Ludhiana, September 10
The department of transfusion medicine at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in collaboration with the National Consumer Awareness Group, Jagraon, and the JCI, Raikot, organised two voluntary blood donation camps in this district yesterday. At least 90 volunteers came forward to donate the blood.

Professor and head, department of transfusion medicine, DMCH, Amarjit Kaur, was the motivating force behind the voluntary blood donation programme in the entire region. All blood donors pledged to donate blood regularly.

According to Amarjit Kaur, the major concern of the department was to arrange adequate leuco-reduced blood for thalassemic children, patients and for a few other conditions where the patient’s life was solely dependent on blood or blood components. This could only be made possible if people, especially youngsters, come forward to donate blood, she added.

Ludhiana, September 10
Bikram Singh Majithia, information and public relations minister, Punjab, has stated that the state government had chalked out a plan for the promotion of sports, under which funds amounting to Rs 2 crore would be spent on purchasing sport equipment and the upkeep of stadiums in the state.

The minister was addressing a rural gathering at the concluding day function of a sports tournament organised by Guru Nanak Dev Sports Club and the gram panchayat at Kot Gangu Rai, 25 km from here, today.

Elaborating the plan, he said to provide international level training facilities, 1,600 sports wings would be set up during the year.

He said budding players would be selected at the primary-school level and continuous coaching would be provided in the sports academies to nurture them as national and international level players.

He said the government would fulfill its promise to create more employment opportunities to the youth and it had decided to set up skill development centres in all parts of the state where training would be provided to enable them to get jobs. He said the state government would celebrate the birth centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on September 28 at Amritsar.

Groups of hundreds of youths dressed as Bhagat Singh would converge at Jalianwala Bagh, where they would be received by CM Parkash Singh Badal.

Appreciating the contribution of the rural sports clubs in organising the tournament to divert the activities of the youths towards sports, he said these clubs were playing a vital role in mobilising the youth away from drugs and intoxicants.

The minister announced that water supply and sanitation scheme, costing about Rs 27.10 lakh, would be executed in the village.

He also announced grants of Rs 2 lakh out of his discretionary fund and Rs 2 lakh out of the MPLAD.

Among others who addressed the function included Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal , SAD general secretary, Harish Rai Dhanda, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, MP, and Santa Singh Umedepuri, district president of the SAD.

Ludhiana, September 10
Harmanpreet Kaur of Ferozepur gave a fine all-round performance (3 for 39 and 57 n.o) in the first match of the Punjab State Inter -District Women's Cricket Tournament being played here at the Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, between Ludhiana and Ferozepur.

In reply to Ludhiana's first innings total of 158 all out, Ferozepur were 95 for 6 after 37 overs.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. Their innings folded at 158 runs in 64.2 overs. Rajinder Kaur scored 53 runs with the help of five boundaries while Amandeep Kaur contributed 37 runs.

Other notable scorers were Sukhwinder Kaur and Nidhi who made 19 and 18 runs, respectively. Ferozepur bowlers conceded 24 extras.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Jaideep of Ferozepur took three wickets each for 39 and 42 runs, respectively.

Ferozepur were 95 for six at draw of stumps today. Parveen scored 24 runs. Harmanpreet Kaur was batting on 57 and Mandeep Kaur was yet to open her account.

For Ludhiana, Rajinder Kaur claimed two wickets for 18 runs while Priya grabbed two wickets for 20 runs. Sukhwinder Kaur and Nidhi were among the wickets capturing one wicket each for 29 and 11 runs, respectively.

Ludhiana, September 10
The seventh edition of the Ludhiana District Softball Championship for sub- junior boys and girls will be held from September 13 to 15 here at Ramgarhia Educational Complex, Miller Ganj, according to a press note issued today by P.N. Passi, honorary secretary, Punjab Softball Association.

Players born on or after January 1, 1993 are eligible to take part in this three-day meet.

Teams with roster forms in duplicate along with age-proof certificates duly signed by the head of his or her educational institution must reach with secretary a day before the commencement of the championship, the note said.