Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Medicos Digest in collaboration with Bhai Kanhiya Ji Trust Hospital and Sudha Memorial Dental Care Centre organized symposium on AIDS and Powerpoint presentation on Oral Hygiene at Army Public School Domana.
On the occasion, Senior Advocate RS Pathania was the chief guest while organizer of the event Dr Wasim was also present.
Dr Wasim presented the welcome address.
In the symposium, Aayushi of Army Public school bagged first prize, Astha of Dream Land Public School bagged second prize while Rahshit Sharma of Army Public School bagged third prize. Consultation prizes were given to Diksha, Pawan Raj of Army Public School and Iqra Choudhary of Cresent Public School.
While in Power Point Presentation on Oral Hygiene, Preeti of Indira Gandhi Dental College bagged Ist prize, Tabeya Deep Kour of Dental College Sehora bagged second prize and Sehrish Fatima bagged 3rd prize.
The judges of the programme were Dr Nitan Khudyar, Savinder, Dr Mandeep Kour and Dr GS Wali.
Symposium on AIDS held
Campaign on ‘Forests for Sustainable Development’ concludes
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Government Middle School, Dharm Khoo, organised a Symposium on the concluding day of two months long campaign on forest and environment title “Forests for Sustainable Development”.
During the two months long campaign, various events were organised including rallies, visit to religious places, drawing competition, plantation drive, etc.
On the concluding day, Rofi Mohd Butt, DFO and Principal, Forest Guards Training School, Doomi, was the chief guest, who presented the prizes to the winners of various activities.
Sushil Gargotra emerged winner in symposium, Priya Devi and Karan Gargotra in drawing and Nanu Verma in general knowledge.
Among others present were Madhu Bala, incharge teacher, Krishan Kataria, Bachno Gargotra, Captain Subash Sharma, Puja Manhas and Rattan Lal, teachers and Suman Kataria, medical teacher.
Basketball trials on Apr 26, 27
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: J&K Basketball Association is conducting final trials to select boys and girls teams for their participation in the 38th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship, organised by Basketball Association of India in association with Goa Basketball Association to be held at Agnel Charities, Verna, Goa from May 6 to 12.
The trials will be held at Basketball court, Police Sports complex, Gulshan ground, on April 26 and 27 from 3pm to 6 pm.
All the affiliated units, districts, clubs, institutes and schools of the association are requested to direct their registered players to attend the trials along with the authority letters duly signed by their concerned authorities.
The coaching camps for both sub-junior boys and girls will be conducted at the above said venues till the departure of the team under the supervision of Rohit Chibber, Basketball coach, J&K Police for boys and Surinder Singh for girls.
Inter Block Level PYKKA Tourney concludes
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Maira Mandiarian panchayat thrashed Daskal panchayat in the finals by 27-15 points and claimed the title trophy of Kabaddi event of Inter Block Level PYKKA Tournament (under 16 girls) organised by Department of Youth Services and Sports at Akhnoor.
In Kho-Kho finals, Gandrawan panchayat trounced Daskal panchayat by just 1 point (3-2) and secured the title trophy whereas in the finals of Volleyball, Gandrawan panchayat beat Ambaran panchayat by two sets.
The matches were officiated by Raman Kumar, Ramesh Chandu, Ramesh Kumar and Chandu Prabha, PEMs and Rano Devi, PET.
The tournament was organised under the supervision of Tirth Ram, District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO) and Sher Singh, ZPEO, Akhnnor.
Meanwhile, Manchak Panchayat outplayed Upper Narayana panchayat in the finals and pocketed the title trophy of Volleyball event of Inter Block Level PYKKA Tournament (under 16 girls and boys) organised by Department of Youth Services and Sports at Government Girls High School Khour.
In Volleyball boys final, Lower Pallanwala panchayat defeated Upper Pallanwala panchayat by straight 2 sets and claimed the title trophy.
In Kabaddi girls final, Manchak panchayat trounced Upper Narayana panchayat by a huge margin of 10 points and secured win.
Earlier, during the inaugural ceremony, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, was the chief guest, who while speaking detailed about PYKKA scheme and stressed upon the youth to come forward and avail the benefits of the scheme.
DoP to hold All India Postal Football Tourney
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Department of Posts (DoP) will hold an All India Postal Football Tournament at Bakshi stadium here in August this year.
This was disclosed by Chief Postmaster General John Samuel during a press conference here today.
He said that for the first time in the history of Postal Services in Jammu and Kashmir, All India Postal Football Tournament will be held in Srinagar, in which Football teams across India will be participating.
He said that the tournament will be conducted in association with Jammu and Kashmir Football Association.
Samuel also announced that India Post will be holding Speed Post Football Tournament, Postal Life Insurance Cricket Tournament and India Post Badminton Tournament during this year.
“All these events will be open to other Government departments and institutions also”, he informed.
Tendulkar turns 39; teammates, fans celebrate
CHANDIGARH, Apr 24:
Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar today turned 39 and celebrated the occasion with a simple cake cutting function with his wife and Mumbai Indians teammates at the team hotel here.
After a strenuous training session at the PCA Stadium at Mohali ahead of Mumbai Indians’ IPL match tomorrow, a small party was held with his MI teammates cutting the birthday cake which had cricket field as its theme.
The PCA also organised a small function to mark Tendulkar’s birthday, where a cake was cut and a memento was presented to him by Joint Secretary G S Walia.
“Many many happy returns of the day. May he stay happy and healthy forever,” MI skipper Harbhajan Singh said wishing the legend.
“It’s a bit of a tradition that you celebrate by painting pieces of cake on each other’s face. It’s quite fun,” said MI coach Shaun Pollock.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar’s die-hard fans celebrated the occasion in their own way by cutting cakes at various places and carrying posters of their icon. He was mobbed by the fans at the PCA Stadium where he had a practice session in the afternoon. (PTI)
Praneeth, Sameer lose; Arundhati, Neha make main draw
NEW DELHI, Apr 24:
Indian men’s shuttlers Sai Praneeth and Sameer Verma wasted match points to bow out but their female counterparts Arundhati Pantawane and Neha Pandit notched up contrasting victories to reach the main draw of the Yonex Sunrise India Open Super Series here today.
National Games champion Arundhati saw off Sabrina Jaquet of Switzerland 19-21 21-13 21-18 to set up a clash against fourth seed Chinese Yanjiao Jiang in the main draw of the women’s singles tomorrow at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.
The Nagpur girl didn’t have to play the first qualifying round after her opponent Jing Yi Tee of Malaysia was promoted to the main draw.
Pune girl Neha also reached the main draw after beating fellow Indian Mohita Sahdev 21-17 22-24 21-14. She had defeated Trupti Murgunde after the latter retired mid-way at 11-21 2-11.
Praneeth, who had beaten Srikanth K 21-12 21-18 in the first qualifying round, suffered a 21-19 19-21 21-23 loss to Suppanyu Avihingsanon of Thailand. The Indian got ample chance to pocket the match after reaching the match point but he squandered it all as the Thai shuttler clinched the issue with a smash in the end.
Sameer was no better as the Indian too had a bright chance of making the cut but wasted match points in the second game and suffered a 21-17 23-25 14-21 defeat to Vladimir Ivanov of Russia. He had beaten Russian Ivan Sozonov 21-16 21-9 in the first round. (PTI)
KKR-DC IPL match abandoned
KOLKATA, Apr 24:
The Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers at the Eden Gardens here was today abandoned without a single ball being bowled after a squall accompanied by heavy rains rendered the ground unplayable.
Both sides got a point each.
Earlier, thunderstorm coupled with heavy showers have delayed the start of the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers here today.
Showers accompanied by lightning, which began around the scheduled toss time of 7.30 pm, led to covering the ground. (PTI)
Sehwag slams fifty, leads DD to easy win over Pune
PUNE, Apr 24:
Skipper Virender Sehwag butchered a lacklustre Pune Warriors India attack as Delhi Daredevils romped home by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League encounter, here today.
Sehwag scored 87 off a mere 48 balls as Delhi extracted a sweet revenge of their defeat at the hands of the same opposition three days back.
Delhi’s domination was evident by the fact that they won the match with as many as four overs to spare.
And leading the charge was Sehwag whose innings was studded with 10 fours and three six.
Sehwag added 89 runs for the second wicket with Kevin Pietersen (27 off 21) in just 8.2 overs, and that paved the way for the convincing victory.
Earlier, despite a few drop catches, the Daredevils rode on a disciplined bowling effort to restrict the Warriors to a modest 146 for two.
When the visitors turn to bat came, Mahela Jayawardene initially went for his shots, while Sehwag was happy to play the second fiddle, but after the Sri Lankan was run out for a 14-ball 18, the latter started to free his arms.
After sending the ball twice to the fence in one of Ashish Nehra’s overs, Sehwag hit Luke Wright, who replaced Angelo Mathews for this game, for a four and a six off consecutive balls.
Pietersen joined the party and the duo smashed the Pune bowlers at will to take the team past the 100-mark in the 11th over.
Rahul Sharma gave the hosts a breakthrough by sending back Pietersen, but by then the damage had been done.
It was just a matter of time before Sehwag and Ross Taylor took the Daredevils home.
Earlier, Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa scored half centuries to help Pune Warriors recover from a disastrous start. (PTI)
No excitement left in foreign countries, Kashmir is No. 1 destination: Saroj Khan
Fayaz Bukhari

Srinagar Apr 24: As the foreign countries like United States, United Kingdom and Europe have been overused by Bollywood, Kashmir is becoming number one destination for the film shoots the Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan said here today.
Saroj Khan, while choreographing the film Kash Tum Hote in Tulip Garden, Srinagar today, said that it is because of the security situation in Kashmir that forced the Bollywood to move towards United States, Europe and United Kingdom for film shoots.
Mesmerized with the beauty of Kashmir, Khan said “even if we put together four Europe’s, we can’t get the variety and location that we get for film shoots in Kashmir”.
She said that now the doors of Kashmir have opened and more film units will return to Kashmir. She said that film units were going out for the green backgrounds but these types of valleys, flowers and beauty is out of question. “Kashmir was always in our dreams”, she added
She said that she was just 11 years of age when she came to Kashmir neither as dance director nor choreographer but group dancer. She said that she did open dance for the first time in film Kanaya that was shot here with Raj Kapoor and Nutan as lead characters.
“Ruk Ja O Jane Wale Ruk Ja was the song and from here our connection with Kashmir began”, Khan said, adding during those days every second film was being shot here.
She said that such was love of Shammi Kapoor and Dharminder for Kashmir that they used to stay here for six months and used to call film units one by one. She said that she has lot of sweet and unforgettable memories of Kashmir.
Khan said that Kashmir has changed a lot over the decades as natural beauty has faded away. She advised Kashmiris not to go for concrete structures as they are ruining this place.
She said that Bollywood has over used Europe and other foreign countries and there is no excitement left in them now, adding that Kashmir is Number one destination for film shoots.
Film Kash Tum Hote was shot in Gulmarg and for last two days it was shot in Tulip garden with tourists and weather playing spoilsport. They are moving to Sonmarg after finishing their shoot in Tulip garden.
The film is being directed by Israr Ahmad with Priyanka Kapoor as its producer and actress and Mukesh Bharti as the main actor. Both the actor and actress are making their debut.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Mohibul Haque, a politician turned film maker from Assam is currently shooting in the Valley his second film 18.11 – A code of Secrecy. His first and only Assamese film Juman-Suman (2003) has won the best film award in 2004. His present film is in Hindi.
Fascinated by the beauty of Kashmir, and pleased with the kindness and generosity of Kashmiris, the film maker said apart from the natural beauty God has given to this land, its people are laudable for their exemplary hospitability.
In the meantime, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan who watched the trailers of Qasam Se Qasam Se, is eager to shoot in Kashmir. Salman was so impressed with the beauty of Kashmir that he has told his brother Arbaaz Khan that the second schedule of Dabangg 2 should be shot in Kashmir.
Amir Khan shot for incredible India early this year in Kashmir and showed his eagerness to shoot in Kashmir.