Jamshedpur: Veteran athletes from across Jharkhand will compete in the state-level Masters Athletics Championship to be held at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Bistupur on December 19.

The day-long event will be organised by Masters Athletics Association of Jharkhand (MAAJ) for the first time in Jamshedpur.

MAAJ general secretary and former international athlete SK Tomar said they have so far received around 200 entries. "The championship will commence at 9 am and conclude with the prize distribution ceremony at 5 pm. Fifty four gold and as many silver and bronze medals will be up for grabs during the event," he added.

According to Tomar, former international, national, state-level and other athletes (men and women) in the 35-plus age group are part of the championship. We have formed 4 age groups -- 35 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69 and 70-plus -- for men while two age groups - 35 to 49 and 50-plus - for women athletes," he informed.

The MAAJ general secretary added men will compete in 100 m, 400 m, 1500 m, 3 km walk, long jump, shot put, discus throw and javelin throw whereas women will display their prowess in 100 m, 200 m, 1 km walk, long, jump, shot put and discus throw. "Apart from the veterans, we have also lined up competition in (open category) for boys and girls in the 16-plus age group,"Tomar said, adding besides medals, merit certificates will also be handed over to the winners.

Trials for women footballers

Women's Football Association of Jharkhand (WFAJ) is conducting a two-day selection trial at Beldih Sports corner in Jamshedpur on December 18 and 19 for selecting the state squad for upcoming 43rd senior women's football championship scheduled at Central Stadium in Korba, Chhatisgarh between January 9 and 16 next year.

Roll Ball squad

A 20-member (Boys and girls) Jharkhand squad on Friday left for Guwahati to tale part in the first East Zone Sub-junior Roll Ball Championship to be held on December 19 and 20. The state squad comprises players from Tata Steel Roll Ball Training Center (Jamshedpur), East Singhbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribag and Seraikela-Kharsawan. Separate coaches and managers for boys and girls sides are accompanying the squad.

Jayesh Thaker

Bokaro: Three held for assault on medical staff

The nabbed criminals with cops Gautam Dey

Dhanbad: Bokaro police on Friday arrested three criminals including history sheeter Kaushal Bihari in connection with attack on a nursing home staff and extortion demand from a nursing operator that took place on December 15 in cooperative colony area.

Police also seized arms and ammunitions including two pistols, one revolver, a live cartridge besides a bike from the arrested persons that included Murga Pada, Bokaro resident Vickey Ram and Sonatand resident, Pintu Baranwal.

Notably, Bihari an accused in more than 10 criminal cases who is on bail, came to Krishna Nursing Home of Cooperative Colony area of Bokaro on December 15 for the check up of his father. Dr KK Rana, attended to his father and later prescribed some medicines and also asked advised him to carry out USG of his father any time.

Bihari after taking the medicine from the counter of the nursing home later sought whether his father’s USG was carried out or not. The counsellor, Karan Kumar said sibce the prescription of the doctor has not reached him, he could not. Irked with the response of the cousellor Bihari took out his pistol and threatened the cousellor demanding extortion from him and later also fired on him but the cousellor escaped the attack.

Later the nursing home operator Jitendra Keshri who reached at the site after getting information lodged a case in this regard on Kaushal Bihari.

Police after scanning CCTV footages of the nursing hom identified two more persons accompanying Bihari including Vickey Ram and Pintu Baranwal behind the attack.

Chandan Jha while talking to media at his office said, “All the three persons arrested today have criminal antecedents and Kaushal Bihar was also planning to flee to Bihar but he has been arreste by Bokaro police in the meantime.”

Praduman Choubey

Family members of deceased shooter demand probe

Family members of deceased shooter Konika Layak during the press meet at Dhansar, Dhanbad on Friday Shabbir Hussain

Dhanbad: Parents and other family members of the deceased rifle shooter Konika Layak on Friday held a press conference here and demanded a probe into her death. Partho Prateem Layak, father of Konika said, "We suspect some foul play behind her death as I had a talk on previous night (December 14) before her death news emerged and she was scheduled to leave Calcutta to return to Dhanbad the next day (December 15).

"We will lodge a case in this regard against all suspected persons" said Layak but added that they don't want to disclose any name at present.

Notably, the body of Konika was found in her room at a ladies guest house of Howrah on December 15.

Praduman Choubey