Kapoor is YMCA academy coach
From Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 21 — Chandigarh has made its name in the tennis fraternity of the country. The city has got maximum number of tennis playing courts. The YMCA (Young Men Christian Association) Total Tennis Academy has inducted Mr L.D. Kapoor, one of the seniormost tennis coaches, as its coach-cum-Director. Mr Kapoor retired only this March from the UT Sports Department after serving for more than 18 years. His total experience spanning over 35 years will be at the disposal for the young and budding players in the Sector 11 YMCA complex. Mr Kapoor told The Tribune that his emphasis will be to coach the seniors also for which coaching facility was rarely available till date.

Arvind J Noel. Secretary, YMCA, Chandigarh, says that the YMCA, which has three tennis courts, will also have two assistant coaches to assist Mr Kapoor for the smooth running of the academy. He said that a practice wall has been recently constructed on the same premises.

Mr Kapoor, however, said that greater stress would be laid on the involvement of parents who are one of the key decision makers out of three, the other two being the trainee and the coach. He emphasised that unless and until all three put in their best efforts, chances of nurturing a trainee into a player of repute becomes quite minimal. He further said that a trainee must be clear in his mind as to what his goals, how he can achieve it and what are the ways he thinks can make him or her into a fine player in the longer run. Mr Kapoor said that in order to equip trainees with the latest technology, the video clippings of prominent tennis players would be shown to them in overcoming their shortcomings.

Mr Kapoor said that trainees of the TTA would get the chance to play with international players like Pavan Kapoor and Amitabh Singh, both national-level tennis players. The services of both will be available for free training to the budding trainees. Mr Noel said that the YMCA would waive off fee for deserving players.

Special schemes will be introduced in various schools of the city to avail the tennis playing facility at the YMCA. Efforts are on to invite foreign coaches and players to guide the academy trainees. An Inter-YMCA trainees competition is also being planned and sponsors being approached to host the YMCA Total Tennis Tournament at regular intervals to give exposure to young and promising players of the region.

Mr Kapoor said that the idea was to have more Sunil Kumars in the near future so that the city’s name remain synonymous with tennis.

SPS-44 win u-17, u-19 titles
From Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 21 — Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, won the UT inter-school football tournament at Football Stadium, Sector 17.

In under-17 final, SPS-44 prevailed upon Government Model High School, Sector 38, 3-0, with Chetan scoring all three goals. In under-19, SPS-44 outplayed Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, 4-0, with Vinay scoring three goals and Bunty one.

Kabaddi championship
Government High School, Kajheri, won the under-17 and under-19 Kabaddi titles in the UT inter-school kabaddi championship. The under-17 team bagged the title for the third consecutive time by beating Government Senior Secondary School, Dhanas. In under-19 Section, GHS-Kajheri beat DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8.

Cricket tourney
Hosts St John’s High School, Sector 26, clinched the under-16 cricket title in the Edmund Rice cricket tournament. In the final, St John’s defeated Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula by 144 runs.

Brief scores: St John’s-26 — 221 for 5 in 30 overs (Inderpal Singh 58, Avneet Singh 57, Rajat Bhalla 39, Arjun Behl 32, Amanpreet 2 for 37, Varun 2 for 40); HPS — 77 all out in 27.4 overs (Saurabh Arora 24, Jayant 10, Arjun Behl 3 for 12, Angad Gill 2 for 8, Jasdeep Singh 2 for 9).

Sites for sale of crackers earmarked
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Oct 21 — To avert any untoward incident at the time of sale of firecrackers during Divali, the local administration has earmarked sites in open spaces in front of the sector markets in the town. The sites were finalised on the basis of guidelines fixed by the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar.

The Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr Jaipal Singh, said no permission to put up stalls in congested areas would be given. Open spaces in the parking areas of the market close to the green belts would be used for putting up the stalls for the sale of firecrackers. He said around 20 persons had so far been given permission for sale of firecrackers. The fee for using the space was being given by the enforcement wing of the local municipal council.

The local fire department had written to the SDM to earmark space for the stalls in the town where the firecrackers could be sold. Mr Balwinder Singh Sidhu, in charge of the local fire station, said the stalls would be inspected to see whether all the safety parameters were being adhered to.

The SDM said if any person was found selling the firecrackers in areas other than those permitted, he would be penalised. The guidelines of the Union Ministry and Environment regarding the ban of joined crackers (laris) on the eve of Divali would also have to be followed. Sale of firecrackers like rockets and bombs was also banned. Though the ministry had issued guidelines before last Divali also, the shopkeepers were openly displaying the items.

Meanwhile, the local police has strengthened the security arrangements in the town. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr S.S. Gill, said an additional constable had been deputed with the existing team of beat constables. Asked about checking illegal sale of firecrackers, he said a duty magistrate had to accompany a raiding party of the police if any tip-off was received, before a case was registered.

MC decision on digging up of roads 
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 21 — Any department seeking permission for digging up roads will henceforth submit a route plan to the Municipal Corporation (MC) and will also forward the same to other departments for marking their existing services on that route.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting convened by the Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, yesterday with officers of the telephone departments and HFCL.

It was also decided that the department will have to respond within seven days, after which permission would be granted by the corporation for going ahead. Nodal officers of Telecom Department and HFCL were also named. These officers would also depute a supervisor to oversee the digging operations.

Both HFCL and the Telecom Departments have requested for expediting the road cuts permissions. It was also decided that Executive Engineer’s can give permission on provisional deposit with some security and adjust the savings, in subsequent approvals. Similarly, for urgent repair involving digging, these departments can make advance deposit and seek telephonic approval of the concerned Executive Engineer (Roads).

Both have also urged that the corporation should not insist on trenchless technology.