Date:20/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/20/stories/2004122005221800.htm

Sport - Judo

Punjab keeps overall title

KOCHI, DEC. 19. Punjab pipped Haryana in a close race and retained the overall team title in the National junior judo championship at the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium here on Sunday.

Both the teams were tied with 92 points at the end of the events. The two were level even after the gold count, with five yellows each. But Punjab had more silver, four to Haryana's three, and was thus adjudged the champion.

Final placings: Boys, below 20 years: 66 kg: 1. Omar Hamza (J & K), 2. Hardip Singh (Punj), 3. Ashish (Hary) & Ramesh Halami (Mah B). 73 kg: 1. Somvir (Karn), 2. Sukhvinder Singh (Punj), 3. Shivaji Tone (Mah B) & Renjin Shankar (Ker). 81 kg: 1. Satender Pal (Punj), 2. H.Junamani (Mani), 3. Devender (Hary) & Ravinder (Del). Above 81 kg: 1. Amit (Hary), 2. Khan Azam Khan (AP), 3. Yavender Singh (Punj) & Padamsing Sherker (Mah B).

Girls, below 20 years: 52 kg: 1. Sazida (Punj), 2. Mamta Devi (Hary), 3. Komal Saini (Chd) & Pallavi (Mah B). 57 kg: Harpreet Kaur (Punj), 2. Veena Saini (Hary), 3. Bhavana Chavan (Mah B) & Kiran Negi (Chd). 63 kg: 1. Poonam Kaushik (Hary), 2. Seema Kumari (Punj), 3. Maisi (Del) & Kulwinder Kaur (Raj). Above 63 kg: 1. C.H. Jina (Mani), 2. Manisha Chauhan (Mah B), 3. Hetal Dave (Mah B) & Nilam (Hary).

Best judokas: Boys, under-17: Harpreet (Punjab, 60 kg). Under-20: Ashwin (Hary, 60 kg).

Girls, under-17: N. Ibotoi (Manipur, 52 kg). Under-20: Harpreet Kaur (Punjab, 57 kg).

Overall champion: Punjab (92 pts, with five gold and four silver). Runner-up: Haryana (92 pts, with five gold and 3 silver).

Team championships: Boys, under-17: Punjab (32 pts). Under-20: Haryana (30).

Girls, under-17: Rajasthan (24 pts). Under-20: Haryana (44). - Our Principal Correspondent