Gaurav Pratap Singh wins his first Pro title

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by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)
Noida, November 21
Gaurav Pratap Singh registered his first professional win after a nail-biting finish on the final day of the ONGC Masters 2009 at the Noida Golf Course on Saturday. Gaurav, who plays most of his golf at the Noida Golf Course, came through on his home turf despite firing a three over 75 in the final round. He ended the tournament with a total of three under 285. Vijay Kumar of Lucknow finished a close second at two under 286 while Delhi’s Gaurav Ghei was a further stroke back in third place.
Gaurav Pratap Singh (70, 70, 70, 75) enjoyed a comfortable lead for most part of the day even though he had two experienced campaigners such as Vijay Kumar and Gaurav Ghei on his tail. Singh, determined to bag his first professional crown, made a solid start, making pars on the first six holes. He then pulled his drive to the left on the seventh and subsequently three-putted to drop a double bogey. A birdie followed on the very next hole.
Gaurav’s poor hitting form on the final day resulted in his first bogey of the day on the 11th. The 25-year-old then earned a valuable birdie on the par five 14th, where he made a nice recovery thanks to a great chip shot despite going well past the green with his second shot.
Gaurav Pratap, the local favourite, led by three strokes from Gaurav Ghei after the 16th even as Vijay Kumar was a further stroke behind Ghei.
The leader then three-putted from nine feet to make bogey on the 17th, while Gaurav Ghei and Vijay Kumar picked up birdies on the same hole. So the leader group approached the 18th tee with Gaurav Pratap Singh at four under, Gaurav Ghei at three under and Vijay Kumar at two under.
Singh then found the water hazard with his tee shot on the 18th but held on to his nerve to as he came up with an excellent nine iron third shot that landed 15 feet from the pin and helped him make a good bogey for victory.
Gaurav Ghei on the other hand, missed the fairway and an up and down to make double bogey on the final hole and thus finished third. Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar missed his 30-feet birdie putt on the 18th by a whisker and had to settle for second place. Vijay would have headed for a playoff with Gaurav Pratap Singh had he made a birdie on the closing hole.
“I didn’t expect it to get so close at the end. I was targeting a score of 70 today but my poor driving let me down. However, I have no complaints. I finally registered my first win and cannot describe how good it feels to be holding that trophy. I have worked really hard for this and will cherish this moment for a long time to come. I dedicate this win to my parents who have always encouraged me to scale greater heights and my coach Kel Llewellyn whose guidance has made a world of difference to my game,” said Gaurav Pratap Singh.
He added, “I did not have a great score but the highlight of my round was that I managed to get out of a few tricky situations today.”
Vijay Kumar’s (74, 72, 69, 71) final round of one under 71, featured five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey while Gaurav Ghei’s (74, 72, 70, 71) last round of 71 was marked by four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey.
Vipin Kumar Sharma of the Noida Golf Course finished fourth at two over 290.
Vivek Bhandari, Ranjit Singh and defending champion Shamim Khan secured tied fifth place at three over 291.

Haryana CM announces setting up of State Sports Fund

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by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)
Chandigarh, Nov 21
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today announced setting up of a State Sports Fund to promote sports and sportspersons and enhance amount of cash awards being given to the medal winners of National Games. He also said that the Government has a plan to open a Sports Academy and a Sports University in the state. He announced that wrestler Ramesh Kumar Gulia, who won gold medal at international level, would be appointed as DSP in Haryana Police.
Mr Hooda was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Haryana State Games organized at the campus of Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak.
The four-day Games are being organized by the Haryana Olympic Association. About 6000 players from all over Haryana are participating in this mega sport event in which 28 sports events would be organized.
The Chief Minister declared the State Games open and hoisted the flag of the Games. He took salute from the impressive march-past put up the participating sports persons. He released a souvenir and technical hand book of the games. Arjun Awardee and Rohtak judoka Virender Singh administered oath to the participants to play with sportsman spirit.
Announcing a bonanza for the sportspersons, the Chief Minister said that now the gold medal winner of National Games would get Rs. 3 lakh, the silver medal winner would get Rs. 2 lakh and the bronze medal winner would get Rs. 1 lakh. Earlier, the medal winners of these games were given Rs. 51000, Rs. 31000 and Rs. 11000 respectively. He said that the state government was spending Rs. 56.48 crore during this financial year for promotion of sports in the state.
Talking about the steps taken by the government to promote sports, Mr Hooda said that the number of sports nurseries has now increased to 46 and sports stadiums in the name of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi were being constructed in 171 villages of the state. He said that a modern sports complex was being developed on 90 acres of land in Rohtak. A synthetic athletic track was being laid at Panchkula at a cost of Rs. 4 crore and astroturfs had been laid at Gurgaon and Shahbad.
While referring to the incentive being given to the outstanding sportspersons, he said that a sum of Rs. 5000 per month was being given as honorarium to the Arjun and Dronacharya awardees. He said that Rs. 14.31 crore had been disbursed among the award winners during the last four and half years. Mr Hooda said that a new sports policy had been formulated as a result of which sportspersons were participating in a large number in this mega event. The Chief Minister exhorted the players that on this day they should take a pledge to play with sportsman spirit and said that every person, working in any field of life, should make a determination to serve the motherland with a indomitable zeal.
Earlier, the president of Haryana Olympic Association and Director General of Police (CID) PV Rathi said that the aim of organizing Olympic Games was to bring peace and amity in the world. Describing the steps taken by the state government for promotion of sports, he revealed that as many as 175 coaches had been promoted as senior coach and they were given gazetted status. He said that eight players who won medals in international sports events were recruited as DSP in Haryana Police.
The Haryana Games Torch which was flagged off from Panchkula reached Rohtak today and it was accorded a rousing welcome. The sportspersons of international fame namely Jagrot Singh Rathi retired IPS, Arjun Awardee Satyawan Singh, kabbadi player Sunder Singh, Ramesh, wrestler Ashok Kumar, boxer Kavita, Joginder and hockey player Mamta Kharb accompanied the torch.
Those present on this occasion included Member of Parliament Shadi Lal Batra, Srikrishan Hooda, BB Batra, Anand Singh Dangi, Shakuntal Khatak, Naresh Sharma and Jagbir Malik all MLAs, former MP Jai Parkash, DGP Haryana Ranjiv Dalal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,Mr Chatter Singh, Financial Commissioner Sports Sarvan Singh, Political Advisor to CM Prof. Virender Singh, OSD to CM Ravinder Hooda, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Sunderpal Singh, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister RS Doon, Rohtak Divisional Commissioner Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner PC Meena, General Secretary HOA Narender Hooda along with other senior dignitaries.

Munish and Nadia win singles titles

The DAV Coaching Centre team which won the women's team trophy in the 22nd Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship on Saturday.
Munish Bhardwaj receiving the men's singles prize from Chandigarh Olympic Association general secretary Ravinder Talwar.
The father-daughter pair of Harish and Kalyani receiving the mixed doubles title.
The brother-sister pair of Dev Saini and Nadia Saini receiving mixed doubles title from Ravinder Talwar. Photos by Balbir Singh.

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by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir Singh)
CHANDIGARH, NOV 21
Munish Bhardwaj of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Nadia Saini of Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26 emerged champions in the men’s and women’s singles respectively, in the 22nd Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship which concluded at the Sector 23 Table Tennis Hall here this evening.
After losing the first games, bespectacled Munish Bhardwaj reorganized his game and staged a smart rally to win the next four games in a row to claim the men’s singles title. Watched by a good crowd, Munish won by 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5.
Nadia Saini prevailed over Kalyani in a tough women’s singles final. Nadia won the first game at 11-4. Kalyani of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21 displayed her skill and potential as she won the next two games at 11-9 and 11-5. Then Nadia Saini raised her game and clinched the next three games running at 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 to earn the right to wear the women’s singles crown.
Nadia Saini went on to claim another title today. Partnering Naina Suri, Nadia defeated Kalyani and Bhawna 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 in the women’s singles final.
Yet another title Nadia won the mixed doubles crown. The brother-sister pair of Nadia and Dev Saini beat the father-daughter pair of Harish and Kalyani 11-5, 11-8, 12-14, 11-8 in the final.
Dev Saini, who represented BSNL Club in the team championship, and Aishwary defeated Tarak and Shubhankar of Eco Friendly Sports Organisation by 11-9, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10 in the men’s doubles final.
Chandigarh Olympic Association general secretary Ravinder Talwar was the chief guest and distributed the prizes.
Results: Men’s singles (semi-finals): Vikas Sharma bt Rachit 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 13-11, 11-6, Munish Bhardwaj bt Dev Saini 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8. Final: Munish Bhardwaj bt Vikas Sharma 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5.
Women’s singles (semi-finals): Nadia Saini bt Gurvinder Kaur 11-4, 11=1, 11-5, 11-6, Kalyani bt Garima 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6. Final: Nadia Saini bt Kalyani 11-4, 9-11, 5-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-5.
Men’s doubles (semi-finals): Tarak and Shubhankar bt Mayank Kapoor and Sahil 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, Dev Saini and Aishwarya bt Harish and Vikas 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9. Final: Dev Saini and Aishwarya bt Tarak and Shubhankar 11-9, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10.
Women’s doubles (semi-finals): Kalyani and Bhavna bt Sakshi and Rajeshwri 11-4, 11-6, 11-9, Nadia Saini and Naina Suri bt Garima and Suman 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11. Final: Nadia Saini and Naina Suri bt Kalyani and Bhavna 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6.
Mixed doubles (semi-finals): Dev Saini and Nadia Saini bt Aseem and Richa 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, Harish and Kalyani bt Sahil and Bhavna 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 15-13. Final: Dev Saini and Nadia Saini bt Harish and Kalyani 11-5, 11-8, 12-14, 11-8.

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by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, NOV 20
Bharat Petroleum Corporation snatched a point from Indian Oil Corportion after playing one-all draw in their Group B quarter-final league match of the 46th Jindal Steel Nehru Hockey Tournament being played at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today.
Indian Oil Corporation could have won the match but wasted a number of chances. Out of three penalty corners awarded to them, they could convert only one. At the fag-end of the match, they could have snatched a well-merited win as Hamza Mujtaba dribbled his way into the striking circle from the right flank and unleashed a powerful reverse flick. However, an alert BPCL goalkeeper AC Kuttappa made a brilliant save. And before any IOC player could capitalize on the rebound, the ball was promptly cleared.
IOC had taken the lead in the 30th minute through Didar Singh who converted their first penalty corner. BPCL restored parity in the 47th minutre when Olympian Sabu Varkey scored a field goal. BPCL were awarded just one penalty corner which they muffed.
Punjab National Bank got the better of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation by a solitary goal scored by Damandeep Singh in the 16th minute. The bankmen kept this slender lead intact till the end of the match and logged full points in their group B quarter-final league.
Army XI who beat Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in their first Group B quarter-final league yesterday, were today held one-all by powerful Air India with a strong line-up which included former mercurial Dhanraj Pillay, Prabjdh Tirkey and Sameer Dad and others.
Fighting fit, the armymen forged ahead in the 31st minute when Rajesh Lakra converted a penalty corner. Joga Singh restored parity for Air India in the 53d minute.
Before the Air-India and Army quarter-final league match, FIH grade I umpire Satinder Kumar Sharma, who was recently awarded the FIH Golden Whistle on completion of his 100 international matches, was honoured by the Nehru Hockey Society. Olympian Dhanraj Pillay presented a showl to Satinder on behalf of the Nehru Hockey Society. Organising secretary of the Nehru Hockey, Kukoo Walia and Hockey Chandigarh general secretary Yash Vohra presented bouque to Satinder Kumar, an official of State Bank of India.
Tomorrow’s fixtures: Punjab National Bank vs Air India (3 p.m) and Punjab and Sind Bank vs Namdhari XI (5 p.m.).

Madra and Shreen best Doon IS athletes

by sportswire4.blogspot.com (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, NOV 20
Angand Madra and Shreen were declared the best athletes for 2009 and were given prizes during Annual Sports Day of the Doon International School, Mohali at the Sector 46 Sports Complex here this evening.
The overall champion House Trophy for Inter –House activities was annexed by Teresa House. Akbar House were presented the best March Past Trophy. The Teressa House was adjudged the Best House for athletic cvents.
The winners of various competitions were honoured with trophies, medals and certificates.
Mr.Charanjeev Singh Mann, Managing Director of the School, welcomed Mohali Deputy Commissioner Prabhjot Mand. The function began with an impressive march past by the students synchronizing with the beats of Pipe Band under the flagship of their respective Houses namely Akbar, Ashoka, Ranjit and Teresa. The captains of all the four Houses took an oath to compete in various sports events in the true sense of sportsmanship.
The students participated actively in various athletic events, which included short and long distance races, spoon and lemon race, shoes and socks race, three-legged race, hurdle race and relay race in a highly competitive manner. The atmosphere at the stadium was charged with excitement and the audience comprising students, parents and other distinguished guests cheered up the participating teams with a thunderous applause.
The students of the school also exhibited their skills and co-ordination in presenting a lezium and dumbbells show.
Besides these athletic events, the students, dressed up in their colourful attire, enthralled the audience with Western Dance and folk dances of Punjab like gidha and bhangra, which were greatly enjoyed by all.

German beats Harvinder in Junior singles final

The junior boys singles final between Torben Merz of Germany and Harvinder Singh Johal of India in progress in the India Open Master International Table Soccer Series in Mohali on Friday.

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by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, NOV 20
Torben Merz of Germany won the junior singles title by defeating Indian Harvinder Singh Johal by 5-4, 5-3 in the final of the India Open Master International Table Soccer Series being organized by Table Soccer Federation of India at the Manav Mangal Smart School hall in Mohali here today. Torben recorded a goal average of +36 after playing five matches with an all-win record.
Harvinder Johal also played five matches, won four and lost one (final). His goal average was recorded at +22.
Arshad Mohammad finished third. The fourth position went to Anu Bibyan of France. Players from India, Germany and France competed in the junior singles contest.

Garima, Aishwarya, Nadia and Dev win singles titles

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by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, NOV 20
Garima and Aishwarya claim the junior girls and junior boys singles titles in the 22nd Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship being played at the Sector 23 Table Tennis Hall here today.
Garima directed her shot more powerfully and accurately to beat Kalyani in well-fought junior girls singles final. After losing the first game, Garima bounced back against plucky Kalyani to win by 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7. Aisahwarya got the better of Tarak Roy by 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 in the junior boys final match.
Seasoned campaigner Nadia Saini expectedly defeated Naina Suri for the youth girls singles crown. With better control and consistent display, Nadia won by 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 in the final.
Dev Saini emerged champion in the youth boys category. In the final, Saini lost the first game at 6-11 but soon settled down to win the next three games at 11-4, 11-8 and 12-10. However, he lost the fifth game at 5-11. In the decider, both players dished out good game before Dev won by 13-11.
Garima, Nadia and Gurvinder Kaur advanced to the women’s singles semi-finals. In quarter-finals, Garima bt Sumana 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9 and Nadia beat Rajeshwari 11-5, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7. Gurvinder ousted Sakshi by 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.
Results: Junior girls (Q-finals): Naina Suri bt Sumana 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-2, Garima bt Anvisha 11-5, 11-5, 4-11, 12-10, 11-4, Kalyani bt Pareen 11-6, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6, Rajeshwri bt Mehk 11-8, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3, Semi-finals: Kalyani bt Rajeshwri 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6, Garima bt Naina Suri 12-10, 13-11, 13-11, 12-10. Final: Garima bt Kalyani 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7.
Junior boys (Q-finals): Aishwary bt Tushar Gupta 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5. Tarak Roy bt Dinker 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 11-4, Shubankar bt Aditya 4-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2, 11-2, Mayank Kapoor bt Sahil Singla 15-13, 11-4, 11-4, 11-9. Semi-finals: Aishwarya bt Mayank Kapoor 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 7-11, 14-12, Tarak Roy bt Shubankar 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, Final: Aishwarya bt Tarak Roy 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10.
Youth Girls (Q-finals): Kalyani bt Sumana 7-11, 15-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, Naina Suri bt Bhawna 11-5, 11-1, 11-6, 11-7, Garima bt Sakshi 11-5, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, Nadia bt Rajeshwari 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7. Semi-finals: Nadia bt Garima 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, Naina Suri bt Kalyani 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9. Final: Nadia bt Naina 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9.
Youth Boys (Q-finals): Subhankar bt Tarak 3-11, 11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, Sahil bt Dipanjan 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5, Sumit Chaudhary bt Aditya 7-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6, Dev Saini bt Ashwarya 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 14-12, 11-7. Semi-finals: Dev Saini bt Subhankar 11-7, 11-3, 4-11, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, Sahil bt Sumit 11-4, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3. Final: Dev Saini bt Sahil Sharma 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11.
Women (q-finals): Garima bt Sumana 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9, Nadia Saini bt Rajeshwari 11-5, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7, Gurvinder bt Sakshi 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.