Gangtok, October 5 (IPR):
The five-day Sikkim State Open Basketball Championship, organised by the Basketball Association of Sikkim, culminated today at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, in the presence of Chief Minister Mr Prem Singh Tamang as the Chief Guest.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced a cash incentive of ₹5 lakh each for the five participating teams from Sikkim that made it to the finals of the tournament.
The results of the finals are as follows:
A. Women’s Category
Winners: Meghalaya Basketball Association – 70
Runners-up: Hawks, Gangtok – 55
B. Girls’ Category
Winners: Eklavya Model Residential School – 77
Runners-up: Paljor Namgyal Girls’ School – 18
C. Boys’ Category
Winners: Sagarmatha Basketball Academy – 76
Runners-up: ISA Basketball, Nepal – 65
D. Men’s Category
Winners: Ravens, Gangtok – 64
Runners-up: Yetis, Namchi – 44
Tournament MVPs:
1. Women: Ms Ashim Shipe, Meghalaya Basketball Association
2. Girls: Ms Edenla Bhutia, Eklavya Model Residential School
3. Boys: Mr Pema Tenzing Sherpa, Sagarmatha Basketball Academy, Nepal
4. Men: Mr Arvinder Singh, Ravens, Gangtok
At the outset of the programme, the executive committee of the Basketball Association of Sikkim presented a basketball jersey to Chief Minister Mr Prem Singh Tamang. The Chief Minister also ceremonially signed the official tournament basketball.
The latter half of the tournament also featured a three-point contest.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Chairman, SIMFED, Mr Tenzing Dorjee Bhutia.
The finals were also attended by Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Raju Basnet; MLA-cum-Advisor Mr Delay Namgyal Barfungpa; MLA-cum-Advisor Ms Pamin Lepcha; Political Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Jacob Khaling; Advisor, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr Bikash Pradhan; Chairman,Sports Development Board, Mr Rinzing Wangyal Chopel; Chairman, Sikkim Labour Welfare Board, Mr Prem Gurung; Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Ms Yangchen Tamang; Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Ms Hondala Gyaltsen; Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Ms Sarika Pradhan; Municipal Commissioner, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Mr Gary Chopel; students from various schools across the state; participants and other stakeholders.
Report from DIO-GANGTOK