Chandigarh, July 23
Using the medium of infotainment the Haryana unit of the CII organised an awareness session on HIV/AIDS at Sandhar Technologies limited here today. The session was organised to generate awareness on HIV/AIDS among the industrial workers through its initiative ‘Listen, learn and live: Prevention is cure’.

CII’s NGO partners for this programme were Jagran and Naz Foundation (India) Trust. Two pantomime plays, ‘Radheysham ki Kahani’ and ‘Mela’ were performed, focusing on the vulnerability to the epidemic, different routes of transmission of virus, precautions to be taken and the myths and misconceptions related to HIV/AIDS.

The play was followed by an interactive-cum-counselling session where different queries of the workers regarding the difference between HIV and AIDS, precautionary measures, information on the schemes of government for the people living with HIV/AIDS and many questions related to HIV/AIDS were addressed by the counsellors from Naz Foundation (India) Trust.

The CII, Jagran and the Naz Foundation (India) Trust distributed information, education and communication (IEC) material to the target audience. The CII Haryana State Council would be organising a series of sensitisation sessions for member companies based in Haryana through similar awareness sessions.

Patiala, July 23
The inaugural edition of the Manjeet Memorial Football Tournament, being organised by the Dalbir Football Academy, commenced at the Punjabi University grounds, here today.

In the first match of the day, Khair Acchrawal Football Academy downed New Public School Academy by a solitary goal. In another match, Buddho Kalan Football Academy, Nawashahr, beat Sanjay Football Academy, Chandigarh, by two goals. 

Chandigarh, July 23
Shriman Ishwar Singh Memorial Education and Welfare Society will be conducting Shriman Ishwar Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament at I S Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, from July 27 to 30.

The tournament is being organised on the occasion of golden jubilee celebration of the school to mark the centenary of Shriman Ishwar Singh Ji. According to secretary Dr Sumati Kanwar over 10 teams from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will be competing in the tournament. In addition, the society will honour veteran cager and Arjun Awardee Suman Sharma.

Chandigarh, July 23
Rain played spoilsport during the league match between St. Anne’s and St. Xavier’s teams in the first CCA Under-11 Gold Cup Cricket Tournament at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 grounds here today.

As the match could not be completed due to wet conditions, both the team got two points each.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, St Anne’s team piled up 139 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Ashish and Abhinav played the key role with their batting skills. Ashish remained not out on 29 runs whereas Abhinav scored 23. Apporva contributed 19 runs to St. Anne’s cause.

For St Anne’s Rudra, Jaspreet and Montej clinched one wicket each. Rudra conceded 23 runs while Jaspreet and Montej conceded 20 and 29 runs, respectively, in the process.

Chasing the target St. Xavier was on 24 for 3 in five overs when rain forced the play to stop.

The tournament is being organised by GNPS & CCA Academy-36.

Brief Scores

St. Annes: 139 for 4 in 20 overs (Ashish 29 n o, Abhinav 23, Apoorva 19, Rudra 1 for 23, Jaspreet 1 for 20, Montej 1 
for 29).

St. Xaviers: 24 for 3 in 5 overs (rain stopped play).

Mohali, July 23
“For me fielding is important and I always emphasise on top-class fielding,” said newly appointed Punjab Ranji coach Gursharan Singh at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium here today.

“With top-class fielding any team can tilt the results in their favour,” said the coach, who has a world record of taking four catches as 12th man of the Indian squad.

On his new job as Ranji coach, the level 2 coach said: “Imparting training to budding cricketers is not new to me as I am on the job from 1995 onwards, the year I left first-class cricket. But definitely taking charge as coach of one of the top five teams of the country is interesting and challenging as well. It will not be difficult for me to handle the Punjab team as I was part of the team in the nineties and quite familiar with many senior players of the state,” said Gursharan Singh.

“I want that the players should have top class fitness level. Equally, they have to be mentally tough. So I will spend over one and a half hours on physical fitness and fielding. Besides, running between the wickets will also be focussed. At this level, I think that it would not be appropriate to get in the way of natural skills of any player,” said Gursharan Singh.