Excelsior Sports Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Apr 24: Sports Authority of India organised three days selection trials to induct sports players in different sports disciplines for the current fiscal near CEO’s Office.
On the first day of the trials today, 80 sports persons reported for selection trials in three sports including Athletics, Kabaddi and Volleyball.
After registration, some battery tests of the players were taken. The selection trials will be going on next two days also and sports person, who reports to the venue, will be entertained.
The selection trials were conducted by Gurmesh Singh, Volleyball coach, BS Sidhu, Athletic coach, MS Verma, Kabaddi coach, Hardeep Singh, Hockey coach (coordinator) and Yog Raj, LDC, coordinator and were assisted by all coaches of the center.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Symposium on “Role of Community in the Promotion of Elementary Education”, marked the conclusion of Enrolment Drive organised by Zonal Education Officer, Gandhi Nagar at Government Middle School, Railway Colony.
In the symposium, students from various schools participated and expressed their views on the topic.
Kajal from GMS Railway Colony was adjudged first while Manish Kumar from GMS, Gandhi Nagar secured second position.
Earlier, during the enrolment drive, various activities were carried out including sports activities, rallies and panchayat level women conventions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

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)