Chandigarh, May 25
Twenty volunteers from the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), Asia Centre, today assembled on the CYP campus in Sector 12 to pay homage to those who have succumbed to the HIV virus. Candles in hand and talking hope, the volunteers, headed by regional director R.K. Mishra, took out a march as a mark of reverence to departed souls.

The occasion was meant to observe the Global AIDS Week of Action celebrated every year between May 20 and 26. Started last year, the week attracted participation from 30 countries. This time, there has been a more heartening participation, with more and more volunteers joining the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mishra said the volunteers lit lamps for the millions affected or infected with the HIV virus across the world. Also present was Hasan Shifu, programme manager, who said every little thing an individual does to fight against AIDS matters.

Gaurav Gaur, one of the commonwealth youth ambassadors engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention at Chandigarh, spoke for all. “We must spread the message of HIV/AIDS awareness faster than the virus,” he said.

Chandigarh, May 25
Some of the top lawn tennis players of the region will be seen in action during the $15,000 SAIL India 3 ITF Men's Futures that begins at the CLTA Stadium in Sector 10 from May 28.

Former hard court national champion and Davis Cupper, Sunil Kumar Sipeya and Sanam Singh, both trainees of the CLTA, will be competing fortop honours.

They will be seen in the main draw of 32 by virtue of their ITF rankings.

Three trainees of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association - Kinshuk Sharma, Vijayant Malik and Tushar Liberhan - have got wild cards in the main draw of 32.

The qualifying matches of eight qualifiers for the main draw will commence tomorrow at 9 am. Shiva Sangwan and Mandeep Singh Gill, trainees of the CLTA, have got wild cards in the qualifying 
draw of 64.

Others who have been given wild cards are N.P. Sidhu, Satpal Dagar, Gursharan Singh, Ronak Manjua, K. Entekhabi Fard and Rohan Gujjar. 

Chandigarh, May 25
Trials to select the city teams (boys and girls) for participation in the 24th Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championship and the 34th Junior Aquatic National Swimming Championship will be held at the nursery swimming pool in Sector 23 here on June 3.

Chairman of the city ad hoc committee on swimming S.M. Sharma said juniors and sub-juniors had been divided into four groups. Those born between 1990 and 1992 had been placed in group I while those born in 1993 and 1994 had been put in group II in the junior category. In the sub-junior category, those born in 1995 and 1996 had been kept in group III while those born in 1997 and 1998 had been placed in group IV.

The National Aquatic Championship is scheduled to be held in Goa from June 21 to 34 while the National Swimming Championship is to be held in Bhopal from July 4 to 8.

Sharma said aspirants should get themselves registered with Paramjit Singh at the nursery swimming pool on or before June 2.

He said those who had been participating from other states during previous years would be required to get a no-objection certificate from the state associations concerned.

Chandigarh, May 25
Trials to select the Chandigarh team for the Thirty Overs Cricket Tournament to be held in Hoshiarpur from June 2 will be conducted at St Kabir Public School,  Sector 26, on May 27 at 10 am, according to Ravinder Kumar, president, Chandigarh Thirty Overs Cricket Association. — TNS