Chandigarh, August 25
Perturbed by the continuing disastrous performance of the Indian sportspersons in Athens, ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh today appealed the Government of India to hand over the management of Indian sports and sportspersons to the Army for better results.

In a brief interaction with Chandigarh Tribune yesterday, Milkha Singh said in every Olympics, the country send athletes who had achieved the desired Olympic-qualifying standards but when they actually competed in Olympics, their performance was miserable. He said either their performance was over-exaggerated or the coaches or associations mislead.

Milkha Singh said what was disgusting was that no one was made accountable for the debacle and after every Olympics, fictitious plans were made and new policies devised but again after every four years, same thing happened. He said this time immediately after coming back, the sports officials concerned should resign. He also said the President of the Indian Olympics Association should also quit. Milkha Singh said, there was no dearth of sports incentives now as compared to earlier times when het used to compete. He said today we had large stadiums, enhanced diet money, large number of coaches, international exposure but what was missing was the will to succeed both by the players and the coaches who continued to be a mere spectators.

He cited the example of China which were now world leader in sport and were neck to neck with the USA in terms of medal tally in Athens Olympics. He said more than five decades back, when he used to run in Olympics, China was like India in terms of medal winning. Milkha Singh said but the way China had progressed all these years was quite praiseworthy.

He said what pained him that why we continued to have over expectations from our athletes.

He complimented the efforts of K Binu for breaking the national record of 400 metre and said as promised he would give cash reward of Rs 1 lakh to K Binu on a function to be held very soon at Chandigarh. He said but Binu would have to work very hard for the next Olympics.

Milkha Singh also praised the honest and genuine approach of the Union Sports Minister, Mr Sunil Dutt, in developing sports in India. Milkha Singh said the Sports Authority of India had failed to deliver goods and with just one silver medal till now at Athens, that too mainly with own efforts of Rajyavardhan Rathore, we needed to adopt a strict approach.

Chandigarh, August 25
Hockey players of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) moved into the final of the third SN Vohra Memorial Sub-Junior Boys (Under-14) Hockey Tournament at the Sector 42 hockey stadium. They will now meet the team from the Sukhchain Hockey Academy, Faridkot.

In their last league fixture, the CHA were given a tough fight by Gopal Hockey Academy of Kurali who went down fighting by 2-3. The CHA which is being run by the Chandigarh Administration got nine points from three fixtures.

The Sukhchain academy defeated the Hawks Academy of Ropar by two goals for their second win. With six points from two wins and one defeat, the Sukhchain academy secured six points.

The Gopal academy forwards made a good beginning. Mukul emerged the star performer for Kurali. He converted two penalty corners. In the last 10 minutes, the Kurali boys dominated the proceedings.

It was the CHA’s Sandeep Singh who scored a field goal. The lead, however, was shortlived as Mukul converted a penalty corner with a drag flick in the fifth minute to restore parity.

The CHA again forged ahead in the 11th minute after Dharambir Singh converted a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Dharambir converted another penalty corner to increase the margin for the CHA.

The local players tried to further increase the margin, however, the Gopal academy players thwarted their moves. In the last 10 minutes, the Gopal academy in the 54th minute forced a third penalty corner which Mukul converted it with an indirect shot after receiving a pass from Navjot Singh. Mukul was adjudged the Boy of the Match.

Earlier, the Sukhchain academy defeated the Hawks Academy by 2-0. Birinderjit put them ahead in the eighth minute with a field goal and Rakesh Kumar converted a penalty stroke in the 10th minute.

The Sukhchain academy were awarded five penalty corners and Hawks seven.. Rajnish Kumar was declared the Boy of the Match.

Chandigarh, August 25
The third day of the ongoing Chandigarh Junior Girls Football meet for St Stephen’s Trophy saw both matches played to draw. The matches are being held at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, here.

Earlier eves of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, played a goalless draw against hosts St Stephen’s School, Sector 45. The former played well but missed many chances to score a goal.

In the second tie played between Sacred Heart and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, the latter began on a confident note by scoring a goal in ninth minute by Jasdeep, a national player. Goalkeeper Nidhi Sharma of GMSSS-35 foiled many attempts of Sacred
Heart eves.

However after the lemon break, it was Simran who equalised in the 38th minute, thus 1-1.

Chandigarh, August 25
Following quashing of the appointment of Dr Reet Mohinder Singh, Lake Club General Manager, by the Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), the club is in the thick of another controversy.

This time it has allegedly changed rules for recruitment of the new GM, an advertisement for which was given in the newspapers, yesterday. According to the advertisement, among the essential qualifications for the post is the “background and knowledge of sports, preferably a sportsperson of merit”.

Sources, however, maintained that this provision was likely to go against the minutes of the general body meeting held under the chairmanship of Ms Vineeta Rai. The minutes said:

It is pointed that if the rules were to be “altered”, a meeting of the general house of the Chandigarh Sports Council (CSC) should have been held. Moreover, there is no mention of the upper age limit for applying for the post.

The fresh advertisement, the sources claimed, ran counter to the earlier advertisement of August 25,2000, which reportedly prescribed water sports as an essential qualifications.

Chandigarh, August 25
The name of Mr Harbaksh Singh, an IAS officer of the 1981 batch, has been included in the panel forwarded by the Haryana Government for appointment as Home Secretary of Chandigarh. The state government has withdrawn the name Mr Gulab Singh Sarot from the panel and replaced it with Mr Harbaksh Singh, official sources said. Mr Harbaksh Singh is now holding the dual responsibility of Commissioner, Information Technology, and Commissioner, Urban Development, Haryana Government.

Mr Harbaksh Singh had been shifted out of the high profile post of MD, Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation, a few days ago.

The Haryana Government had originally sent a panel of three names — Mr Krishan Mohan of the 1977 batch, Mr T.C. Gupta of the 1987 batch and Mr Gulab Singh Sarot of the 1985 batch.

The name of Mr T.C. Gupta cannot be considered till the present Municipal Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh, a 1986 batch IAS officer, is posted out of Chandigarh. Since the Home Secretary is also Secretary, Local Government, Municipal Commissioner is his subordinate.

The same goes for the IG, Mr Rajesh Kumar. He is a 1979 batch IPS officer. Since the IG reports to the Home Secretary for administrative matters, it can create an ugly situation in case Mr Gupta or even Mr Gulab Singh Sarot are to be considered.

Chandigarh, August 25
The Registering and Licensing Authority, Chandigarh will shortly start a new series CH-03-Q. Owners of motor vehicles desirous of obtaining a particular registration number, on payment, can submit applications with prescribed amount in the office by August 27. Applicants would be informed about allotment of the desired number on August 30, 2004. Auction, if required would be held on September 3, 2004 at 4 pm, in the office of the Registering & Licensing Authority.