Pakyong, January 04 (IPR): The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr Prem Singh Tamang-Golay, inaugurated the 1st Inter-Department Cricket Tournament, organised by the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA) in collaboration with the Government of Sikkim, at the Sikkim Cricket Ground, Rangpo, today.
The Chief Minister, who is also the Chief Patron of SICA, formally declared the tournament open, marking a significant step towards promoting sports culture and camaraderie among government employees of the state.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of Minister for Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Raju Basnett; MLA, Mr Sanjeet Kharel; Principal Secretary to HCM, Mr SD Dhakal; President, SICA, Mr Tika Subba; Chairman, SIMFED, Mr Tenzing Dorjee Bhutia; Advisor SBS, Mr Biren Chandra Rai; MD SBS, Mr Phurba Wangdi Bhutia; District Collector Pakyong, Mr Rohan Agawane; Senior Superintendent of Police, Pakyong, Ms Paru Ruchal; along with other dignitaries, officials from various line departments.
The tournament comprises participation from 28 government departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), aiming to foster team spirit, unity and sportsmanship while strengthening the sporting ecosystem in the state.
The participating teams are as follows: CMO Office;
Gangtok Municipal Corporation;
Power Department;
Culture Department;
Tourism Department;
Forest Department;
Building and Housing Department; Government Contractor XI;
Education Department;
Information and Public Relations Department;
Public Health Engineering Department; Finance Department;
Sports and Youth Affairs Department; Commerce and Industries Department;
Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department;
Horticulture Department;
Roads and Bridges Department;
Transport Department;
Health Department;
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department;
Government Supplies XI;
Police Department;
Science & Technology – Mines and Geology Department; Higher Education;
Social Welfare Department;
Rural Development Department;
State Bank of Sikkim and
SIMFED.
The winning team will receive a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, while the runners-up will receive ₹5 lakh. The prize money is sponsored by the State Bank of Sikkim.
The opening match of the tournament is being played between the Chief Minister’s Office and the Power Department.
A felicitation ceremony was held to honour the Chief Minister as the Chief Patron of SICA. Another felicitation ceremony was conducted to honour the Sikkim Women’s Cricket Team for winning the Plate Division of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2025–26 organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
On the occasion, the annual calendar of the State Bank of Sikkim was unveiled. The programme also included cultural performances, a march past, and the launch of the SICA theme song.
Report from DIO Pakyong