Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 13 (EMN): The fourth edition of men's Open Basketball Trophy got underway at Oriental College on Tuesday.
The tournament is being conducted as part of the year-long silver jubilee celebration of the institute.
Altogether, 15 teams from and within Kohima district are vying for the championship title in the four-day tournament being played on knockout basis.
In the inaugural match, Griffins defeated host Oriental College Kohima 67 - 36.
Orca beat Aries 71 - 41 while Taurus 97 trounced Aztecs 97 - 39 in the second and third matches respectively to register their win during the day.
Helievi-o Solo, chairman of Kohima Village Council, who attended the inaugural programme as the special guest, stated that many institutions are giving due importance to games and sports as part of their curricular activities though such activities are not part of the curriculum.
He expressed optimism that potential professional sportspersons could be produced if focus is given in organising more competitions in the days to come.
Solo said that it was encouraging to see players from different parts of the state coming together to compete in various disciplines during the recently concluded Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games 2022.
Also speaking on the occasion, principal of the college Ketshukietuo Dzüvichu, informed how they decided to organise the fourth edition of the trophy after a gap of two years owing to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apprising that they have incorporated the competition as part of their silver jubilee anniversary this year, he informed that the tournament has been organised over the years to promote unity and understanding among the sports personnel while giving them a platform to scale greater heights.
Dzüvichü made a reference to the speech made by Nelson Mandela in 2000 at a sporting event, who said 'sports being a universal language' gives hope and unity among the youth.
Meanwhile, it was informed that this year in the name of the silver jubilee, the prize money for the champions had been enhanced to INR 50,000 from the previous amount of INR 40,000.
The runner-up will receive INR 30,000 while the most valuable player (MVP) will pocket INR 5,000.
Seeing the increasing numbers of female sportspersons in the discipline, Dzüvichü informed that they would also conduct the same competition for women alongside their male counterparts in the coming editions.
It was informed that an exhibition match featuring two women teams will form part of the closing ceremony on September 16.
On Wednesday, Netters A will take on Imperium at 9:30 am in the first match while Arintin Ventures will lock horns with Netters B in the second match from 10:30 am onwards.
Kohima College will clash with Don Bosco College Kohima in the third match at 12 noon while Ravens will play against Ophidians in the fourth match at 1 pm.