Western Nevada College holds 1st Multi-faith Baccalaureate Service

By sportswire4u.blogspot.com

 NEVADA, MAY 23

Western Nevada College (WNC) had unique Multi-faith Baccalaureate Service on May 20 in Carson City (USA), first in its 41 plus years of existence.

 According to distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed, co-organizer of this Service along with Douglas Diversity Student Club of WNC; faith leaders belonging to Christian (various denominations), Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i and Native American traditions blessed the graduates with their respective prayers in this Service. Dance and music also formed part of this ceremony and a representative of non-believers also addressed the Service.

 Religious leaders who participated included Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Community Carson City Pastor Father Charles T. Durante, Carson City 1st United Methodist Church Pastor Reverend Dixie Jennings-Teats, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Quorum of the Seventy Member George Marion Keele, Northern Nevada Muslim Community President Doctor Sherif A. Elfass, Universal Society of Hinduism President Rajan Zed, Reno Buddhist Center Priest Reverend Jikai’ Phil Bryan, South Lake Tahoe Temple Bat Yam Rabbi Evon J. Yakar, Baha’i teacher Catherine B. Thayer, and Paiute Elder Ralph E. Burns. Patrick J. McCarthy from Reno Freethinkers (atheists, agnostics, skeptics, humanists, etc., promoting secular values) also addressed Service held at Carson City Community Center.

 Nevada State Treasurer Kate Marshall and Carson City Mayor Robert L. Crowell also rendered advice to the graduates on the occasion and WNC President Doctor Carol A. Lucey was also present. Acclaimed classical musician from India Thakur Chakrapani Singh, prominent dancer Doctor L. Martina Young, well known area musician Jim R. Eaglesmith and tabla expert Pete Fairley also blessed the graduating class through their respective mediums. Starting with traditional lamp lighting, it also included a choir performance titled “Benediction” directed by James M. Weismann. It closed with diverse faith and other leaders, with their raised right hands, jointly repeating a universal prayer after Douglas Diversity Student Club of WNC Secretary Jesseca Pacheco Larios, thus blessing graduates present and in absentia.

 Rajan Zed, who is an interfaith leader, pointed out that purpose of this Baccalaureate Service was to root the graduating class in divine spiritual tradition so that they would have a spiritually meaningful life in addition to material success. There were plans to make it an annual feature, Zed added.

 Baccalaureate service basically means service where a sermon is delivered to the graduating class. In use since at least eighth century, origins of the baccalaureate service point to an Oxford University statute of 1432, which required each bachelor to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of the academic exercise. There is restored interest in baccalaureate services in number of educational institutions across USA, like Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, Dartmouth, Brown, etc.

 WNC, with tagline "Start Here, Go Anywhere" and multiple campuses, is a comprehensive community college that serves over 5,000 students in about 18,000-square-miles area. Mission Statement of WNC includes "nurtures individual potential and respects differences", which is known for its observatory.

Dr. S. Subramanian was an outstanding basketball coach

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com

CHANDIGARH, MAY 22 

 The Punjab Basketball Association in a special resolution condoled the sudden demise of Dr. S. Subramanian, former outstanding international basketball coach of Punjab, who died on May 22 at Patiala. Mr. R.S. Gill, IPS (Retd.), President, Punjab Basketball Association, Mr Ishwar Singh, IPS, Sr. Vice President, Mr. Teja Singh Dhaliwal, Secy. Genl., Vice President, Naunihal Singh, IPS  Mr. Yurinder Singh Hayer, IPS, Mr. Rakesh Aggarwal, IPS, Mr. J.P. Singh, PCS, Mr. Sajjan Singh Cheema, PPS Arjuna Awardee, Ms. Suman Sharma, Arjuna Awardee, Mr Parminder Singh, PPS Arjuna Awardee, Mr. Yashvir Walia, Treasurer, Mr. Vijay Chopra unanimously passed the resolution.  In this hour of grief, the PBA stands by the Uppal family and offered all help whenever required.

                Dr. S. Subramanian has been the most experienced and outstanding basketball coach of India since 1968. He was the Director cum Chief Basketball Coach at Ludhiana Basketball Academy, Ludhiana (Punjab).  Dr. Subramanian has coached many young players of Punjab, by selecting them as young beginners and coached them continuously for more than five years, resulting in them playing in Asian Basketball Championships (Junior & Senior), Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He has so far coached, trained and prepared 27 International players for India. At present 12 of his trainees are in the India teams/various age groups.  In the Asian Basketball Championship 2011 Wuhan, out of the 12 members of the Indian Team 6 players (Jagdeep Singh, Yadwinder Singh, Talwinderjit Singh, Amritpal Singh, Amjot Singh, and  Satnam Singh) were trainees of Dr. S. Subramanian  ­­— a new record in Indian Basketball history. Dr. Subramanian also trained Ms. Kiranjit Kaur who won Gold Medal in Asian Beach Games 2012 China.

He played basketball for his school and college and later joined Indian Air Force in the year 1958 and played in Air Force Championships and Inter - Services Championships. He participated in the National Basketball Championships for three consecutive years- 1964-65, 65-66 and 66-67.  He then took to coaching and coached the Indian Air Force team from 1968 to 1973 and won many National level tournaments and became runners-up in the Services Championship also. He coached Services Team as Assistant Coach during 1968 National Championship and won Silver medal, coached Services team as Coach for 1969 Nationals which won the Gold medal, coached Services team as Assistant coach in 1970 National championship which won the Gold medal, coached the Mysore State women team for 1972 National championship and toured with Mysore women team to Colombo (Sri Lanka) and participated in an international invitation tournament.

Dr. Subramanian joined Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala as one of the teaching staff in July, 1973, then went to Leipzig (East Germany) in April, 1974 for doing International Trainer’s Course and passed out with Distinction (Gold medal). In 1974 he coached the Indian Schools Boys team, coached Indian Women basketball team at NIS, Patiala during 1974, conducted coaching to Asian Games Basketball Team (Men) probables and was in the National Panel of coaches from 1979 to 1981 and was in all coaching camps held at NIS, Patiala.

                He has vast experience of coaching and developing players to advanced level by correcting them and even coaching them for new positions. Pilot Officer Manmohan Singh the Senior men international player who participated in Asian Basketball Championship 1965, was dropped from Indian team during 1967. Dr. Subramanian coached him to play in different playing position and there-after he played continuously for three Asian Basketball  Championships 1969, 1971 and 1973 and was awarded Arjuna Award. He coached Paramjit Singh of Indian Railways in different playing positions (Playmaker/Guard) which helped him to play in the Moscow Olympics 1980, coached Tarlok Singh Sandhu, (IAF Airman) as beginer by picking him in 1968 and continuously trained him for 5 years, which resulted in Sandhu playing for India in the Asian Games 1982 Delhi, the ABC Championships and Moscow Olympics 1980.

                He was continuously coached the Punjab Men/Boys teams for Youth Nationals, Junior Nationals, Senior Nationals and National Games and won numerous medals and also Punjab Junior and Senior Women teams for   National Championships.

                                Dr. Subramanian was a FIBA certified International Referee in basketball and has officiated in many international Tournaments/Championship in India and abroad. He has conducted Diploma & Masters courses in coaching at NIS, Patiala for 25 years. He possess experience of organising many National level competitions and served as Competition Director for SAF Games, also served in Asian Games 1982 as in-charge of Statistics Committee. He was awarded appreciation certificate by Special Organising Committee IX Asian Games, Delhi 1982 for valuable services rendered.

                Dr. S. Subramanian has brought innumerable laurels to his state as well as his country. During his sports career as coach, he has first coached Services teams from 1968 to 1970 and later Punjab State teams from 2000 to 2013 to win 14 Gold, 13 Silver and 9 Bronze Medals in Sub-Junior, Youth, Junior and Senior National Championships, besides National Games, Federation Cup and National School Leagues. Dr. S. Subramanian is a very disciplined, dedicated and brilliant coach. He is always improving his training methods. For him Basketball is a passion. His conduct on and off the ground has been exemplary and his trainees and fellow coaches always hold him in the highest regard and respect. He has outstanding leadership qualities and has guided and prepared the Indian and Punjab basketball players for over 41 years.

    

Press Club Yoga camp from June 2

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com
CHANDIGARH, MAY 22
Chandigarh Press Club will organize a yoga camp from June 2 to June 16  from 5 to 7 a.m.   
Interested members are requested to register their names in the club office from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.by May 31.

KCA student shines in International Boxing

By sportswire4u.blogspot.com

AMRITSAR, MAY 22

Jagroop Singh, who has recently completed his graduation from Khalsa College here to join Punjab Police, has brought laurels for the country by winning bronze medal in 81 kg category of  the International Limassol Boxing Cup Championship held in Cyprus. The Indian boxers have bagged 10 medals  in different categories

 Jagroop who had undergone training for the last many years in the boxing ring of the college will now focus on the next Asian Boxing Championship being held at Jordan from June 30, said Khalsa College sports in charge Bachanpal Singh. Jagroop’s coach Baljinder Singh stated that he was one of the most promising students and boxers  of the college and would further make his mark in the upcoming international event in boxing.

 KCA Principal Dr.Daljit Singh and Khalsa College Governing Council  secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina also sent congratulatory messages to him for the achievement.

Chaudhri gains four-shot lead in round two

By sportswire4u.blogspot.com

FARIDABAD, MAY 22  

Arjun Singh Chaudhri of Noida took a four-shot lead in round two of the PGTI Feeder Tour event being played at the Aravalli Golf Club in Faridabad. Chaudhri carded a four-under-68 on Wednesday that took his total to seven-under-137. Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad and the Delhi duo of Kapil Kumar and Wasim Khan are in tied second at three-under-141.

 The cut was declared at 11-over-155. Thirty-nine professionals made the cut.

 Arjun Singh Chaudhri (69-68), who was overnight tied third, made his way to the top of the leaderboard after a solid round of 68 that featured an eagle, seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. Arjun, the PGTI Feeder Tour Order of Merit champion in 2011, missed a hole-in-one by a whisker on the sixth and drove the green on the par-4 seventh to set up a birdie. He drove the green again on the par-4 16th and produced a 25-feet putt to bag an eagle on that hole.

 Chaudhri said, “My hitting was top-class and I converted most putts. I enjoyed a great start as I was five-under after seven holes. I then made a few errors in the middle of the round but came back well towards the end with eagle-birdie on the 16th and 17th. There are a lot of birdie opportunities on this course if one keeps it in play. I’ll need to be patient in order to finish well in the final round.”

 Local lad Abhinav Lohan (68-73) occupies tied second place along with round one leader Kapil Kumar (67-74) and Wasim Khan (69-72) at three-under-141.

 Akshay Sharma of Delhi and Amardeep Rawat of Lucknow are in tied fifth place at two-over-146.

No letter from Sahara to withdraw from IPL 2014: BCCI

By sportswire4u.blogspot.com

CHANDIGARH, MAY 22

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has read in media reports that Sahara has purported to terminate its franchise agreement and to pull out of IPL, the 2014 season onwards.  The BCCI has had no direct communication from its franchisee, Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, in this regard, said board secretary Sanjay Jagdale.
The BCCI can however confirm that, in order to satisfy the balance of the 2013 franchise fee of ` 120 crore, which was overdue and owing to BCCI since  April 3, 2013, it has encashed part of the bank guarantee put in place by Sahara Adventure Sports Limited. 
The IPL Governing Council met with representatives of the franchisee on  February 21, 2013 and received assurances that the franchisee would settle all obligations as they fell due.  Once the  April 3, 2013 due date had passed, the Governing Council had two letters sent to Sahara Adventure Sports Limited – one on  April  12, 2013 and the second on  April  24, 2013 – requesting settlement of the overdue amount.  No payment was made and no response was received to the second letter and so, in order to protect its interests, the BCCI was forced to encash the guarantee.
While it is true that the arbitration has not progressed, the BCCI cannot be held responsible since every one of the eminent retired judges suggested by the BCCI was not found acceptable by the franchisee. In order to break this impasse, a letter was sent to Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, proposing that as the claimant to the arbitration, it should approach the court to appoint an arbitrator so that the process could move forward. Again, no response was received to this suggestion.
Mr Jagdale claimed that the BCCI had at all times acted in accordance with its franchise agreement with Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, and was not able to enter into a private negotiation on the quantum of the franchise fee which was offered by Sahara Adventure Sports Limited in its response to the Invitation to Tender floated by the BCCI in March 2010.

Myanmar edge past India 2-0

By Debayan Mukherjee

WEST BANK, MAY 22

 Myanmar rode two first half goals from Naw Phaw and Khin Moe Wai to edge past India in their first Group D encounter of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (Qualifiers) at the Faisal Al Huseni Stadium, West Bank here Tuesday.

Naw Phaw and Khin Moe Wai scored first half goals for Myanmar in the 5th and 26th minute respectively. Yee Yee Oo’s effort in the 27th minute hit the woodwork.

Before India could settle down and get a feel of the artificial turf, Myanmar surged ahead. It was a good goal and goalkeeper Roshni Devi had no chance from a one-to-one situation.

Receiving a cross from winger Khin Moe Wai, the Myanmar forward did well to escape her marker and place her shot into the roof of the net.

Striker Bala Devi had a golden opportunity to convert in the 22nd minute after being set up by former India Captain Oinam Bembem Devi on top of the box. The striker from Manipur failed to connect.     

Just when India looked to have found their rhythm which helped them do a double against Bahrain a week ago in two Friendlies, Myanmar doubled the lead cashing in on the counter. Moe Wai converted Than Than Htwe’s spadework from close range.

It was 2-0 at halftime.

India seemed to have shrugged off the burr under their saddle post the breather. They looked more at ease on the artificial turf and attacked with renewed vigour.

In the opening exchanges of the second essay, Myanmar – playing a high line in the first half -- were forced to drop deep as the likes of Bembem Devi and Kamala Devi made frequent inroads into the final third.

Myanmar attacked in phases, mostly attempting to increase the cushion from set pieces. Goalscorer Naw Phaw was replaced by stopper back Thida Oo in the 66th minute. They were literally defending in numbers switching from the initial 4-4-2 formation to a defensive 5-4-1.

For India, Coach Anadi Barua made two changes. Pinky Bompal replaced Bala Devi and Sasmita Malik made way for Dangmei Grace. The match ended 2-0 in favour of Myanmar.   

In the first match of the day, Chinese Taipei blanked hosts Palestine 6-0 in the Group’s curtain-raiser. Midfielder Lin Ya Han notched up a hattrick while Lin Kai Lin, Lai Li Chin and and Yu Hsiu Chin netted one a piece.    

India: Roshni Devi; Tuli Goon (C), Ashalata Devi, Radharani Devi, Suprava Samal; Sasmita Malik, Premi Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi, Prameshwori Devi; Kamala Devi, Bala Devi.