Face2News/Chandigarh:

The 18-day long ‘Allengers Gully Cricket Tournament' being organized by the UT Cricket Association (UTCA) and Chandigarh Police to inculcate the spirit of sportsmanship among the youth and keep away from drug abuse formally began on Thursday.

The tournament was inaugurated by His Excellency Banwari Lal Purohit, Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator in the presence of UTCA President Sanjay Tandon and Chandigarh Police DGP Praveer Ranjan (IPS) at the opening ceremony held at the Cricket Stadium, Sector 16.

On this occasion, Municipal Commissioner Anandita Mitra (IAS), SSP Kanwardeep Kaur (IPS), Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) member of BCCI and former Test cricketer Ashok Malhotra, Chairman of Allengers Group Suresh Sharma, Tynor's Managing Director PJ Singh also unveiled the trophy in the presence of around 2800 participating budding cricketers.

Praising the organizers for organizing this tournament, His Excellency Banwarilal Purohit said that youth and sports are synonymous with each other. Youth should take full advantage of such platforms and give direction to their life and career by introducing their sporting talent.

Expressing his views on the occasion, UTCA President Sanjay Tandon said that this tournament, organized on the theme of 'Balla Ghumaon, Nasha Bhagao', will be a joint effort of UTCA and Chandigarh Police to curb drug abuse among the youth. He announced that by gesturing cricket dress with shoes to each player and cricket kit to each team free of cost, UTCA will hone their cricketing talent so that they can participate in the next edition of the same event.

Expressing his views on the occasion, UTCA President Sanjay Tandon said that this tournament, organized on the theme of 'Balla Ghumaon, Nasha Bhagao', will be a joint effort of UTCA and Chandigarh Police to curb drug abuse among the youth. He announced that by gesturing cricket dress with shoes to each player and cricket kit to each team free of cost, UTCA will hone their cricketing talent so that they can participate in the next edition of the same event.

DGP Praveer Ranjan in his address said this initiative will help Chandigarh Police to control the petty crimes in the city. He lauded that It will be the endeavor of Chandigarh Police to make this event an annual tournament in collaboration with UTCA so that the youth can make sports their strength.

The tournament is well supported by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation along with the Department of Sports, Education and Social Welfare of the Chandigarh Administration.

This tournament will be played on ten different playgrounds of the city wherein around 2800 budding cricketers from more than 200 teams are participating. The registration of these teams of players aged between 14 to 18 years was done through 110 police beat boxes of the city.

To avoid injury, matches will be played with tennis balls in the morning and evening. These matches of knockout basis will be of ten overs each inning. The final will be held on 23 April at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16. The UTCA selectors will vigil all the matches of the tournament and mentor the outstanding players to prepare them for the BCCI tournament.

The champion team will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 51,000 while the runner-up team with Rs 31,000. Both the semi-final teams will be awarded Rs 11,000 each.

During the tournament world famous players Ashok Malhotra, Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma and other renowned cricketers will cheer the players. In order to increase the sporting spirit in the tournament, the intellectual sections of the city will also strengthen the street cricket tournament through exhibition matches. Teams of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speakers, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speakers, Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges, Bar Council, Chandigarh Administration, PGI, Press Club, Chandigarh Police and UTCA will play friendly matches on weekends during the tournament period.