Probe ordered into charges
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — The Senior Superintendent of Police, Ropar, Mr G.P.S.Bhullar, has ordered an inquiry into the allegations of bribe demanded by the in charge of the Phase 8 police station in connection with a land dispute between two groups at Kumbra village here. A number of persons, including Jaswant Singh, were injured in a clash between the two groups on December 25.

The Superintendent of Police (Detective), Ropar, has been asked to ascertain the facts of the case. PANCHKULA

Two injured: Vijay and Vivek, who were on a scooter (HR-03B-8963), got off balance on fell down as they tried to run on noticing the traffic police challaning at the roundabout of Sector 9 and 10 here today.

Vijay got injured. A case under Sections 279, 336 and 114, IPC, has been registered.

Rajnish, a resident of Himshikha Colony in Pinjore, was injured while his scooter (HR-03A-1555) was hit by a car (DL-03-CC-0560) here today. The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 336 and 337, IPC.

Bittergourd dearest vegetable
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — Bittergourd was the dearest item among the commonly consumed vegetables in the local markets on Wednesday. A survey of the local markets reveals that the prices of the seasonal vegetables have registered a marginal increase in the past few days.

Capsicum, which was being sold by a vendor in the Phase 4 market at Rs 30 a kg, was low on the shopping list of the housewives. The price of tomato fluctuated between Rs 9 and Rs 10 a kg. An important part of any household recipe, potato was selling at Rs 4 a kg. Last week the vegetable was selling at Rs 5 a kg.

Onions being, sold by a vendor in the Phase 7 market at Rs 8 a kg, registered a marginal fall as compared to its price of Rs 10 a kg in local markets last week. The price of peas remained static at Rs 10 a kg. The poor quality of the vegetable was selling at Rs 8 a kg in the Phase 7 market. On the contrary, brinjal, being sold at Rs 4 a kg, was cheaper as compared to its price last week.

The price of carrot fluctuated between Rs 6 and Rs 8 a kg. Radish and cabbage were selling at Rs 4 a kg and Rs 6 a kg, respectively. Another commonly used vegetable, gourd was being sold at Rs 5 a kg.

Other important ingredients of recipes, ginger and garlic, were available at Rs 35 and Rs 40 a kg, respectively.

Prodigy aims for the top
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Indian tennis players are full of potential and natural talent, but they need solid backing to achieve results, according to Misel Klesinger, a German coach.

He is here to accompany his trainee, Antonia Matic of Croatia, now settled in Germany, who has entered the semi-finals of the ITF Women's Tennis Circuit, being held at CLTA courts, Sector 10. Klesinger suprevises nearly 200 coaching clubs in Bonn and Frankfurt. He is hopeful of a great showing from Matic.

The youngest foreign player in this meet, Matic beat Anna Eugenia Nefedova of Russia in a cliff-hanger in the quarterfinals. She had defeated India's Sai Jayalakshamy, the third seed, in the pre-quarterfinals.

On her maiden visit to India, Antonia played the first leg of this tournament in Delhi and lost in the second round of the qualifying rounds. In the second leg of the ITF meet at Lucknow, she qualified for the main round. In the first round, she downed Masa Vesenjak of Slovenia. She lost in the second round to Ka Po Tong of Hong Kong, the fourth seed.

Antonia says football and basketball are popular sports in Croatia. "It is all because of Klesinger that I am now in the midst of you people, getting recognition," she asserts. She still plays for Croatia but she studies and practises in Germany.

She took to the game at the age of six. For the past few years, she has been concentrating on the quality aspect of the game, says Klesinger, who belongs to Bad-neuenahr-ahrweiler near Bonn.

Matic says she is pitted against a much experienced player, Manisha Malhotra of India, the second seed, in the semi-final. She adds that she will give a good fight, with zeal and confidence.

On the question of her ideal, she says, "First I would fulfil the aim of Klesinger, who was one of the finest players in his days. I would like to have an image which Steffi Graf enjoyed." She adds that one's identity is of utmost importance and she is working in that direction. With Klesinger being her coach, the goal is not very far, she states.

Klesinger says Antonica plays for hours together till she is exhausted. She should take part in many tournaments and get more WTA points, he adds.

Klesinger says with the kind of facilities available in India, it must produce a host of good players. He hopes that with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi storming the world of tennis, upcoming players will get the desired morale booster.

He says women players in India have a lot of talent, good wrists and crafty footwork, but lack in physical conditioning and practice. In Germany, the child gets early into the game and by the time he or she crosses 14 years, results start pouring in, he claims.

Antonia has liked the fast synthetic courts and the playing environment here. About the food, she says, "You people add a lot of spices in food, which is tasty at times." About her future plans, she says she will practise after a few days' rest.

Klesinger says Matic needs more polishing and in another two to three years, she will be a force to reckon with. The ITF observer for this meet, Mr Dushan Deo, is all praise for this young player. He says the way she has outplayed Anna Eugenia Nefedova of Russia, she will be among the few top players of world in the near future.

Sabeeha shoots two golds
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Sabeeha Dhillon of Chandigarh won two gold medals in junior and senior women's sections in air rifle event, while Jaspreet Dhaliwal of Punjab won gold medal in junior men's section on the penultimate day of the 24th Northern India Shooting Championship, being held at Patiala Rao ranges, Sector 25. Sushma Rana of Delhi scored 382 out of 400 in air pistol (ISSF) event, equalling the national record.

Results — small bore individual: Mangesh Panwar (CISF) 1, Bhag Singh (ITBP) 2, Vikrant Singh Rana (HP) 3; team event: CISF (Parveen, Mangesh and Shimon) 1; ITBP (Rajinder Pal, Bhag Singh and Nandan) 2, HP (Rajesh, Vikrant and Virender) 3; small bore free rifle (ISSF) prone 50 m senior men civilian: Dhirender Parmar (HP) 1, Sudhir Singh (Delhi) 2, Manjeev Bhogal (Punjab) 3.

Air rifle ISSF: 10 m senior men open individual: Shimon Sharif (CISF) 1, Parveen Rawat (CISF) 2, Jaspreet Dhaliwal (Punjab) 3; civilian individual: Sudhir Singh (Delhi) 1, Deepak Nautiyal (Delhi) 2, Jaswinder Singh (NR) 3; junior men individual: Jaspreet Dhaliwal (Punjab) 1, Sudhir Singh (Delhi) 2, Deepak Nautiyal (Delhi) 3.

Senior women: Sabeeha Dhillon (Chandigarh) 1, Varsha Rani (Punjab) 2, Harvinder Kaur (Punjab) 3; team event: Punjab (Gurpreet, Varsha and Monika) 1; junior women: Sabeeha Dhillon (Chandigarh) 1, Seema Tomar (UP) 2, Ruby Tomar (UP) 3; air rifle OS (NR) senior men open individual: Nirmal Singh (Punjab) 1, Surinder Pal (Punjab) 2, R.K. Sisodia (NR) 3; senior men civilian: Nirmal Singh (Punjab) 1, Surinder Pal (Punjab) 2, R.K. Sisodia (NR) 3; junior men: Amandeep Singh (Punjab)1, Pavittar Singh (Chandigarh) 2, Bhagat Singh (UP) 3; sub-junior men: Syed Zakir Ali (Delhi) 1, Bharatvir Singh (UP) 2, Karanvir Singh Brar (Chandigarh) 3.

PUNCOM beat FCI: Punjab Communications Limited defeated Food Corporation of India by 116 runs in the Inter-Institutional Cricket Tournament at SAS Nagar. Batting first, PUNCOM scored 248 runs for the loss of four wickets in 40 overs, with Prabhjot Singh scoring 131 runs and Ajay Mehra scoring 59 runs. Navdeep Singh took three wickets for 41 runs. In reply, FCI were bundled out for 132 runs, with Navdeep scoring 40 runs and Kulwinder scoring 28 runs. Kailash Sanwal and Bharti Vij took five and three wickets, respectively.

A bright prospect in skating
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Harkiran Singh, a young skater of Chandigarh, recently won gold and silver medals in the National School Games held at Moga in November.

A student of class X in Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, Harkiran took to skating in May 1997. In the same year, he participated in the 35th National Skating Championship held at Pune and later in the 36th National Skating Meet at Visakhapatnam.

In the recent 37th National Skating Championship at Chandigarh, Harkiran won road race in 3,000 m. He also won bronze medal in rink race II and silver medal in point to point race in speed events. He took part in the roller hockey event in his age group and helped Chandigarh in securing bronze.

Recognition has boosted his confidence and match temperament. He is being coached by Sarabjit Singh.