SPORTS

Row over judoka’s participation
Our Correspondent

Mohali, November 4
The career of a budding judo medal winner is under cloud for no fault of his following his participation in the CBSE National Judo Meet held here from October 28 to 30.

Eleven-year-old Manoj Kumar, a student of S Hari Singh Memorial Convent School, being run for poor children, was made to participate in the under-14 category (26 kg) at the meet as a student of Gian Jyoti Public School in Phase II. He won a bronze medal which bore the name of Gian Jyoti School.

The chairperson of S. Hari Singh Memorial Educational Society (SHSMES), Ms Jagjeet Kaur Kahlon, in a press conference here today said Manoj was a Class VI student of her institution and used to learn judo privately at a coaching centre in the Phase III-B 1, being run under the supervision of coach Vashisht Gill.

Ms Kahlon, said on the opening day of the meet Manoj won the third prize and in the results published in an English daily he was shown as a student of Gian Jyoti School. The management of Gian Jyoti School, however, did not clarify at any stage that Manoj was not a student of their institution. She said the matter had been brought to the notice of the members of the SHSMES, who would hold a meeting in this regard on November 6.

Ms Maya Devi, mother of Manoj Kumar alleged that two persons had come to her house on November 2 and tried to take away the medal that Manoj had won but could not succeed.

Ms Ranjit Kaur Bedi, principal of Gian Jyoti Public School, said the coach who used to train students of her school had met with an accident about four months ago. As the school had got the approval to hold the CBSE meet, she approached the District Sport Officer (DSO) for a coach who had sent Vashisht Gill to train the students a month ago.

She was, however, not aware how a student of another school was made to participate in the meet. She said the matter came to her notice at the prize distribution function after which she consulted CBSE officials and disqualified the child.

When asked why no immediate complaint was made to the DSO, Ms Bedi, said she had been busy in other activities of the school and would meet the DSO soon.

Coaching Centre-17 lift football trophy
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, November 4
Coaching Centre, Sector 17, clinched the First Lt Col I.S. Deol Memorial Football Tournament 2004, defeating Minerva Academy by three goals to one at Football Stadium, Sector 17. The three-day meet was part of the Minerva Academy Sports Festival. Test cricketer Yuvraj Singh was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Minerva Academy’s Harjit Singh struck in the 12th minute with a powerful shot in the top corner of the net. The Coaching Centre boys then tried to make a comeback but some good saves by their opponents kept them at bay till the lemon break. Finally, Coaching Centre’s Pawandeep brought relief to the team by scoring a goal in the 43rd minute.

Another goal was scored in the 49th minute by Vinay. Pawandeep scored again in the dying moments of the match.

Vinay of Coaching Centre got the player of the tournament award, Romy of Coaching Centre the best defender award, Gurminder Singh of Minerva Academy the striker of the tournament award and Ranjit Bajaj of Minerva Academy the best goalkeeper of the tournament award.

Cricket academy
Chetan Sharma Cricket academy, which would be run under the aegis of Chetan Sharma Sports Foundation, was inaugurated at CL DAV Public School, Sector11, Panchkula, on Tuesday. Chetan Sharma, a former test star, said he would visit the academy to give tips to youngsters in under-18 category. The academy will also have the services of a few other coaches.

Basketball meet
New Public School, Sector 18, beat hosts St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, 55-30 in the Emly Memorial Basketball Tournament that concluded here today. In the girl’s section, Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, beat Xavier’ School, Sector 44, 41-34.

Sports carnival
St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, A and B teams won their respective matches in cricket St Kabir School, Sector 26, and Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, in the Molly Carver Memorial Sports Carnival held at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, here today. In hockey, GMSSS, Sector 35, and Ex-Stephenians also won their respective matches.

Volleyball court
Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, became the first private school in the city to have its own floodlit volleyball court. The court was inaugurated by Mr D.S. Bedi, Director Principal of the school, this evening.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bedi said a sum of Rs 4 lakh was spent on building the court, including its floodlights that cost Rs 1 lakh.

He said the idea was to provide more facilities to its spikers who were already playing for the Shivalik Volleyball Academy.

Mr Vijay Pal Singh, vice-president of the Volleyball Federation of India, said earlier Sports Complex, Sector 7, and SAI Girls Hostel, Sector 18, were equipped with floodlights.

Gymnasts excel
Four gymnasts of DAV Coaching Centre, Sector 10, brought laurels to Chandigarh by winning bronze medal in the Second Senior National Acrobatics Championships which concluded at Surat on November 1. The gymnasts are Govind, Hargun and Subhash (all students of GMSSS, Sector 10) and Navin Kumar (DAV College, Sector 10).

The Principal of the GMSS-10, Ms Indra Beniwal, appreciated the achievements of the gymnasts and also lauded the efforts of SAI coach Rajinder Sharma.

Cricket meet
Vivek High School, Sector 38, got the better of St John’s High School, Sector 26, by three wickets in the Blessed Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament at St John’s School grounds here today.

Brief scores: St John’s: 120 runs for six (Ranbir 51, Sanishchit 20).

Vivek School: 122 runs for seven in 24.3 overs (Aviram 34, Akshit 15, Abhinav 20, Ravi 2 for 22, Jasmeet 2 for 23).

AMBALA
Roller-skating event
Fourth Sushil Kumar memorial Ambala district roller skating championship will be held at Netaji Subhash Park, Ambala Cantonment on November 6 and 7. Teams will be selected from successful skaters of district championship for 18th Sushil Kumar Haryana State Roller Skating Championship to be held in Ambala from November 19 to November 21.

ADMINISTRATION

Sandhu to take over

Chandigarh, November 4
The newly-appointed Finance Secretary of the Chandigarh Administration, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has been relieved of his duties from Punjab and is expected to formally take over as Finance Secretary either tomorrow or on Saturday.

Mr Sandhu, along with the outgoing FS, Mr Karan Avtar Singh, is going to Delhi tomorrow where a crucial meeting on Budgetary allocations is scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mr Sandhu will attend to office work on Saturday, sources said. TNS

Guru Nanak Colony demolition drive put off till Divali
Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 4
Panic prevails among the 10,000 residents of the illegal Guru Nanak Colony, Phase X, here. Residents were today served notices by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to vacate their houses by 10 am tomorrow. Other than notices, PUDA has also made announcements in the colony to the effect.

A major demolition drive had been planned by PUDA in the colony for tomorrow. However, sources added, that a group of at least 1000 residents met the local MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, for help.

‘‘I assured them that their homes are safe till Divali after which the matter would be reviewed,’’ said Mr Bir Devinder Singh, adding that he had talked on this issue with the Chief Administrator PUDA, Mr A.S. Chattwal.

When contacted, Mr Chattwal said the drive had been put off till Divali.

‘‘The MLA has assured that the residents would voluntarily vacate their houses after the festival. We will take a decision on the matter then,’’he said.