Chandigarh, October 13
The city based Sai Tara Ummat Foundation (STUF) organised a free medical check up camp to celebrate the International Elders' Day here today.

More than 300 senior citizens from the tricity attended the camp conducted at Mukat Hospital and Heart Institute, Sector 34. Pawan Kumar Bansal, union minister of state for finance, inaugurated the camp.

Various tests, including HB, blood sugar, blood pressure and ECG were conducted during the camp.

Bansal, appreciating the efforts of the STUF in creating awareness among the private enterprises regarding the needs of the weaker sections of the society and senior citizens, exhorted the others to come out liberally for their welfare.

Bansal also honoured Jamna Das (104), Shakuntala Devi (87), both from Old Age Home, Sector 15, and Sanyukta Khanna (87) from Sai Old Age Home, Sector 30, and Shanti Devi (87) from Panchkula on the occasion. Bansal also laid down the foundation stone of an advanced cardiac care unit at Mukat.

Speaking on the occasion, A. K. Ummat, chairman of STUF, said the main objective of these camps was to make younger generation feel that the elders needed their love and help.

Panchkula, October 13
Enraged over the alleged backtracking of the authorities’ promise of sending them abroad, students of dental assistance at Belligham Technical College in Sector 5, confronted the college management here today.

The college management, including director Ron Penner and Deepak Sharma, however, said no such promises had been made and that they were still trying to facilitate immigration by putting the students through to an immigration agency.

Running under the ageis of Dentis Tree, a dental Institute in Sector 5, the college has already seen four batches pass out. “At the time of admission, they promised to send us abroad within six months of the course but we are still nowhere. I was of the 2006 batch and have been waiting for the last one-and-a-half years for this,” alleged Sukhpreet Singh.

Harjinder Kaur, another student of 2006 batch, said, “I have been waiting for a call for the last one year to go abroad. We keep contacting them but have hardly got any satisfactory response. We enrolled for the course only to go abroad like they promised in the beginning. Now, all we get to hear is that our job letters are at the institute, the immigration process is on and we just have to wait.”

Heera Sharma from Amritsar who passed out recently said, “What to talk of sending us abroad, we haven’t been able to get a job for us in our own country,” he rued, adding that each student had paid nearly Rs 70,000 as fee only under the impression that this certificate would become their passport to America.

Deepak Sharma, when contacted, said most of the students are employed and their case is under process.”

Chandigarh, October 13
Three players of the Punjab Cricket Association - Karan Goel, Gagandeep and Ravneet Ricky - have made it to the Challenger Series for the NKP Salve Trophy to be held at Ahmedabad from October 25 to 28.

Karan and Ricky will make their debut in this prestigious series. Karan was among the probables selected for the World Twenty20 Cricket team and has the potential to make its presence felt in this coveted tournament.

A leading run-getter in the inaugural National Twenty20 Championship held in April this year, this 21-year-old cricketer from Ludhiana has also represented Punjab in the Ranji Trophy matches this season and was part of the North Zone team in the Deodhar Trophy.

Hailing from Amritsar, Ricky has been a prolific opening batsman. His batting in the Ranji Trophy has been remarkable. He was selected to play a three-day tie for Board President’s eleven against Zimbabwe at Faridabad in January 2001.

Gagandeep Singh, the Punjab bowling spearhead, is the most consistent seamer from the North Zone. This player from Ludhiana came close to representing the country in the Test cricket against Bangladesh in 2004, but unfortunately, he was shown the door without trial. However, he did not let his performance go down.

Chandigarh, October 13
Guru Nanak Public School (GNPS)-36 players outclassed Doon International School, Mohali, 2-0 on the opening day of the CBSE North Zone I Tennis Tournament held at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47-B, here, yesterday.

With reference to the news item under the heading ‘GNPS paddlers shine’ on October 13 in Chandigarh Tribune, we regret incorrect usage of the word “paddlers” in the same. 

Chandigarh, October 13
St Stephen's School-45 eves scripted a thrilling 1-0 triumph over Carmel Convent School-9 in the finals of the Chandigarh sub-junior girls u-17 football championship to lift the Mother Veronica Cup today. The tournament was organised by Carmel Convent School at the Sector 17 football stadium, here.

Both the teams got numerous chances but failed to capitalise until St Stephen's, having a slight edge over their rivals, snatched the all-important goal in the 48th minute. Rubal Singh sent a pass to Harleen Randhawa, who made no mistake to find the net. Meanwhile, Carmel Convent School principal Sister Maria Christie gave away the prizes.

Teams: St Stephen's-45: Shikha, Rubal, Shruti, Puneet Chahal, Amanpreet, Gauri, Inayat Pathania, Gurleen, Aisha, Harleen Randhawa, Shivani Sood; Sacred Heart: Nitya , Pallavi Dhawan, Jaspreet Rishi, Kudrat, Sharika, Devika, Parul, Ekta Kochar Geisinger, Namrata Kochar Geisinger, Meghna Bhasin and Ishita Bansal.