Chandigarh, October 24
Indian Air Force (IAF), Uttar Pradesh, Territorial Army and Maharashtra are the semifinalists of the Federation Cup Cycle Polo Championship being held at Police Lines grounds, Sector 26, here.

IAF topped its group with 40 goals in league matches and Maharashtra team secured its berth in the semi-finals on the basis of goal average. Maharashtra, IAF and Kerala teams were equalled with four points each from two wins and one defeat. Maharashtra team scored 38 goals followed by Kerala’s 36 goals. Territorial Army topped its group with six points to qualify for the last four stage.

Earlier, Kerala defeated Rajasthan and later defeated hosts Chandigarh in today’s matches.

Maharashtra, which beat IAF, were beaten by Kerala while Territorial Army snubbed Chandigarh team. Territorial Army defeated Vidarbha. The final will be held tomorrow at 3 pm.

Results:

Group A: Kerala (Prashant 7, Naveen Raj 3, Ajeesh 2, Shabir 1, Nitin 1) bt Rajasthan (Deepak 3, Bharat 2, Mahinder 1) by 14-6.

Maharashtra (Harshal Bagre 9, Milind Pately 4, Nikhal Dhare 2, Shivrajan 1) bt Indian Air Force (Ashruddin 5, Jatinder 1, Sagar 1) by 16-7.

Kerela (Prashant 9, Naveen Raj 3) bt Maharashtra (Nikhil Dahare 3, Milind 2, Shivrajan 1) by 12-6.

Indian Air Force (Ashruddin 14, Saroj 10, Jatinder 2, Shiva 1) bt Rajasthan (Deepak 1, Pranod 1, Mahinder 1) by 27-3.

Group B: Territorial Army (Shabir 5, Abdul Kalam 4, Shrikant 2, Anshad 2, Shanoj 2) bt Chandigarh (Mandeep 2, Rohit 1, Ajay 1) by 15-4. Territorial Army (Shanoj 7, Shabir 5, Anshad 4, Andhul Kalam 1, Shrikant 1) bt Vidarbha (Prashant 4, Aditya 3, Manish 1) by 18-8.

Uttar Pradesh (Pramod 6, Ravi Shekhar 2, Manoj 1, Sharwan 1) bt Chandigarh (Ajay 3, Rohit 4, Oman 1) by 10-8.

Chandigarh, October 24
Nineteen-year-old Nalini Singh of Delhi gave a display of steady golf to take a two-stroke lead over overnight leader Shweta Galande, also of Delhi, after the second round of the 15th Realtech Punjab Open Ladies Amateur Golf Championship on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

A pack of four 17-year-old were hot on the trail of Nalini Singh, with a margin of four strokes dividing them and two more rounds to go. They were Shweta Galande, Sharmila Nicolette (Bangalore) and Akriti Singh from Amritsar.

Nalini started badly double-bogeying the very first hole. She conceded two more bogeys, before steadying with two birdies on the fifth and sixth for a two-over par on the first nine. The return nine was an all-par affair barring a bogey on the l8th for a three-over par 75 card. Her two day aggregate was 153. Shweta, Sharmila and Akriti played badly today and were trailing at 155, 156 and 157, respectively, after the second round.

The Amritsar teenager was down with fever, but she completed her second round under medication. The 10 handicap girl, however, was leading in the Silver Salver event with a nett tally of 137. Meher Atwal was two strokes behind.

Gursimar Badwal was leading in the Challenge Bowl with a two-day gross score of 174. But her younger sister, Gurjot Badwal, was the darling of the crowd. This nine-year-old Kapurthala girl was oozing with confidence as she virtually danced after executing every shot-be it a drive or a putt.

Dalbir Sahi clinched the Super Senior title grossing 201. Harinder Sandhu finished three strokes behind.

Scores (after second round)

Championship Bowl (Open gross): Nalini Singh 153, Shweta Galande 155, Sharmila Nicolette 156, Akriti Singh 157, Meher Atwal 159.

Silver Salver (handicap 0-12) Nett: Akriti Singh 137, Meher Atwal 139, Nalini Singh, Shreya Ghei and Shweta Galande 145.

Challenge Bowl (13-24): Gross-Gursimar Badwal 174, Amandeep Kaur 176, Aashna Monga and Amrita Sarna 185, Ekam J. Singh 186.Nett-Gursimar Badwal 138, Pratiksha Ravi 144, Amrita Sarna 145.

Bronze Plate (25-36): Gross-Kasavi Malik 199, Babbles Singh 201, Meher Dhillon 204. Nett-Babbles Singh 143, Meher Dhillon 144, Kasavi Malik 149.

Junior Shield (under 18 years): Gross-Shweta Galande 155, Sharmila Nicolette 156, Akriti Singh 157. Nett-Akriti Singh 137, Gursimar Badwal 138, Meher Atwal 139.

Subjunior Trophy (under 14 years): Gross-Meher Atwal 159, Gurbani Singh 163, Vani Kapoor 170. Nett-Gurbani Singh 135, Meher Atwal 139, Ekam J. Singh 146.

Senior Challenge: Binny Bath 193, S. Ratia 194, Sheena Sekhon 195, Deepu Dhanoa 198. Nett-Babbles Singh 143, Deepu Dhanoa 150, Binny Bath and Sheena Sekhon 153.

Super Senior Challenge: (above 65 years) Gross: Dalbir Sahi 201, Harinder Sandhu 204, P. Sukerchakia 269.

Chandigarh, October 24
The municipal corporation has finally woken up to the needs of sportspersons of Mani Majra. It has planned a multipurpose sports complex with indoor and outdoor facilities. cricket and football grounds and basketball , badminton, squash and table tennis courts.

The state-of-the-art complex will come up on 10 acres of land. As of now, there is no playground for the residents of Mani Majra, which has a population of 2.5 lakh.

“Earlier, the playground of Government High School, Mani Mani Majra, was used by sportspersons of football, cricket, volleyball etc, but a civil hospital was built on the area and the sportspersons had to shift elsewhere,” said Ravinder Mann, president of Maruti Football Club.

The proposal to have a sports complex in Mani Majra was floated 13 years, but did not materialise.

“We also wrote to the sports department but the proposal did no take off,” said Mann.

Said a top official: “A multi-purpose sports complex is the need of the hour. The proposal has gone to the administration for approval. The MC will start working on the project immediately thereafter.”

Chandigarh, October 24
St. Joseph’s Coaching Centre, Sector 44, beat Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, in the IXth Chandigarh Senior State League Ball Badminton Championship for Men and Women for Sardar Piara Singh Trophy. The tournament was held at the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, here, today.

DAV college, Sector 10, beat Joseph School -44, GSSS, Khuda Lahora, and GSSS, Sector 38 West, with convincing margin.

Results: Men: St. Joseph’s Coaching Centre-44 b GMSSS-19 (29-26, 27-29, 29-18)

DAVC-10 b St. Joseph’s School (29-16, 29-18)

St. Joseph's Coaching Centre - 44 b GMSSS-19 (29-13, 29-12)

Moti Ram School-27 b GSSS- 38 West (29-19, 29-13)

St. Joseph’s Coaching Centre-44 b Moti Ram School-27 (29-19, 29-25)

DAVC-10 b GSSS, Khuda Lahora (13-29, 29-21, 29-15)

St. Joseph’s Coaching Centre-44 b St. Joseph School- 44 (29-13, 29-17)

DAVC-10 b GSSS-38 West (29-20, 29-14).