UDHAMPUR, Jan 11: A meeting of District Udhampur Chess Association was held under the chairmanship of Aman Kalsotra, president District Udhampur Chess Association to discuss the schedule and arrangements of forthcoming District Udhampur Chess Championship 2014.
The Association has invited entries from the interested players for this year’s Jammu Kashmir Open Cup Chess Championship being held under different age groups in both male and female categories.
The tournament will be organized by Champions Club and sponsored by Research & Studies and Communication Education & Technology Cooperative Ltd.
The venue for the Championship will be Computer Point Technologies Institute, Mahatma Gandhi Marg and Opposite Delhi Public School Udhampur.
International rules will be applied in the championship and matches will be played on league cum knockout basis. Entries from both male & female players of all categories including blinds, handicapped are invited beforeJanuary 30, 2014. For further information, players can contact organizers at Mobile Nos 9419175264, 0199273770.
Table tennis coach Ramesh Magotra honing skill of players at Jammu Tennis Academy on Saturday.
JAMMU, Jan 11: Ramesh Magotra, chief coach of Jammu Tennis Academy, the first of its kind in the State, inaugurated Robot at the Academy in a simple function here today.
The Academy, sponsored by the world famous Sports Manufacturing Company ‘Stag International’ has the international level flooring, tables and almost all the basic infrastructure available to uplift the game of table tennis in the State.
Presently around 20 ace budding peddlers including junior champion Divyam, cadet champion Anant Rohmetra, girls champion Jahnavi, besides upcoming players Ansh, Daksh, Japneet and Iknoor are registered with this Academy, which is equipped with standard facilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Magotra said that the Robot will be very helpful not only to the newcomers but also to the experienced players, adding that it will make the players very skillful and make them play all around the table with more than 300 balls.
Colourful activity being carried by the students during Inter-School Sports meet at Government High School Palam in Rajouri.12
Jammu, Jan 11: Inter School Sports meet was organised for the schools of Palma village in Rajouri by a Territorial Army Battalion under Romeo Force. The competition was organized to promote sports as well as to build a spirit of competitiveness among the students of Palma. Volley ball, kho-kho, painting, sack and lemon race for the children under 18 years were held in the competition. The initiative drew an enthusiastic response from the participating school including Nawaz Public Higher Secondary School, Govt Girls Middle School, Govt Boys Higher Secondary School and Ajaz Public High School, Palma. The meet was coordinated in consultation with the Principals and Physical Training instructors of the respective schools. The event culminated with a cultural show on 11 January 2014 where the students who had earlier showcased their sporting skill on the sports field, now displayed their wonderful talent on the stage. The performance in the folk dance, songs and skits performed by the young and talented artists from the schools received a standing applause from one and all and were facilitated.
MATHURA, Jan 11:
Family members of slain Lance Naik Hemraj have written to the Prime Minister expressing anger over a video clip purportedly showing a person carrying the severed head of the soldier, who was decapitated by Pakistan Army regulars on the LoC a year ago.
Though the video clipping is blurred, Hemraj’s wife Dharmawati and his mother Meena Devi claimed that the head shown in it is that of the soldier.
The video, aired by some TV channels and also carried by social media on January 9, showed a person who according to media reports was a terrorist, allegedly parading the severed head of Hemraj on Pakistani soil along with his other belongings including torch batteries and low denomination Indian currency.
In the letter to the Prime Minister sent last evening, Hemraj’s family expressed anger over the incident and asked the Government why no strong measures have been taken.
After the surfacing of the video, angered local residents and political outfits held protests and burnt Pakistan effigies in the district, SSP Mathura Gulab Singh said.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had yesterday said that it could be a “serious issue” if found true that the video was indeed that of Lance Naik Hemraj who was beheaded by Pakistan Army regulars along the LoC last year.
“However, we should not act with anger and in a rage because we have seen many times that many fake videos are used to incite people,” he had said.
The Army Headquarters, however, has refused to comment on the issue saying they were not in a position to say anything on the content of the video. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 11: Army today recovered body of the soldier who was buried under an avalanche that struck an Army post two days ago in North Kashmir’s Macchil sector.
The rescuers including special troops this morning recovered the body of missing soldier Lampa Konyak after two days with the help of sniffer dogs.
Heavy snowfall along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir’s Macchil sector triggered avalanches and one of them hit a forward Army post on January 9, killing one Army jawan, T Sanatam Singh of Manipur, while another, Konyak, went missing.
Meanwhile, Indian Air Force air lifted four persons including a pregnant woman facing complications from Dabar village of Gurez to Bandipura using MI17 Helicopter.
A spokesman of the Army said here that Khursheeda Begum wife of Mohammed Ashraf, a pregnant woman along with other three persons were airlifted by Army’s Dabar Brigade with the help of Air Force.
Riding on right arm leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal’s five-wicket haul, Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh by 92 runs to enter into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy at Chinnaswamy Stadium here today.
Chasing a target of 333, UP were bundled out for 240 in 65.3 overs.
Batting first, Karnataka had scored 349 all out in the first innings with centuries from Robin Uthappa, Karun Nair and Chidambaram Gautam. In reply, UP declared their first innings at 221 for nine and their bowlers came back strongly to skittle Karnataka all out for 204 in their second innings.
With the match evenly poised at the resumption of the fourth day today, Karnataka bowlers wrested the initiative from the visitors as they used the early morning conditions to their advantage, picking up five wickets to put UP almost out of contention.
But Eklavya Dwivedi (33) and Piyush Chawla (44) put on a solid 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket to give Karnataka some anxious moments by keeping UP just 125 runs in sight of a victory.
The 20-year-old Gopal, however, had the last laugh as he sent home the first innings half-centurion Chawla, caught by Karun Nair, shattering UP’s hopes.
Gopal scalped five wickets for 59 in the second innings, unlike in the first innings, where he went wicket-less after conceding 30 runs. (PTI)
CHANDIGARH, Jan 11:
Legendary athlete Milkha Singh’s wife Nirmal Kaur and their US-based daughter have joined the Aam Aadmi Party, but the ‘Flying Sikh’ himself wants to stay away from politics.
Nirmal Kaur, also a yesteryears sportsperson, and her daughter Mona Singh have filled the membership form of Arvind Kejriwal’s party and Milka Singh says he respects their decision.
“Yes, they joined the AAP. They filled the form yesterday. Both have said that they were impressed with the aims and objectives of the party and with (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal’s work,” Milkha told reporters here today.
When asked if he too was contemplating joining AAP or any other party, Milkha, who represented the country in three Olympics and won four gold medals in the Asian Games in 1958 and 1962, said if he had wanted, he could have entered politics long back when Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were the prime minister.
“I could have joined politics during Nehru’s or Indira Gandhi’s time. I don’t want to (enter politics). I stay away from these things,” he said.
On the decision by his wife and daughter, he said both were mature and even his daughter was nearing 50 years and takes her own decisions.
“I can’t stop them,” he added.
Singh’s daughter is a doctor based in the United States, but regularly vists India to meet the family here.
He may be staying away from politics, but Milkha again said that iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar should be appointed Sports Minister of the country as he understands the problems faced by sportsperson and can raise the overall standard.
“Tendulkar should be made the sports minister. He has full knowledge about sports and it can be of immense help in lifting the standard of sports in the country. If he becomes the minister, the standard of sports will definitely go up,” Singh, who missed out on a bronze in the 400m race in 1960 Rome Olympics by a whisker, said.
The ‘Flying Sikh’ said that over the years his fight has been with the Government to acknowledge the contributions made by the sportspersons.
“Why can’t sportspersons like Tendulkar or PT Usha be appointed as Governors and Ambassadors. If politicians or retired bureaucrats could be appointed as Governors and Ambassador, why can’t the sportspersons be considered for such posts?” Milkha asked. (PTI)
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that the upcoming tour of New Zealand will be an ideal exposure trip for his young brigade as it prepares to defend the World Cup, which will be held in just over a year’s time in the Trans-Tasman nations.
“As far as experience is concerned, yes the next World Cup will be in Australia and New Zealand, so most of the players will get the feel, about the wickets. When I first went to New Zealand, the fielding position was very confusing. The shape of the grounds are very unusual,” Dhoni said during his team’s pre-departure press conference.
“We had to keep fine leg very deep and from a wicket keeping angle it looked like it was square leg. So it takes time to adjust. Overall, it would be a good exposure,” Dhoni said at the pre-departure conference here today.
He predicted an exciting series in New Zealand and said that some of the matches could be high scoring, especially with the new ICC rules.
“The grounds in New Zealand are different. In most places, there are drop-in pitches. It has been seen that the matches can be high scoring, especially with the new rule changes. When we went last time, we had played according to the old rules. (PTI)
JHANSI, Jan 11:
Stressing his desire to contest for the Prime Minister’s post, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections were “a matter of honour” for him, and asked the people to give the party a majority in the elections. “For the first time I am saying this, the next Lok Sabha election is a matter of my honour,” he said, addressing a “Desh Bachao Desh Banao” rally here, and asked the people to give SP a majority in the elections. “The occasion has come to remove the people who have not ended price rise and starvation in the country. The people must give SP a chance so that the country progresses,” he said. On the matter of extending support to form a coalition, the SP supremo said the party would weigh issues related to poor, farmers and youths. Citing scams, corruption and external security, Mulayam promised to bring about a political change and called upon the young generation to make SP successful. “We are doing politics for the people. SP is doing politics for poor, farmers, youths and women,” he said. Slamming the UPA Government, he said it was so weak that it has not been able to end starvation despite the abundance of food produced. “It is so unfortunate that despite farmers producing food grain in abundance, deaths are taking place due to starvation. This Government cannot feed the people of agri-oriented country. There is no Government shameless, weak and lowly than this,” he alleged. Highlighting the contribution of Muslims to the country, Mulayam said minorities should “not be viewed with suspicion”. “Farmers and Muslims have contributed 80 per cent to the development of the country. While farmers increased agricultural produce, Muslims promoted handiwork,” he said. “The clothes we are wearing, 80 per cent is made by Muslims. The major contribution in making weapons for the security of the country is that of Muslims. “Minorities are being viewed with an eye of suspicion in the country. They should not be viewed in that manner,” Mulayam said. Referring to the Sachar committee report, the SP supremo said it had stated that socio-economic condition of Muslims was worse than Dalits and recommended special facilities for them. He also attacked those indulging in politics over Muzaffarnagar riots, saying a conspiracy to divide the country was being hatched. On his statement on Muzaffarnagar riots that raised objections from Muslim leaders, he said, “I am deeply hurt with the incident. People are saying that SP and BJP are triggering riots.” He alleged that those indulging into politics over riots were conspirators and no government other than Akhilesh regime has helped victims in the country. Addressing party workers, Mulayam said that they should remember that indisciplined people could never win. “If you have to lodge a complaint then write a letter, but don’t maintain indifferences or indiscipline,” he said. Referring to Bundelkhand, he said that only SP worked for the development of the region and recalled how the party persuaded former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to arrange water for the area and made provision for special fund. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav launched and laid foundation of development projects worth Rs 900 crore on the occasion. “There is not much time left in the Lok Sabha elections. All parties are preparing for that and we have faith in you people. After this the ‘samajwadis’ (socialists) will not get a chance like this,” he said. (PTI)
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: Under the auspices of J&K State Sports Council and J&K Olympic Association, the Jammu and Kashmir Judo Association is organizing Kathua District Judo Championship at District Coaching Centre Kathua from January 15 and January 16, 2014. The Association has invited the players desirous to take part in the Championship to submit their entries alongwith the entry fee and report to the concerned coaches before January 14, 2014 at DDC Kathua.
