20 teams confirm participation in Jr National Sepak Takraw

Chandigarh, Dec 22 (UNI) Twenty states and Union Territories have confirmed their participation in the 10th Junior National Sepak Takraw Championships (boys and girls) being conducted by the Chandigarh Sepak Takraw Association (CSTA) here from December 24 to 28. Holders Manipur boys and girls teams have already arrived.

Rajasthan and Goa have pulled out of the Junior Nationals Under-17.

Addressing a press conference today, CTSA chairman Ravinder Talwar and organizing Secretary Baljinder Singh Banwait said that competitions for boys would be conducted at St Joseph's Senior Secondary School, Sector 44-D and Mount Carmel School, Sector 47-B would be the venue for girls matches. However, both finals would be held at St Joseph's Senior Secondary School-44.

''As sepak takraw was one of the sports disciplines in the just concluded Asian Games in Doha and India fielded men and women teams, interest in this game is bound to increase,'' hoped Talwar, who is also secretary of Chandigarh Olympic Association. Shiva Prasad of Tamil Nadu has been appointed tournament director.

Mr Talwar and Mr Banwait said that the teams had been divided into pools for the league phase and Manipur boys and girls were the defending champions in the last edition of the championship. Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland were the runners-up in the boys and girls sections, respectively.

Mr Banwait said that Manipur, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh had been clubbed in group A for boys reghu competitions. The group B would comprise runners-up Andhra Pradesh, Goa, hosts Chandigarh, Gujarat, Uttranchal and Bihar.

Third place holder Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh are in group C Last edition's semi-finalists Orissa, Nagaland, Delhi, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Pondicherry are in group D.

The group A in the girls category will consist of defending champions Manipur, Delhi, Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir.

Runners-up Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Uttranchal have been placed in group B. Haryana, which had finished third last year, are in group C along with Tamil Nadu , Chandigarh and Assam. Orissa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh are in group D.

The states which will figure in the team championship are: Boys: Group A: Manipur, Haryana, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh.

Group B: Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Delhi, Maharashtra and Chandigarh.

Girls: Group A: Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh.

Group B: Nagaland, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh.

UNI XC DP DH KN1847