Association, said in the inaugural match, hosts JCT will take on the Vasco Sports Club of Goa on September 4 while holders Mohun Bagan will clash with ONGC on September 6.

He said a number of committees had been formed to conduct the tournament successfully.

For the practice, grounds at Punjab Agricultural University and Polytechnic Institute had been booked. All matches would be telecast live by Zee Sports.

The winner of the Federation Cup will qualify for the 2008 AFC Asia’s second-tier club competition. The total prize money for the tournament is Rs 20 lakh. The winners will pocket Rs 10 lakh while the runners-up will take away Rs 6 lakh. The two semi-finalists will get Rs 1 lakh each.

Gianinder Singh Sandhu, District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, Teja Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, Shivtar Singh Bajwa, vice-president, Punjab Football Association, Tara Singh Lotey, president, Ludhiana District Football Association, Sukhwinder Singh, former national football coach, and Jaspal Singh, senior football coach, sports department, Punjab, were among those who attended the conference.