Sardar Bhagwant Singh Memorial Basketball Trophy-2023 from Oct 14 to 20: Tricity’s biggest and now a very much iconic inter school ‘annual sports calendar event’ – Sardar Bhagwant Singh Memorial Basketball Trophy(BSMBT)-2023 – will be held at Sports Complex-42 here from October 14-20, 2023. As many as 72 teams in the categories of both Boys and Girls will be vying for honours in the coveted inter-school basketball tourney.
Talking to media persons at a curtain raiser press meet about the BSMBT’ 23 at the Press Club here, HS Mamik, Chairman, Vivek High School, said that this is the tricity’s biggest basketball tournament. Started in 2013. “This tournament is organized every year by Vivek High School in the memory of my father, Late Sardar Bhagwant Singh,”said Mamik.
It is to be noted that Late Sardar Bhagwant Singh believed that true education meant ensuring children develop holistically. It is also noteworthy that BSMBT was conceptualised and ‘institutionalised’ by Vikramjeet Singh Mamik, Administrator, Vivek High School, to give a fillip to basketball in Tricity.
Harbina Randhawa, Principal, Vivek High School, Mohali said that sports have an important role to play in the overall personality development of children. “This tournament is a unique platform for budding basketball players. The week long sporting event will see the participation of bright players from tricity’s schools, giving a boost to their talent.”
HS Mamik added that the inter-school championship will have student participants in the age brackets of Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17 Boys and Girls, and the tournament will be played under the rules and regulations of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) on a knock out basis. Twenty-five (25) top schools of the tricity have already registered for the tourney, he said.
Vishal Sharma, HOD, Sports Department, Vivek High School, Mohali said, “Over 65 fixtures will take place at the Sec 42 Sports Stadium’s Basketball court and Vivek High School court in Mohali.The Quarter finals are slated for Oct 18 and Semi-finals for Oct 19. The finals will be 6 in number 2 each –boys and girls for each of the three age brackets and shall be held over Oct 19 and 20.”
Jayata Chopra, Cultural Coordinator, Vivek High School, Mohali said, “We have made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the tournament. The opening ceremony will also feature cultural programmes by Vivek students.”
Asked about the schools participating in the tournament, Mamik said that Vivek High School, Mohali; Vivek High School, Sec 38, Chandigarh; Strawberry Fields High School, Sec 26, Chandigarh; Learning Paths School, Sec 67, Mohali; St. Peters Senior Secondary School, Sec 37, Chandigarh; Police Public School, Jagatpura, Mohali; Saupin’s School, Sector 32, Chandigarh; Manav Mangal Smart School, Phase X, Mohali; and Smart Wonders School, Sec 71, Mohali have confirmed participation.
The other participating schools, he said, are Guru Harkrishan Public School, Sec 38, Chandigarh; Ashmah International School, Sec 70, Mohali; Doon International School, Sec 69, Mohali; Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sec 26, Chandigarh; Shemrock School, Sector 69, Mohali; Delhi Public School, Sec 92, Mohali; Yadavindra Public School, Sec 51, Mohali; Shivalik Public School, Phase 6, Mohali; Delhi Public School, Sec 40, Chandigarh; St. Kabir Public School, Sec 26, Chandigarh; Gurukul World School, Sec 69, Mohali; Amity International School, Sec 79, Mohali; Paragon Senior Secondary School, Sec 71, Mohali; Shishu Niketan Public School, Sec 43, Chandigarh; Guru Nanak Public School, Sec 36, Chandigarh, and Saupin’s School, Sec 70, Mohali.
HS Mamik said that sports are an integral part of the new National Education Policy-2020 and go a long way in character building of our children, teaching them values of togetherness and inclusivity. “Sports also spread knowledge and integrity among youngsters, which is also the motto of Vivek High School,” he summed up.
