Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: Peepal Tree School celebrated Annual Day with zeal and fanfare.
On the occasion, Manish Sharma, Youth President, BJP, was the chief guest while Aakash Singh, Trustee, faculty members, parents and students were also present.
Speaking on the occasion school Principal presented the welcome address followed by annual report highlighting the achievements of the students in various curricular and co-curricular activities.
During the annual day celebrations, students presented various cultural items including dance numbers, colouring competition, talent show, group performances, etc and lifted the mood of the event thus making everyone cheer. Baby Show presented by the toddlers was highly appreciated by the audience with thundering applause.
While speaking Manish Sharma congratulated the school management for organizing the function and also appreciated the students for their performances in curricular and co-curricular activities.
He added that Peepal Tree School realizes the importance of grooming and nurturing of little ones and that is what it wants to convey to the parents through Baby Show.
Aakash Singh, in his speech appreciated the dedication and team-work of the school. He said this occasion gives them a sense of responsibility and togetherness.
Manish Sharma and Aaksah Singh along with other dignitaries presented prizes to students who excelled in curricular activities and brought laurels to the school.
At the end, Aaksh Singh presented vote of thanks.

SYDNEY, Apr 2:
Australia has named its largest-ever Olympic boxing team with representatives in every men’s weight division for the London Games.
The contingent will be led by world No. 2-ranked light heavyweight Damien Hooper, considered the best chance of giving Australia its first Olympic boxing medal since 1988.
Hooper qualified after reaching the quarterfinals of the recent world championships in Azerbaijan before being beaten by eventual world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz. The squad, announced Monday by the Australian Olympic Committee, also includes light flyweight Billy Ward, flyweight Jackson Woods, bantamweight Ibrahim Balla, lightweight Luke Jackson, light welterweight Jeff Horn, welterweight Cameron Hammond, middleweight Jesse Ross, heavyweight Jai Opetaia and super heavyweight Johan Linde. (Agencies)

NEW DELHI, Apr 2:
Three-time Olympian and former captain of the Indian hockey team Ajit Pal Singh today became the first sportsperson to be named India’s Chef-de-Mission for Olympic Games, bringing an end to the bitter wranglings for the post within the IOA.
The seven-member committee, which was formed to appoint the Chef-de-Mission for the July 27-August 12 Games, “unanimously” selected the former hockey star to head the Indian contingent in the London Olympic Games.
Making the announcement IOA Acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Senior Vice Presidents Tarlochan Singh and B P Baishya, both of whom were in the fray for the post, will be the IOA’s delegates for the Games.
“We have fulfilled yet another promise of giving the sportspersons a major role in the affairs of the Association,” Malhotra said.
He said he was confident that Ajitpal, 65, will live up to the high expectations, and will be a true ambassador of the country.
“It is not an ornamental post, it carries lot of responsibilities and Ajitpal as a leader will have to play the role which will bring glory to the country,” he added.
Malhotra also added that by appointing a sportsperson as Chef-de-Mission the “IOA members have silenced their critics once again who always used to say that athletes are being ignored in the functioning of the sports bodies”.
“We have set the trend, and I hope it will continue,” the acting president said.
IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh called it a historic decision, saying “an Olympic medal winner will be leading the Indian contingent in the Olympics for the first time”.
Malhotra further added that “before this also another far reaching decision was taken when IOA decided to share all the sponsors money with the qualified sportspersons”.
Giving his reaction, Ajitpal, who is holidaying in Goa, said he was humbled by the decision of the IOA. (PTI)

CHENNAI, Apr 2: ]
The Star Group today bagged the broadcast and digital rights of India’s international cricket matches at home for a period of six years after bidding a whopping Rs 3851 crore (approx USD 750 million).
The Rupert-Murdoch-owned company beat competition from Multi Screen Media (Sony) to bag rights for all international matches at home and domestic events like Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and the Irani Trophy starting from July 2012 till March 2018.
The company’s six-year contract is valued at Rs 3851 crore and will cover 96 matches in all. It would be coughing up Rs 40 crore per match on an average, much higher than the Rs 32.5 crore per match that Nimbus was paying the BCCI before its contract was terminate last year due to default in payments.
Star and Multi Screen Media (Sony) were the only two companies to make the bids but a total of five had filed the tenders.
“The BCCI is very happy with the deal. Now the media rights have been fully evaluated and fully priced with Star coming out with a such a deal,” BCCI President N Srinivasan told reporters while making the announcement.
The second highest bidder was Multi Screen Media (Sony), which bid Rs 3700 crore.
“Following a transparent process of verifying the eligibility of each bidder, the winner was chosen,” Srinivasan said.
Star Group’s India CEO Uday Shankar promised that the company would provide good telecast of the matches.
“I thank the BCCI for giving Star the broadcast rights. In collaboration with our partners ESPN, we will do a commendable job,” he said.
“We have already got channels. But the option of launching a channel, if number of matches demand that, is always open,” he added. (PTI)

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: J&K Taekwondo team today left for Guwahati, Assam, to participate in the 5th National Taekwondo Poomsae Championship scheduled to be held from April 6 onwards.
The team was flagged off by Anil Gupta, Chairman, J&K Taekwondo Association in presence of PC Sharma, president, DN Pangotra, organizing secretary and Nissar Hussain, vice president.
While speaking, Anil Gupta, said that participation holds the key to success in any sports event so the players should not give up and participate whole heartedly.
Meanwhile, J&K Taekwondo Association organised 21 days special pre-participation coaching camp for the said championship under the guidance of Vikrant Narwalia and Atul Pangotra, coaches.
The players who were going to participate in this included Atul Pangotra, Sanjay Kumar, Mohd Ali, Brinder Singh Manhas, Tashi Tundup, Sanket Sharma, Vishal Mahotra, Rahul Singh Chib, Adnan, Rajesh Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Kanav, Shehnaz Parveen, Ambreen Fatima, Narmita Katoch, Priyanka Sharma, Meenakshi, Shushely Magotra, Simran Kour and Shital Manhas.
The team will be accompanied by Vikrant Narwalia as coach while Ashish Bhardwaj as team manager.

CHENNAI, Apr 2:
Sachin Tendulkar today decided to hand over the captaincy of Mumbai Indians in the fifth edition of IPL to Harbhajan Singh following a discussion with the management of Mumbai Indians.
“Sachin Tendulkar in discussion with the management of Mumbai Indians has decided to hand over the responsibilities of captaining Mumbai Indians in Season V of the Indian Premier League to ace off spinner Harbhajan Singh,” a press release issued by Mumbai Indians stated.
“The Mumbai Indians is more than a team. It is like a family to me. At this point of time, I feel I need a break from the responsibility of captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. After due consideration, I discussed my intention to hand over the Captainship of the team to Harbhajan Singh, with Mukeshbhai and Nitabhabhi,” Tendulkar was quoted in the media release.
Tendulkar further stated, “I was touched by the graciousness and wholehearted support they offered me while emphasising that they would accept any decision which helps me to continue enjoying the game. Harbhajan will have my wholehearted support as the senior most player in the team.”
Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani termed it as a “difficult moment when Sachin expressed his desire to relinquish the captaincy.”
“But we believe that Sachin is the best judge on such matters and hence, as always, we fully support his decison. I have learnt a lot during the last three seasons working with Sachin closely. Sachin is the soul of Mumbai Indians, and I am sure he will guide Bhajji as he takes on the responsibility of captaining Mumbai Indians,” Nita Ambani said.
Harbhajan termed this as a “huge honour” as he thanked Sachin and Mrs Ambani for entrusting this responsibility.
“Sachin paaji spoke to me about his decision of wanting me to take over the responsibility of the team. It is huge honour and I thank Paaji and Nita Bhabhi for the faith reposed in my abilities”, he said.
“Mumbai Indians is a great team with explosive talent and promising youngsters. I am committed to do the very best and look forward to leading the team to play to its full potential during the season,” Harbhajan added. (PTI)

MOHALI, Apr 2:
Kings XI Punjab captain-cum-coach, Adam Gilchrist, today said there is no “secret tactic” to victory, but added they have a balanced squad that is capable of beating the best in business.
“We necessarily don’t have big list of names that match up with some other franchisees, but we have a balanced squad,” Gilchrist said at the PCA stadium here, four days ahead of their IPL-5 campaign opener against Rajasthan Royals on April 6 at Jaipur.
KXIP may have not won a title so far, but the Aussie insisted they were not going too much into the history, and instead want to derive positives from the past.
The side missed the semis by a whisker in the last edition, but made it to last-four under Yuvraj Singh in IPL-1.
“We have a balanced squad. We are playing competitive cricket. I don’t think there is any secret tactic that will guarantee victory,” he said in response to a question.
Joe Dawes, the newly appointed Indian bowling coach, who will play the same role for KXIP and Mike Young, the side’s fielding coach, were also present at the press conference.
Dawes sounded confident of an improved show.
“I am delighted to be a part of Kings XI Punjab as it is a young and enthusiastic team with some of the best players on its side. I am very confident about team’s performance in IPL season-5 and am looking forward to a great season of cricketing tournament,” said Dawes.
Chief Operating Officer of KXIP, Arvinder Singh and team’s assistant coach Vikram Rathore were also present.
However, in a departure from the past, none of the team’s co-owners were present at the press conference, with flamboyant Preity Zinta also conspicuous by her absence.
Gilchrist said there were some new additions to his team this season, including English pacer Stuart Broad.
“According to original plan, he was supposed to join us on April 8, but keeping in view his calf strain, we will have an update on his condition tonight as he was expected to undergo a scan today,” he said. (PTI)

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: Jammu Kashmir Police (JKP) is organizing 4 day Inter Zone Sports Meet from April 9 onwards.
This was stated by K Rajendra Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed/ Law and Order, during a meeting, chaired by senior police officers. The meeting was called to finalize the arrangements for the conduct of the Inter Zone Sports Meet.
Addressing the meeting, K Rajendra Kumar, disclosed that the event will have 14 disciplines in which a large number of sports personnel and athletes will participate and it will be played at different venues including Police Sports Stadium, Gulshan Ground, District Police Lines, Jammu University, CTC Sunjawan and Officers Mess.
He said that men and women players will participate in Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Boxing, Wrestling, Weight Lifting, Shooting, Kabaddi, Archery, Kho-Kho, Tug-of War, Badminton, Billiards, Table Tennis and Lawn Tennis events during the meet.
“The players will represent different zones of the organization viz Armed, Auxiliary, Civil Defence, SDRF, CID, Telecom, Crime, Traffic, Security, SSG, Railways and Training Zones, IGP said, adding, that Nodal Officers for all the zones have been designated and committees constituted to make the event a success”.
IGP further stated that the games will be conducted as per the rules laid down by All India Police Sports Council Board and all the events during the sports meet will be played on the knock-out basis.
“All necessary arrangements for boarding and lodging of the players have been finalized”, IGP added.
Among others present were IGPs, Dilbagh Singh, Zahoor Hussain Chisti, HK Lohia and Gulzar Ahmed Salathia, DIGs, Dr KK Saini, Yoginder Koul, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, P Namgyal, T Punchok, Avtar Singh Bali, JP Singh and Johny Williams, Medial Superintendent, Police Hospital, Basant Kumar Sharma and Commandants of Jammu based IR/ JKAP battalions.