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SAF C’ship: Top paddlers set to sweat it out

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By Our Reporter

 Shillong: All eyes are on top five junior paddlers in the country, including a young player from Mizoram, who are set to sweat it out at the 12th South Asian Federation (SAF) Junior Table Tennis Championship starting slated to be held here from June 17-19.

Mallika Bhandarkar, currently ranked 95 in the world junior category, has won the French Open Cadet Singles in 2010, was runners up in Bahrain Junior Open the same year, and winner of the Indian Open (cadet singles) in 2008 and 2010 while she was a runner-up in 2009.

She was also in the team that won the US Open (U-18 category) and made the nation proud in 2009 and 2010 by winning the SAF Junior TT Championship.

Abhishek Yadav, ranked 175 in world junior ranking, was a member of the US Open champion (U-18) team. He also took part in the World Cadet Challenge and Junior Circuit and was runners-up in doubles category in the same event. A member of the runners-up team of Indian Open 2008, he was crowned the singles champion.

Utkarsh Gupta ranked 37 (Cadet) is the winner of US Open 2010 and 2011. He was also the South Asian Champion last year and is a Spanish Junior Open bronze medallist. In the Hongkong Junior Open and Indian Open Gupta lifted gold and silver medals respectively.

Spoorthy Karnam ranked 35 (Cadet, U-15) was part of the team that lifted the US Open Championship. She was also a member of the winning team in the Indian Open where she finished third. Karnam was in the U-18 teams that bagged the second place in the Spanish Open last year and third place at the Slovaka Open.

Meanwhile, making the North East proud, a young paddler from Mizoram, Lalrin Puia, who won last year’s US Open singles title and was runner-up in the Indian Open (cadet team), will defend his title and hopes to get a ticket to China for the Asian Junior TT Championship.

Indian national coach Sandeep Gupta expressed confidence that the participants are eager to display their skills and was confident of a good show.

“They (the boys and girls) have been working hard and we are confident of doing extremely well this time,” Gupta said while expressing hope that the event will attract more young people from the region ‘to the exciting world of TT’. (With inputs from PTI)

State to host 1st Pak contingent post 26/11

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: For the first time after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, a Pakistani contingent will take part in a sporting event hosted by India.

The young athletes from the neighbouring country would be here to participate in the 12th South Asian Federation (SAF) Junior Table Tennis Championship to be hosted jointly by the Meghalaya Table Tennis Association (MTTA) and the State government from June 17 to 19.

“The Pakistan team has confirmed its participation in the event. It is a good thing to have young athletes from Pakistan participating in any sports event after a long gap,” a member of the organising committee said.

India had snapped all sporting ties with Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks which left over a 100 dead and over 300 injured.

Meanwhile, Maldives has also confirmed its participation in the three-day event. Maldives had earlier pulled out from the championship due to financial constraints within the country.

“Maldives had pulled out from the tournament owing to the high cost of tickets from Thiruvananthapuram to Guwahati (Rs 18000) which was too much for the country’s Federation to bear,” an official of the Table Tennis Federation of India said.

“The Maldives Table Tennis Federation (MTTF) has finally confirmed its participation after the government sanctioned the required funds,” the official added. With Maldives’ participation , it would be for the first time that all SAF nations would participate in the SAF Junior TT Championship. event. Other teams in the event are Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and hosts India.

The SAF championship is mandatory for each of these countries to get themselves the ticket for the 17th Asian Junior TT Championship slated to be held in China from July 11 – 17.

The first and the second placed player in the SAF tournament would represent their respective countries in the Asian championship in China. (With inputs from PTI)

Breakthrough in tlaks with Oz players

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SYDNEY: An impasse with the players’ union over performance-related pay has been overcome and a final agreement was imminent, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said on Friday. Fears of strike action had eased significantly following a breakthrough in talks between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Sutherland said ahead of a June 30 deadline for a new deal. (Agencies)

‘Dhoni commendable as captain’

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NEW DELHI: Team India’s new superstar Virat Kohli feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has done a “commendable job” leading the national team in the past few years.

Not one to be drawn into a debate on Indian captaincy, Kohli said,”I don’t think one can question MS’s leadership. As Indian captain, he has never done badly. In fact, he has done a commendable job. As far as the captaincy is concerned, it is not something, which I should be concerned about. There is a selection committee that looks into the matter.”

Recently, Kohli spoke about how Dhoni has told him to stay calm and not cross the line too much.

When questioned whether, he should follow his instincts rather than follow someone else, Kohli stated,”It’s not about trying to change. It’s about what you can learn from someone.”

Kohli also seemed to be against the opinion that Gautam Gambhir might only be a suitable captain for Test matches.

“Gautam has done wonderfully in all three formats. He knows how to change gears and led well in IPL also.”

The youngster also wasn’t too bothered about the fact that he has missed out on the Arjuna awards because of the miscommunication between sports ministry and BCCI. (PTI)

Key challenges in Garo Hills, action plan discussed in IBDLP meet

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From Our Correspondent

 TURA: A group of high-level officials and experts working on the implementation of the Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP), a flagship programme of the Government of Meghalaya, arrived in Tura on Thursday afternoon and held a meeting with the district heads of departments to identify and discuss the key challenges in Garo Hills.

Setting the tone for the meeting with his keynote address, Consultant for the Planning Commission of India, Harsh Shrivastava discussed on the key challenges being faced in the region and how these problems can be solved under the aegis of the Basin Development project.

The visiting officials opined that the basin development programme is an example of working in a more organized way and that both the administration and NGOs need to be partners in the process.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Pravin Bakshi gave a power-point presentation on the district profile and the objectives and key interventions under the basin development programme and also highlighted on the nagging problems of the district, including the frequent power failure in Garo Hills.

After intensive deliberations and interaction between the visiting officials and the officials of various line departments, the meeting identified the stress areas and discussed on the action plans to deal with the problems.

The “output-oriented” meeting discussed and decided upon six action plans, setting the deadline of six months to fulfill them.

These action plans include setting up of common facility centre for entrepreneurship; refrigeration centre/mobile collection centre for horticulture products; farmer enrolment for organic certification for any one cluster; issue of Government Order for appointment of LT/HT linesmen to overcome the shortage of manpower in MeECL; survey of all unused existing government buildings in the district to create a reusable building bank and identification of stress zones on all road stretches.

Officers from different line departments were entrusted with the responsibility for taking up these actions within the stipulated time.

Other members of the team included Palash Shrivastav, Prabir Bannerjee, Gautam Goswami and Pankaj Barman. Earlier, the Addl DC and Project Director DRDA, Tura Ambrose C. Marak welcomed the members in the meeting and also stressed on skill up-gradation and capacity building of the educated unemployed youths to offset the problems of unemployment.

Youth congress on unification drive

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From Our Correspondent

 NONGSTOIN: Members of the Youth Congress of the eight new polling stations that has been carved out from the erstwhile Pariong Assembly Constituency (AC) after the delimitation into Nongstoin AC convened a meeting at Umlieh, West Khasi Hills District.

The meeting was attended by the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress Committee President Gabriel Wahlang. This has so been carried out keeping in view the upcoming election that is about eight months away.

In the meeting, one of the youth of the area alleged that some leaders of the Youth Congress in the district have spread rumours that their youth wing were using these activities to disguise their propaganda in support of Shri David Hamar Marwein.

It may be mentioned here that David H Marwein is a Congress ticket aspirant from Nongstoin AC and had contested in the last Assembly election as an independent candidate and had secured the second place.

Gabriel Wahlang rubbished these claims and sternly said that if anyone was found to be supporting any candidate of another party, he would suspend them from the Youth Congress. He clarified that this drive was purely to unite the Youth Congress in the respective assembly constituencies and to make its members aware about the functions of the Youth Wing.

The eight new polling stations- Umsaw, Mawlangkhar, Shohphria, Laitksah, Marngor, Longlew, Mawkoton, Mynni Mawbri have a total no of about 7000 voters. These eight polling stations are considered as David H Marwein’s stronghold. During the last elections, David secured low votes from polling stations in and around Rambrai. However, this time round, Rambrai has been constituted as Rambrai-Jyrngam AC.

Nongstoin AC has a total of about 23000 voters with 33 polling stations and 3 polling stations awaiting their official formation. Political analysts in the district say that with or without the Congress ticket, David, in the upcoming election is a force to be reckoned with.

Officer bearers for HSPDP Ri-Bhoi elected

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By Our Reporter

 NONGPOH: Strengthening the party function at Ri-Bhoi District for the upcoming election 2013, the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) in Ri-bhoi District on Friday organized its general council meet and also elected the new officer bearers for the party.

The newly elected officer bearers includes Markus Lyngdoh as the President, Vice President Kores Marwein and Coutima Lyngdoh, General secretary Paskal Lyngkhoi, Asst. General secretary Severin Rongpih, Finance Secretary Rosa Ingtih and chief adviser Sabious Syngkli.

The HSPDP also elected the officer bearers for the women wing and youth wing which includes Saralin Khyrim as the Women’s wing President, vice President Joycelin Marngar, general secretary Edvina Makri and Youth wing president Okin Umbah and Secretary David Engtih.

The general council were also attended by its party supremo Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait, K.M Syiem and others supporter of party from the entire district.

Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, delivering his speech at the meeting highlighted about the manifesto of the party and urged people of Ri-Bhoi District to give grand support in the upcoming election 2013 so that several issues taken by the party can be fulfilled only after the party could consume the power after the election.

“ HSPDP pary till date is still fighting for separate Khasi Jaintia State’’ he said, adding, ‘‘though the Meghalaya state is bifurcated from Assam state by the Central government but yet the Khasis people have been denied their basic rights’ Lyngdoh said.

Maxi taxi service set for expansion in State

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: After the successful launching of the maxi cabs in Shillong city, the State Government has now decided to run 10 more maxi taxis for Tura town.

Sources from MUDA said that the maxi taxis will improve the public transportation system in Tura. Five maxi taxis will also be allotted to Williamangar.

The maxi taxis have been highly appreciated in Shillong city and the services in Garo Hills are expected to start within this month.

The MUDA has also planned to introduce ten more buses in Tura under the thirteenth finance commission.

“We have targeted to introduce the buses from July 15 in Tura,” a source from MUDA added.

It may be mentioned that few buses under the tag of Tura Public Transport system are already operating in Tura besides neighbouring towns.

In addition, the MUDA is also contemplating to start Shillong Special Bus Purpose Service to cater to the needs of the school going students of the city.

The MUDA is planning to accomodate twenty buses initially for the services and talks are going on with different schools of the city to initiate the bus services for students. The idea behind the proposed service is to decongest the traffic chaos in Shillong city especially during school hours. .With this the strength of the TPTS buses will increase to twenty.

Meanwhile, as per records furnished by the service partner Mini Bus Syndicate , Tura the book profits for the last three months for which the buses have been in operation comes to Rs. 2,27,174 while the gross income has been Rs. 3,24,534 .

The net profit has come to Rs. 1,33,695 equally shared by Tura Municipal Board and the Mini Bus Syndicate , Tura .

The profit figures are actual and includes the set off for the expenditure incurred by assets purchased and other start up events and in the coming months the profits are meant to be more steeper informed the service partner .

Unified support for Pynskhemlang

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NONGSTOIN: Pynskhemlang Nongshlong made a visit to Langpih on Friday on the invitation of well-wishers and supporters there.

Pynskhemlang was overwhelmed by the support he received at Langpih, particularly, the willingness of two octogenarians- Jeebon Syiem Sad (86) and Phrikshon K Lyngdoh (82) who have volunteered tp participate.

Speaking at the occasion, Pynskhemlang requested the people of Langpih to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during the fast.

It is believed that over 500 people would participate in the fast. However, all the 500 would sit at different intervals to replace those whose health conditions deteriorate to an extent that they can no longer carry on the fast. However, Pynskhemlang would continue his fast without any pauses in between.

Death condoled

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Chief Adviser to the Meghalaya government Dr D D Lapang and senior Congress legislator Friday Lyngdoh has condoled the death of Rev. Dr. I Ben Wati, a noted Church leader of the North East and co-founder of Pine Brook Society who passed away on June 14 at the ripe old age of 91.

Mr Lapang and Mr Lyngdoh said the death of Rev Dr Ben Wati was a “great loss to the Church, the society and the North East region as a whole”.

Rev. Dr. Ben Wati founded the Pine Brook Society along with three core members. He was also instrumental in the formation of the North East India Committee on Relief and Development (NEICORD) with its headquarter in Shillong.