DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 19: Border Security Force (BSF) clinched the 65th BN Mullik All India Police Football Championship which concluded today at NAPTC ground, Chumukedima, by beating Assam Rifles 5-4 through a tie breaker.
The final match witnessed a tight contest in which both the teams failed to score in regulation time. Adroit display and dominance on the field by the Assam Rifles was thwarted several times by a strong defence of the BSF.
After the second half, BSF managed to net the ball but was declared off-side. Punjab police team was declared as third-place winner.
State home minister and the chief guest of the final match, Y Patton, lauded the sportsmanship and discipline displayed by the uniformed personnel even in the sporting event apart from maintaining law and order.
‘This shows that the central police organisation including para-militaries in the country also have more enthusiasm in sports besides their usual duties and responsibilities in curtailing law and order problems and providing security to the citizens,’ Patton said in his address.
Stating that All India Police and central para-military football teams in the country are second to none as far as soccer competition is concerned, Patton said these teams are looked upon with respect and high expectation by the citizens. Towards this end, he urged the uniformed personnel to keep up that spirit and live up to the expectation of the people.
The Home minister was optimistic that the memorial championship of All India Police fraternity will play a major role in promoting national integration among the police fraternity of the country. He termed it as opportune for all police personnel from different states to come together with a feeling of oneness and sense of mutual respect for each other. He wished that the tournament will go a long way in fostering the feeling of oneness amongst the police fraternity throughout the country and further enhance sense of social responsibility to grow from strength to strength.
The 16-day tournament, which began on November 4, saw the participation of 39 teams consisting of 1017 personnel with 24 match officials from within the state and neighbouring states.
