Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 6: The University of Kashmir will conduct various types of training programmes for all the postal staff in Kashmir region so that the post office functions in a professional manner. This decision was taken in a joint meeting held between John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K and Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir today. The training will begin from March, 2013 onwards.
John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K, said that the training will cover key areas including personality development, leadership development, financial management, total quality management, marketing management, customer relationship skills etc. The training programmes will be developed by University of Kashmir and all the staff members of Post Office will undergo the training programmes in a phased manner.
In addition, it was decided that a workshop on gender sensitization will be organized by KU for the post office staff.
Chief Postmaster General announced that apart from training programmes and workshops, the staff will be sent to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore etc for training on various postal products including Philately, Speed Post, Mail Management, Parcel etc.
Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir said that the University was much pleased to provide the required training facilities to the post office staff.
The meeting was also attended by many officers of the University including Dean Academic Affairs, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Director NSS and Executive Engineer.
Meanwhile the Post Office Building at University of Kashmir is being modernized with a view to provide better facilities to the students studying in the University.

NEW DELHI, Feb 6
Experienced forward Danish Mujtaba was today named captain of the Indian hockey team for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Invitational Tournament even as senior drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was relegated to the standbys list for the March 6 to 17 event in Malaysia.
Hockey India selector Syed Ali, chief coach Michael Nobbs and Exercise Physiologist Jason Konrath alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh selected the list of 18 players with eight standbys on the basis of their recent performance in the ongoing inaugural season of Hero Hockey India League.
Sandeep, who is the top goal-scorer in the HIL, had been named a standby in the squad for the Hero Hockey World League Round 2 to be held here from February 18 to 24.
At the Azlan Shah, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will be the Vice-Captain of the squad which has eight forwards, five mid-fielders and three defenders.
The Squad:
Goal Keepers: PR Sreejesh (Vice-Captain), Sushant Tirkey
Fullbacks: Rupinderpal Singh, Harbir Singh, Gurjinder Singh.
Half-backs: Amit Rohidas, Gurmail Singh, Manpreet Singh, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, MB Aiyappa.
Forwards: Danish Mujtaba (Captain), Nithin Thimmaiah, Satbir Singh, Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Dharamvir Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi.
Standbys: Keshav Dutt (Goalkeeper), Sandeep Singh (Defender), Pardeep Mor (Midfielder), Surender Kumar (Midfielder), Malak Singh (Forward), Imran Khan (Forward), Amon Mirash Tirkey (Forward), Siddarth Shanker (Forward). (PTI)

KOLKATA, Feb 6
Top seed Nitten Kirrtane and second seed Saurav Sukul sailed into the quarter-finals men’s singles event of the AITA Grass Court Tennis Championship after outplaying their respective opponents, here today.
Kirrtane of Maharashtra got the better of young talent from National Tennis Academy, Keneizotuo Whourie 6-1, 6-1 while Sukul from Bengal and ranked 21 in the country, outplayed yet another promising player from NTA Vilasier Khate 6-2, 6-3.
Top seed Natasha Palha in the women’s singles blanked local girl Shruti Gupta 6-0, 6-0 while second seed Amrita Mukherjee thrashed Karnataka’s Sahan Shetty 6-2, 6-1.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 6: Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, University of Jammu is going to organize 40th Inter-Collegiate Athletic Meet for men and women from February 13 to 15 at Sports Stadium, New Campus, University of Jammu.
In the competition, around 400 athletic from different colleges are likely to participate.
All the arrangements have been made. All the Principals of the concerned Colleges, Director/ Incharge Sports and others have been requested to ask their athletes and students to participate in the meet.
The inaugural ceremony of the meet will be held at 11 am on February 13, whereas the closing ceremony will be at 3 pm on February 15.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 6: NIIT is going to conduct the 9th NIIT National IT Aptitude Test (NITAT) on February 17 to enable students and graduates to ascertain for the IT industry.
Announcing this, RK Sharma, Chairman cum Managing Director, Jammu NIIT said that with the employability of Graduates becoming a concern for the industry, National IT Aptitude Test is beneficial for both, students seeking to identify their aptitude and the industry, which is on lookout for the right talent.
He further asked the Graduate students from any discipline and industry and Engineering and IT students to take this aptitude test to know their aptitude for IT employment.
Top 1000 candidates will also be awarded a congratulatory letter signed by World Chess Champion and NIIT Mind Champion Viswanathan Anand, Sharma informed.
Students can learn about the benefits of appearing in the 9th NITAT and register online by logging on to www.niit.com/nitat or by visiting the nearest NIIT center.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 6: NCC Cadet Baber Ali Khan has been awarded Raksha Mantri Commendation Card and a cash award of Rupees 7500 for his outstanding achievements in the field of mountaineering.
NCC Directorate honoured NCC Cadet SUO Baber Ali Khan of 2 J&K Battalion NCC on being awarded the Raksha Mantri Commendation Card, on the occasion of Republic Day.
The Commendation Card of Raksha Mantri was presented to the cadet by Major General NS Jamwal, ADG NCC, J&K in the presence of Group Commander, Colonel AS Chandoke, Colonel US Chouhan Director, Colonel Rawel Singh and Army Officers.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb 6: Shivalik College of Education in collaboration with Jan Sangarsh organized a programme on “Save The Girl Child”.
On the occasion, Choudhary Lal Singh, Member Parliament, was the chief guest, while PK Poley, District Development Commissioner, was the guest of honour.
Students of Happy Model Higher Secondary School and Shivalik College presented various cultural items highlighting the need to save girl child.
A rally was also organized, in which hundreds of students participated.
Among others present were President of Jan Sangarsh Advocate Sanjeet Kumar, Advocate Swatanter Dev Kotwal, Sarpanchs, Panchs , Chief Education Officer, CMO, college management led by Dr Mineesh Gulati, Chairperson, HoD Sunita Koul and Principal Dr Vikram Gulati.

KOLKATA, Feb 6:
Overnight leader Smriti Mehra extended her lead to seven shots after carding a brilliant two under 68 on day two of the second leg of the Women’s Professional Golf Tour, here today.
Smriti started off with a bogey but got better as the day progressed and finished with five birdies at the 5th, 9th, 10th 13th and 14th holes at the Tollygunge Golf Club.
She now has total of 135, seven clear of Neha Tripathi, who ended the second round at par 70.
Neha was brilliant in the front nine with a score of one under 33 but lost her way in the back nine, where she had four bogeys. She finished with two over 72, with a total of 142.
Vani Kapoor, who was placed second at the end of the first round had a disappointing second round with a score of five over 75. She dropped to the third spot with a total of 144. She had four bogeys and a double bogey.
Sharmila Nicollet, the lone Indian at the Ladies European Tour, finished the day with a score of two over 72 is placed fourth with total of 145.
Vandana Agarwal (76-74) is fifth and Rani Sonti (75-76) is placed sixth. (PTI)