Table Soccer players honoured

Chandigarh, Aug 24 (UNI) As many as 20 international table soccer players and officials who accompanied the Indian teams at various international meets were honoured by Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal here today.

Jyoti Kaushik, who represented the country in the 2006 Pro Tour International Tournament in Malaysia and bronze medalist in the 2007 Master Series International Tournament in Malaysia and gold medalist in the Masters Series International Tournament in India last year was one of the players honoured by the minister.

Other players felicitated on the occasion were Pawandeep Singh and Anitpal Singh, members of the Indian team which participated in the 2007 Master Series International Tournament in Japan and 2008 World Championship series in France and Germany.

Hardial Singh and Gurwinder Singh, who had represented the country in the 2007 VIFA Asia Cup in Malaysia and 2008 World Championship Series in France and Germany.

Annu, Arshad Mohammed, Gurleen, Dalwinder Singh, Jashanpreet Kaur, Sukhmanpreet Singh, Tushar and Parminder Beniwal, who were members of the Indian squad which took part in the VIFA Asia Cup 2008 in Malaysia. Harvinder Singh and Maninder Singh, who had won silver and bronze, respectively in the International Master Series in India last year.

Dharminder Singh, who had participated in the 2006 International Master Series in Malaysia and 2007 International Tournament in China, Amardeep Singh, participated in the 2007 International Tournament in China and Ajay Singh Ghuman, who had competed in the Master Series in Japan in 2007.

Mr Bansal also honoured officials HS Lucky, Table Soccer Federation of India president Balwinder Singh Johal, Amardeep Singh Bakshi, Yadwinder Singh, Amrinder Singh, Harish Bhardwaj, Randeep Gaur, Sukhbir Singh and DPI (Schools) SK Setia.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Setia announced that table soccer had been adopted by the Chandigarh Education Department and inter-school tournament would be organised every year. Training centres would be opened in vairous schools so that the students can hon their skills, he said.

The Education Department will also honour outstanding sportspersons of UT schools, including table soccer players who have brought laurels to the city, on the Naitonal Sports Day on August 29, Mr Setia said.

UNI XC PS VN1617