Haryana Steelers beat Gujarat Fortunegiants to qualify for playoffs

PANCHKULA, SEPT 30

Haryana Steelers showed great character and resilience to beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 38-37 to qualify for the play-offs in Pro Kabaddi League Season 7 held at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Sector 3 Panchkula. Raider Vikash Kandola starred for the Steelers by scoring yet another Super 10.

Haryana Steelers got the scorecard ticking right from the word go. Raider Vikash Kandola set the ball rolling and was soon complemented by raiders Vinay and Prashanth Kumar Rai who ensured the Steelers were in the contest.

Halfway through the first period the Steelers were five points behind the visitors. Prashanth was making sure Haryana were always in the match by picking up bonus points. With seven minutes left in the first half, the captain of the Steelers Dharmaraj Cheralathan showed great experience in tackling raider Rohit Gulia. However, the first half ended with the score at 14-19 in favour of the visitors.

At the start of the second half, Prashanth showed great speed as he came up with four consecutive successful raids. The lead was soon reduced to two in the first five minutes of the second period.

The defense of the Steelers also held shape and were playing their heart out to ensure Gujarat remained within reach. With 11 minutes left Cheralathan came up with a Super Tackle, this was the skipper’s 25th Super Tackle overall. Vikash also completed 150 points this season.

Vikash scored a Super Raid in the 33rd minute, bringing the Steelers back into the match.  With just three minutes left in the match, Haryana took the lead for the first time, again through Vikash who ensured Fortunegiants were all-out.

The scores were level in the last few seconds and Fortunegiants raider Rohit Gulia was trying to win the match for the visitors. A last-minute dash from defender Sunil ensured Rohit was pushed off the mat and Haryana won the match by a point.  

Haryana Steelers will next take on Bengaluru Bulls at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula on   October 2,  

-----balbirsingh227@gmail.com

Vikash Kandola scores Super 10 as Haryana Steelers defeat Patna Pirates

JAIPUR, SEPT 23

 Haryana Steelers bounced back with a 39-34 victory over Patna Pirates in Pro Kabaddi League season seven in Jaipur today. Vikash Kandola was the star of the match for Haryana once again with 13 points in the game.

Prashanth Kumar Rai and Vikash Kandola got the Haryana Steelers off to a good start with a couple of raid points. Sunil pulled off a fantastic tackle in the 5th minute as the Steelers took a two-point lead at 5-3. Kandola helped Haryana extend their lead when he carried out an all-out in the 9th minute. Haryana led by four points at 11-7.

 Patna Pirates tried to fight back with a few raid points, but Kandola's brilliant raid in the 14th minute helped the Steelers stay ahead. Prashanth scored a couple of crucial raid points just before the half-time whistle as the Haryana Steelers led by two points at 17-15.

 Patna Pirates fought back with a couple of raid points and leveled the scores at 17-17 in the 21st minute. However, Kuldeep Singh put Haryana in the lead again with an excellent tackle in the next minute. Kandola scored two points in a single raid in the 24th minute as Haryana led by four points at 21-17. The raider backed it up with another fantastic raid in the next minute which helped Haryana inch ahead.

 Haryana Steelers took a six-point lead at 27-21 after Ravi Kumar pulled off an all-out in the 27th minute. Patna Pirates stayed in the contest when they picked up four points in a single raid in the 30th minute, but the Steelers ensured that they stayed in the lead through raid points. Kandola and Vinay continued to pick up crucial raid points thereafter and eventually the Haryana Steelers walked off the mat as winners.

 Haryana Steelers will look to continue their great form when they face U.P. Yoddha at their home stadium in Panchkula on September 28.

====balbirsingh227@gmail.com

Sharan/ Zelenay march into doubles semis in Russia

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 19   

Divij Sharan of India, combining with Ignor Zelenay of Slovakia took their appointed place in doubles semi-final after getting the better of Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain and Andres Molten of Argentina by a hard-fought quarter-final by 7-5, 5-7, 10-5 in the S 1,180,000 ATP 250 St Petersburg Open Tennis Tournament in Russia. After sharing the first two sets, Sharan/Zelenay wrapped up the match by winning in match breatker tie-breaker. They were on the court for one hour and 38 minutes.
Sharan/Zelenay won78 points in comparision to 66 by their opponents. Sharan/Zelenay served five aces and committed one double faults. This pair saved three out of five break points and won two out of six break points.
Carballes Baena/Molteni served three aces and two double faults. They saved four out of six break points and won two break points out of five.
Sharan/Zelenay will now face top seeds Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor from Croatia who defeaeted the American Nicholas Monroe and the Belorussian Andrei Vasilevski 6-4, 6-2 in one hour.   Mektic and Skugor managed to win two matches in a row for the first time since Wimbledon.

===balbirsingh227@gmail.co

Haryana Steelers lose despite super 10 by Vinay

PUNE, SEPT 19

Haryana Steelers played their heart out but lost 36-48 to Bengal Warriors in Pro Kabaddi League season seven in Pune today. Vinay was Haryana's best player with 14 points.

Vinay and Prashanth Kumar Rai picked up crucial raid points at the start of the match, however the Bengal Warriors kept carrying out raids in tandem and took a three-point lead at 6-3. The Haryana Steelers fought hard, but the Warriors extended their lead by effecting an all-out in the sixth minute.

Vinay and Vikash Kandola led the fightback through some brilliant raids, but Haryana couldn't catch up with their opponents as Bengal carried out another all-out in the twelfth minute. Vikas Kale and Ravi Kumar pulled off a couple of excellent tackles which helped Haryana reduce the gap in the scoreline. The Bengal Warriors notched a few raid points just before the half-time whistle as they stayed in the lead at 30-14.

Vinay carried out a Super Raid at the start of the second half which helped Haryana Steelers stay in the contest. Haryana were back into the match when Kandola pulled off an all-out in the 24th minute. Haryana had reduced the gap to twelve points between the two sides. Kandola continued to pick up raid points, but Bengal managed to stay ahead at 38-26 in the 30th minute.

The Haryana Steelers played hard through a fantastic tackle by Kale in the 34th minute and a quick raid by Vinay in the next minute. Kandola reduced the gap to ten points with two raids as Bengal led at 43-33 in the 36th minute.

However, the Bengal Warriors ensured that they stayed in the lead through raids and tackles and eventually closed out the match. Haryana would certainly look to bounce back when they face Patna Pirates in Jaipur on September 23.

===balbirsingh227@gmail.com

MFI honours dignitaries of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and HP

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 14

 The Media Federation of India (MFI) today organized Entrepreneurs Business Summit and Awards 2019 at Hotel Mountview, Sector 10, Chandigarh, wherein many personalities from various fields were awarded for their contributions in respective areas.

            Mr Suresh Kumar, IAS, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab, graced the occasion as chief guest. He was awarded for his Meritorious Public Services to the society. He appreciated the work being done by MFI and gave away awards.  Sh. Satish Chandra, IAS; Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Justice, Punjab was the Guest of Honour and MFI awarded him for his marvelous services in the field of Public Administration.  

The prominent among those awarded were ---

1.      Mr. Atul Khosla, Pro Vice Chancellor, Shoolini University.—Higher Education.

2.      Mrs. Ritu Nag, Director CSR, Tech Mahindra – Corporate Social Responsibility.

3.      Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College & Hospital,sec 46, Chandigarh – AYUSH.

4.      Dr. Ankush Mehta,Head, Operations, MAX Super-specialty Hospital – Health Care.

5.      Mr. Om Prakash, IPS- GM, FCI, Haryana – Making Haryana No.1 in Depot Online System & Procuring Maximum Paddy/Wheat.

6.      Mr. Ramaniit Singh, CEO, Surya Roshni Ltd. – Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management

7.      Mr. Sukhwinder Bawa, Cricket Coach – Cricket in North India.

8.  Maj. GEN. R S Mann,VSM,  Additional DG NCC --- Empowering 1.4 lakh NCC Cadets towards Drug Eradication.

9.      Ms. Nancy – Mathematical Modelling.

10.  Mr. Sudhir Pradhan, COO, Voda-Idea Ltd, PB,HP&JK – Telecom Sector.

11.  Mrs. Anita Dutta, Dy dir (press), DPR, Haryana – Government PR.

12.  Dr. S S Kadian, Engineer, Irrigation & Water Resources, Haryana – Irrigation Facilities.

13.  Lt. Colonel Sapna Sharma, Bombay Sappers, Chief Engineers Zone, Chandigarh – Engineering Infrastructure in Army.

14.  Dr. Shashi Kant Sharma, Chairman, Deptt of Journalism, Himachal Pradesh University – Mass Communication.

15.  Mr. Anil Malhotra, Executive Director, Blackstone Group – Lifestyle & Hospitality.

16.  Mr. Pradeep Malik, DY Dir (Media), HERC – Hindi Journalism

17.  Mrs. Manju Wadawalkar, PRO, PGIMER, Chandigarh – Fund Allotment to Poor Patients.

18.  Mr. Amit Jha, IAS, ACS, Medical Education, Haryana – Medical Education and Health.

19.  Mr. Praveen K Sinha, IPS, ADGP, Prisons, Punjab – Training 600 Newly Appointed IPS Officers at National Police Academy, Hyderabad.

20.  Mr. B Purushartha, IAS, Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar,Punjab – Municipal Solid Waste Management.

21.  Mr. Rajat Agarwal, IAS, CEO, Pb Invest – Investment in Punjab.

22.  Mr S K Jha, IAS, Secretary, Public Relations, UT Chandigarh –  PR in UT Chandigarh.

23.  Mr. NPS Randhawa, CEO, PEDA– Solar, Biomass & Bio CNG – Mr MP Singh, GM, PEDA will collect Award on his behalf.

24.  Mr. Roshan Lal, SP, UT Chandigarh – Policing in Chandigarh.

 The list of sponsors who were awarded in different fields

 1.      Mr. Vikramjeet Kaushik, Progressive Entrepreneur– Bringing New Businesses.

2.      Mr. Deepak Wadhawan, Shiva Builders – Construction in Tricity.

3.      Mr. Praveen Kumar, AMBIKA GROUP – Affordable Housing.

4.      Dr. Gautam Sood and Dr. Shailee Sood – Oral Dental Health Care in NCR.

5.      Mr. Sukhdev Singh, Lovely Developer – Real Estate in SAS Nagar, Mohali.

 Adviser, MFI, Dr. Rupesh K Singh, welcomed the dignitaries and thanked them for gracing the occasion. He said that Media Federation of India was established in the year 2006 and since then the Federation has been constantly taking up the issues related to welfare of journalists with the state and central governments. The federation has large network of journalists with more than 15000 direct and indirect members and 20 journalist organizations in 20 states of the country.   

Mr. Vivek Atray, (IAS Retd.); National Adviser of the MFI who is also a prominent motivational speaker was the key note speaker on the occasion. He emphasized to feel the need of empathy aspect in the daily life of humans. Mr. Atray said that it is the need of the hour that bureaucracy and Journalists must work hand in hand for creating a better society for coming generations

====balbirsingh227@gmail.com

Vikash, Vinay star in Haryana Steelers' victory over Tamil Thalai

PUNE, SEPT 14

 Haryana Steelers defeated Tamil Thalaivas 43-35 in Pro Kabaddi League season seven in Pune on Saturday, 14 September 2019. Vikash Kandola stepped up for the Haryana Steelers once again with 13 points in the match.

Kandola and Vinay got the Haryana Steelers off to a great start with a couple of brilliant raids. Sunil and Vikas Kale backed their raiders up with a few tackle points as the Steelers picked up a three-point lead at 9-6. The Haryana Steelers widened the gap after Sunil carried out an all-out in the 12th minute. The Tamil Thalaivas notched some crucial raid and tackle points to stay in the contest.

Sunil pulled off a brilliant Super Tackle in the 16th minute as the Steelers took a four-point lead at 16-12. However, the Tamil Thalaivas scored a tackle and raid point just before the half-time whistle.

The two teams were neck and neck after the Tamil Thalivas carried out an all-out at the start of the second half. Kandola kept picking up raid points as the Haryana Steelers stayed in the lead at 22-21 in the 25th minute. The Steelers extended their lead after captain Dharmaraj Cheralathan pulled off a brilliant tackle in the next minute.

Kandola scored a couple of raid points in the 28th minute and Ravi Kumar carried out an excellent tackle in the next minute as the Steelers led by five points at 27-22. The Tamil Thalaivas tried to fight back with a few raid and tackle points, but the Steelers stayed ahead. Kandola pulled off an all-out in the 34th minute as the Haryana Steelers picked up a seven-point lead at 34-27. The Steelers extended their lead after Vinay pulled off a fantastic Super Raid in the 36th minute.

Tamil Thalaivas tried to catch up with their opposition with a few raid points, but the Haryana Steelers ensured that they walk off the mat as winners. Haryana will look to continue their excellent form when they take on Bengal Warriors in Pune on  September 19.

====balbirsingh227@gmail.com

High 5s for Ravi, Sunil as Haryana Steelers tie a thrilling encounter

KOLKATA, SEPT 11

 Haryana Steelers and Jaipur Pink Panthers tied their Pro Kabaddi League season seven match at 32-32 after a hard-fought contest. Vikash Kandola was the star player for Haryana with seven points in the game.

Prashanth Kumar Rai set the ball rolling for the Haryana Steelers with a few raid points at the start of the match, but the Jaipur Pink Panthers kept picking up points in tandem. Both the sides were neck and neck after ten minutes into the game with the Jaipur Pink Panthers leading by just one point at 7-6. Thereafter, Jaipur scored two raid points and a tackle point to pick up a four-point lead at 10-6 in the 12th minute.

Haryana Steelers were fighting hard, but the Pink Panthers kept widening the gap in the scoreline. However, Haryana stayed in the contest through a couple of excellent raids by Kandola and Prashanth. Kandola carried out an all-out in the 17th minute and scored a tackle point just before the half-time whistle as the Steelers led by four points.

Haryana Steelers defense unit rode on the momentum and scored two tackle points at the start of the second half as the team took a five-point lead at 20-15. Kandola scored a raid point and Sunil carried out a brilliant tackle in the 27th minute to help Steelers stay in the lead.

Ravi Kumar carried out a fantastic Super Tackle in the 31st minute as the Steelers led by four points at 25-21. The Pink Panthers tried to catch up with Haryana through a raid and tackle point, but Naveen scored a bonus point in the 34th minute to help the Steelers stay ahead at 27-23.

Jaipur Pink Panthers carried out an all-out in the 35th minute and scored a raid point to level the match at 29-29. Jaipur scored two tackle points in the dying minutes of the match to pick-up a two-point lead at 31-29.

However, Dharmaraj Cheralathan and Prashanth Kumar Rai pulled off two brilliant raids in the last minute of the match as the Steelers tied the match.

Haryana will be hoping to continue their excellent form in PKL-7 when they face Tamil Thalaivas in Pune on  September 14.

===balbirsingh227@gmail.com