Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: In view of the letter issued by Dr Farooq Abdullah, President Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) to Shamboo Nath Sharma, vice chairman JKCA, authorizing him to look after the affairs of the Association in Jammu, a meeting of the Presidents of Jammu based clubs was convened at JKCA Office, Bathindi, here today.
Hailing the decision of the JKCA President, the working committee members, mostly the presidents of Jammu based affiliate units of JKCA said that it was a right decision at the right time which will help in making right choices.
They assured the vice chairman, JKCA Jammu wing of their full cooperation in handling the affairs of the Association.
Meanwhile, all the members expressed concern over the organization of Prof Pran Nath Malhotra Memorial Cricket Tournament, terming it unauthorized for non participation of the affiliate clubs of JKCA, which otherwise is a regular feature for registered clubs of JKCA. How can one use name and style of JKCA in any activity, when the clubs affiliated to it are not participating, the members said.
The vice chairman assured the members that their concerns would be looked into seriously and would also be conveyed to the president from time to time. He also assured them that nobody would be allowed to misuse the names of the affiliated clubs.
Prominent among others present in the meeting were Mehboob Iqbal, Ramesh Mahajan, Ashutosh Sharma, Sham Swaroop Kalsotra, Brajinder Singh, Ankush Abrol, Sunit Sharma, Ravi Kant Gupta, Desh Rattan Dubey, Ravinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar and Raina.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, June 4: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Udhampur, PK Pole inaugurated the ‘Summer Camp’ in an impressive, colourful and well attended function at Delhi Public School, here today.
During the inaugural ceremony, the DDC was taken to various activity sites which included shooting, splash pool activity, horse riding, dance, skating, martial art, music and ‘art and craft’.
Mr Pole was highly impressed by the performances of the children and appreciated them for the same.
Chairman of School, Dr JC Gupta, Sucheta Gupta and other staff members were present on the occasion.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: After thrashing the formidable side of JK Media XI in the first match convincingly, the die-hard team of Kathua XI registered their second comfortable win against Patel Cricket Club today, to move into the third round of the ongoing 3rd Pran Nath Malhotra Memorial Cricket Tournament at GGM Science College Hostel ground, here.
Earlier, batting first, Patel Cricket Club bundled out for a paltry total of 121 runs in 32.4 overs. Sunny Choudhary was the top scorer with 41 runs, which included 3 boundaries, while Narinder contributed 28 runs with the help of 3 boundaries. Madan Singh also made 13 runs including 2 fours. Rompy Sharma and Tarseem scalped 3 wickets each for Kathua XI, while Kaka and Shiv Dutt claimed 2 wickets each.
Kathua XI chased the target easily in 15.2 overs by losing 2 wickets and won the match by 8 wickets. Pankaj slammed a splendid half-century, scoring brisk 55 runs off 44 balls including 9 fours and one maximum, while Vishu contributed valuable 43 runs with the help of 9 fours. Madan and Narinder took one wicket each for Patel Cricket Club.
The match was officiated by Saleem-ur-Rehman and Harsh Nayyar as umpires, while Raghav Verma was the scorer.

New Delhi, June 4:
Sachin Tendulkar should not restrict himself to just highlighting issues concerning sports during his new innings in the Indian Parliament but should also work for causes related to the common man, former captain Sunil Gavaskar said today.
Tendulkar today took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha and said that he would work for all sports and not just cricket during his tenure in the upper House of Parliament.
However, Gavaskar said, Tendulkar should utilise the big platform to raise issues which are not just confined to the world of sports.
“I think, in my view he should not limit himself to just sports. It is a tremendous opportunity, tremendous platform to express on all matters what he and his generation thinks, should be done to take the nation forward,” Gavaskar said.
“How he looks upon this, it up to him. But as I said, it is a tremendous platform, if he can use it to help India grow as a nation, that would be terrific,” the batting great said.
Suggesting how Tendulkar should approach his new innings, the former Test opener said initially he could start by raising issues concerning sports and later expand his role.
“If you have people with integrity and credibility that Sachin has, his joining public life is good for country. I hope Sachin plays his innings in Rajya Sabha, like he plays in Test match, starting with V and later expand shots.
“He can start with looking at sports angles and expand himself and then take it beyond sports, what is connected with the common man and what makes common man happier. When Sachin talks everybody listen. That’s a responsibility, and he has the capability to do it,” Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar was sure that Tendulkar’s nomination has nothing to do with politics.
“As he clarified he did not go to any party, he was nominated for his outstanding achievements in the field of cricket. I don’t think he should be too much into anything other than that,” he said. (PTI)

Paris, June 4:
Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi inched towards their second Grand Slam title together as they progressed to the mixed doubles semifinals of the French Open after shocking second seeds Kveta Peschke and Mike Bryan, here today.
The seventh seed Indian pair breezed past the Czech-American pair 6-2 6-3 in just under an hour in the quarter-finals of the clay court Major.
The Indians saved all the four breakpoints they faced in the match and converted four of the five chances they got.
Bhupathi and Mirza, the winners of the 2010 Australian Open, now await the winner of the other quarter-final match between the pairs of Galina Voskoboeva/Daniele Bracciali and Nuria Llagostera/Oliver Marach.
Another Indian in the fray is Leander Paes, who along with Russian partner Elena Vesnina is set to take on top seeded Liezel Huber and Max Mirnyi in another last-eight stage contest. (PTI)

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: Ten days Summer Camp titled ‘Lets Beat the Heat’ got underway at KC Gurukul, here today.
School Principal, Dr BR Dogra inaugurated the Camp in a simple function. The activities to be held during the Camp include yoga, classical dance and calligraphy.
The services of the trainers of great repute have been hired by the School Management for smooth and successful conduct of the camp. The trained persons included Narayan for dance, Dr Neelam Khajuria for Yoga and Sohail for physical fitness and self defence.

New Delhi, June 4:
Sports broadcasters ESPN STAR and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced a new seven-year contract for exclusive rights to telecast its domestic and home international matches.
The deal, which runs from 2013 to 2019, incorporates exclusive rights for television, online, mobile and radio, covering major cricket markets of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh among others across Asia; the broadcast arrangement also includes territories in North Africa.
As a part of this agreement, ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast more than 300 days of live international cricket action, including 47 Test Matches, 63 One-day Internationals and 15 Twenty20 games. (PTI)
Key highlights of this new agreement include India’s next two tours to England in 2014 and 2018 as well as three Ashes series in 2013, 2015 and 2019. (PTI)

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KATRA, June 4: Defeating Kamaljot of Khanna in Punjab in a hard fought main bout, Wrestler Abdul Gani of Mallarkotla in Punjab lifted the 14th Annual Karua Kesari Vishal Dangal Title, here today.
The event was organized by Karua Dangal Committee in collaboration with J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, under the overall supervision of its president Shiv Kumar Sharma.
The winner was presented a cash prize of rupees 6000 along with silver ‘gurj’ and ‘patta’, while the winner received a cash prize of rupees 5000 from the chief guest, Shiv Kumar Sharma, member J&K State Sports Council.
In all 56 bouts were held in this event, wherein second main bout was clinched by Benia of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who defeated Abdul Gaffar of Mallerkotla in Punjab. These two wrestlers got a cash prize of rupees 5500 and 4500 respectively. The third bout went to Roshan Lal of JKP, who defeated Punjab wrestler Parveen.

New Delhi, June 4:
Olympic-bound Indian discus thrower Krishna Poonia marginally improved her performance with an effort of 62.34m but that was enough to win her a silver medal at the Post Pre Elite Womens’ event at Portland, USA today.
Two days back, Poonia had missed out on a medal at the Perfontaine Classic Diamond League Meet at Eugene in the US when she managed a distance of 62.11m. (PTI)
However, with a slight improvement, she won a silver in Portland event. The gold went to Russian Darya Pischalnickova, who threw the discus at an impressive distance of 66.38 metres in her fifth attempt.