Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Twenty two years is a long time to sustain a local sporting event in the present razzmatazz of professional leagues and the other glittering events.
However the New Delhi YMCA has relentlessly worked to carry the legacy of basketball – a game invented at YMCA, Massachusetts in 1891.
The 22nd edition of Invitational Inter-College Basketball Tournament, which concluded in New Delhi on Saturday, is a testimony to New Delhi YMCA’s love
for the sport.
Lady Shri Ram College won the women’s title defeating Ramjas 46-29 while in the men’s section Jamia Millia Islamia got past Khalsa College 54-50.
Defending champions Hansraj College in men’s and Shri Ram College of Commerce in women’s were knocked out in the semi-finals.
A record number of 40 teams in the fray this year was much more than the entries for the official annual Inter-College Tournament conducted by Delhi University.
Apart from the winners all other top teams including Hindu College, St Stephen’s, Jesus and Mary participate in this year’s tournament.
“We are naturally excited by the growing response and I am confident that we will do even better in the coming years,’’ said Norris Pritam, Chairman of the Sports Department of New Delhi YMCA.
“The sporting fraternity of Delhi should be grateful to New Delhi YMCA for conducting this Inter-College Tournament and other local competitions which are slowly getting overshadowed by the so called hi-tech events.’’ said Meenakshi Pahuja, an ace swimmer and head of the physical education department, Lady Shri Ram College.
The Delhi Basketball Association has also joined hands in making this tournament a continued success.
A team of nationally and internationally qualified officials take control of the technical conduct of the tournament.
Inspired by the success of the Inter-College Basketball Tournament, the New Delhi YMCA plans to invite universal ambassadors of basketball, Harlem Globetrotters to New Delhi YMCA.
The Harlem Globetrotters are called magicians of basketball.
Their players are athleticism, technique, comedy all rolled in one. The team has played some 30,000 exhibition matches all over the world.
“Two months back I was in Thailand to attend the World YMCA Conference. There I met Mr Howard Smith, President of the Globetrotters. He has assured me his team’s visit to New Delhi YMCA,’’ said Norris Pritam.
“It will be a big boost to New Delhi YMCA efforts to keep the basketball flame alive in Delhi,’’ he added
(HSB )
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