The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SPORTS

Athlete alleges partiality
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, February 14
A cross-country race winner of the National School Games has accused the in charge of the state girls’ team of manipulating the final list of participants of the 50,00m race in the games held recently at Bangalore. The school authorities and panchayat of Nathumajra village have demanded a probe from the state sports authorities and Punjab Chief Minister.

Rajdeep Kaur, a 10+2 student of Government Senior Secondary School, Nathumajra, won the cross-country race at the National School Games in Bangalore and 5,000 m race at state school games at Ludhiana in December 2002. She alleged that Ms Shanti Sharma, in charge of girls’ team of Punjab in the National School Games did not allow her to participate in 5,000 m race to accommodate students of her own school. Giving details of sequence of events, Ms Rajdeep said after the state school games she attended preparatory camp for the national games at Amritsar from January 15 to January 26. She topped the trials for 5,000 m race and trials for 3,000 m race were not held. Mr Bajwa, a sports in charge, informed that her name had been approved for both events.

“I was shocked when Ms Sharma asked me to participate in march past and said I would not participate in 5,000m race. I was stunned to learn that all three girls who later participated in the event were from Ms Sharma’s school and she manipulated the records only to enable her students get certificates of participations in sports at the cost of the state’s pride,” said Ms Rajdeep. She said Baljinder Kaur, one of the participants, had not even participated in the trials and she had got the ninth position in the state games. Even at Bangalore she gave up after running 800m in 5000m race. Sheetal Sharma and Navjeet Kaur were other two participants from the same school.

She told Ludhiana Tribune that she was threatened to be locked in a room if she disclosed the matter to anyone at Bangalore. She was not allowed to make a telephone call to her parents and teachers. “I was made to participate in 3,000m race for which I had received silver medal in the state games. Though I was under shock and ill, but I finished fourth in the event, Ms Rajdeep said.

Mr Jagmeet Singh, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Nathumajra alleged that Ms Shanti Sharma spoiled the sports career of the student. The state has lost a chance to be winner of this race,” Mr Jagmeet said. He confirmed having demanded a probe from the Punjab Chief Minister and sports authorities of the state.

Ms Parmjit Kaur, sarpanch, Mr Nirbhai Singh, Block Samiti member, Mr Harjinder Singh, office-bearer of the Kirti Youth Club and Mr Sinder Singh, former Chairman of the Block Samiti, have urged Ms Razia Sultana MLA, Malerkotla, to impress upon the authorities to probe the matter.

Vishal is best athlete
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 14
Vishal, a student of K G, made a clean sweep, winning 100 m race, spoon potato race and sack race to be declared the best athlete at the annual athletics meet of the Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Shishu Vatika, at its Kitchlu Nagar branch ground here today.

Ajay Raj Singh, an international athlete, and Mr Rakesh Singh, district judo coach, were the guest of honours.

Results: 50 m (pre-nursery)- boys- 1 Surya Rawat, 2 Vinay, 3 Nitesh; girls- 1 Palvi Gupta, 2 Kanika, 3 Ravleen; four legged race- 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Surya Rawat, 3 Gourav; girls- 1 Palvi Gupta, 2 Ravleen, 3 Palvi Bhardwaj.

Nursery- (boys)- 70 m- 1 Devashish, 2 Bharat, 3 Rajat; Girls- 1 Jaishree, 2 Muskan, 3 Sukhamdeep; four legged race- (boys)- 1 Rahul Khanna, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Tushar Chauhan; (Girls)- 1 Jaishree, 2 Radhika, 3 Tanya. K G (boys)- 100 m 1 Vishal, 2 Deepanshu, 3 Sahil Puri; (Girls)- 1 Ridhima; Spoon potato race- 1 Vishal, 2 Sabet, 3 Tanar; (girls)- 1 Radhika Goyal, 2 Chahat, 3 Samiksha; Sack race- 1 Vishal, 2 Tanar, 3 Devashish; (Girls)- 1 Tulsi, 2 Palvi, 3 Divya.

Sports and cultural meet concludes
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, Feb 14
The state government will spend Rs 120 crore up to March 31 this year on buildings, toilets, dress for girl students, books, seminars, and other infrastructure for the improvement of school education in the state said Mr K.K. Bhatnagar, Principal Secretary School Education, Punjab, while interacting with mediapersons here today. He was the chief guest at the concluding function of the four-day North Zone Sports and Cultural Meet organised by Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic College and Hospital (BDAC&H), Mandi Gobindgarh, under the aegis of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot.

Mr Bhatnagar said the Central Government had provided funds worth Rs 100 crore for education for 2001-2002, but the grant lapsed due to non-release of funds by the then state government. Now Rs 120 crore would be spent on education in this financial year, he said.

“For proper utilisation of money, the government has decentralised the powers to the school vikas committees and parent-teacher associations, all payments of expenses are to be made through cheques for proper accountability,” he said.

He appreciated the progress made by the institute and stressed the need to launch a campaign to promote quality education. He also gave away prizes to the winners of various sports and cultural contests. More than 500 students of various ayurvedic colleges from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh participated in the meet.

Dr Zora Singh, chairman of the institute, delivered a welcome address and appreciated the services rendered by Mr K.K. Bhatnagar in the field of education. Dr S.N. Singh, principal DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, thanked the participants for cooperation.

Those awarded were: Bhangra — Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic College and Hospital; group dance — Mai Bhago Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Muktsar, LN Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Amritsar, Dayanand Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Jalandhar; geet/ghazal — Vinay, Navjot Bal, Poonam; folk songs — Smita, Harkiran, Sukhpal. Group songs — SSMD Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Moga, DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, DAC&H, Jalandhar; costume show — DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, & Mai Bhago Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Moga, Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala, & DAC&H, Jalandhar, Guru Nanak Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Muktsar; giddha — NLAC&H, Amritsar, DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, MBAC&H, Muktsar; solo dance — Kulvinder Kaur & Gurpreet Kaur, Vani & Rupinder Kaur and Rajiv Salaria &Vandana Bhateja of DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, DAC&H, Jalandhar, Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala, and BKAC&H, Moga, and Government Ayurvedic Institute, Paprola, MBAC&H, Muktsar; choreography — DBAC&H, Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala, MBAC&H, Muktsar, SSKSAC&H, Sarabha and SSMDAC&H, Moga.

Sport: Badminton (boys’ double) — Vishwas&Amit, Puneet&Tinkel, Manoj& Suresh; volleyball (boys) — DAC&H, Jalandhar, Government Ayurvedic Institute, Paprola, DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh; cricket — SSMD, Moga, Shri Guru Nanak Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Muktsar, DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh; races (men) — Manuj Uppal, Neeraj, Manuj Uppal, Subash, Jivan, Ashish, Subash, Jeevan Sharma, Jivan, Paramjeet Singh, Ramandeep-Gurjot-Jivan-Capil, and Capil-Vishav-Vikram-Gurnam Singh; races (women) — Sunita, Nishi Sharma, Shikha, Nishi, Harmandeep, Charu, Nishi Sharma, Kulwinder, Sunita-Jasbir-Dilpreet-Nishi and Prabjot-Neha-Charu Lata-Mamta Sharma; table tennis (women singles) — Anima, Rani Amarpreet, Mandeep; table tennis (women doubles) — Geetika&Anima, Shivani&Neelam, Kanu Maheshwari & Rani Amarpreet Kaur; discus throw (men) — Kulwinder, Ranjeet Singh; discus throw (women) — Monika, Rupinder Kaur; shot put (men) — Ranjit, Navjot; shot put (women) — Monika, Rupinder; high jump (men) — Amardeep, Nisha; high jump (women) —Subash, Tapinder; long jump (men) — Harman Deep, Rajwinder; long jump (men) — Manuj Uppal, Bandanjeet; Table Tennis (men) — Prabhat, Puneet; badminton (women doubles) — Amardeep & Sonu, Nirupma & Gurinderjeet; badminton (boys single) — Gohaar, Amit; badminton (women single) — Amardeep, Aditi.

Cultural events: DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh; MBAC&H, Muktsar; SLNAC&H, Amritsar.

Medals tally in sports (gold, silver, bronze): MBAC&H, Muktsar (7,1, 5); DAC&H, Jalandhar, (5, 4, 3); DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, (4, 12, 5).

Joint winners of sports and cultural events (gold, silver, bronze): MBAC&H, Muktsar, (9,27,2); DBAC&H, Mandi Gobindgarh, (8, 15, 6); DAC&H, Jalandhar, (6, 6, 5).

LUDHIANA
Golf tourney: More than 100 participants from Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala are expected to take part in the second Friendship Golf Cup Tournament scheduled to be held at the golf course of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, near here from Sunday. Dr G.S. Aujla, ADGPP and Director of the academy, will be the chief guest.