Sports wings trials from April 3

Chandigarh, Mar 20 (UNI) The Punjab Sports Department today finalised the dates and venues of the selection trials to choose boys and girls in different age groups for sports wings in schools and colleges.

Presiding over the meeting of the District Sports Officers and other officials, Sports Director Olympian and Padam Shree Pargat Singh said that trials would be conducted from April 3 to 18 at different venues.

He had a detailed discussions and consultations with the DSOs and officials of the Sports Department and Punjab State Sports Council before finalising the dates.

Trials for boys and girls in the age group of Under-14 in athletics, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, handball, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, swimming and weightlifting will be held at Sports School in Jalandhar.

Selection trials for Under-17 and Under-19 in these sports disciplines will be conducted on April 7-8 and April 9 and 10, respectively.

According to Sukhvir Grewal, coordinator for hockey selection, drag flicker Jugraj Singh will be associated with training of the hockey boys and girls.

The Jalandhar-based Jugraj will be imparting round-the-year training to the sports wing trainees. "We will be very strict regarding age. There will be no relaxation," said Grewal.

The hockey selection trials will begin in the age group of Under-13 on April 3. The cut off date is January 1, 1996. The under-14 boys and girls (born before 1-1-95) will be selected on April 3 and 4 at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.

Continuing the selection of hockey probables, the Sports Department has fixed April 7, 8 and 9 for Under-16 (1-1-93). For Under-19 (1-1-90), probables have been directed to report on April 9 and 10 for registration and trials.

Tennis trials will also be conducted. Badminton and table tennis trials for boys and girls Under-14 will be held from April 3 to 5 at Hansraj Stadium in Jalandhar. Trials for Under-17 will be on April 7 to 8 and under-19 on April 9 and 10.

Guru Nanak Stadium of Ludhiana will be the venue of football trials for under-14 (April 3 to 5); under-17 (April 7 and 8) and Under-19 (April 9 and 10).

Cycling trials will be conducted at the PAU velodrome in Ludhana on April 3 to 5 (under-14); April 7 and 8 (under-17) and April 9 and 10 (under-19).

With increase in fund (Rs 2.5 crore from Rs 2 crore), the number of sports wings would be increased to further broad-base the grass-root level. Last year, the department had allotted sports wings, including day scholars, to 2200.

UNI XC VKJ MMS1710