Army, South Central Railway Clinch CRI All India Basketball Titles

The Indian Army team won the men’s title, while South Central Railway emerged champions in the women’s category in the 59th Nachimuthu Gounder Trophy for Men and the 23rd CRI Pumps Trophy for Women All India Basketball Tournament held in Coimbatore on Sunday. The five-day All India Basketball Tournament for men and women, organised by the Coimbatore District Basketball Association, commenced on May 27 and concluded on May 31.
In the men’s section, teams representing Indian Air Force New Delhi, Indian Army New Delhi, Indian Navy Lonavala, Kerala State Electricity Board Thiruvananthapuram, Bank of Baroda Bengaluru, Indian Overseas Bank Chennai, Kerala Police Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore District Basketball Association participated. In the women’s section, South Central Railway Secunderabad, South Western Railway Hubballi, Southern Railway Chennai, Integral Coach Factory Chennai, Kerala State Electricity Board Thiruvananthapuram, Central Railway Mumbai, Kerala Police Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore District Basketball Association teams took part. League matches were conducted till May 29, while the semi-finals were held on May 30. Indian Navy and Indian Army advanced to the men’s final, while Kerala State Electricity Board and South Central Railway entered the women’s final after winning their respective semi-final matches.
In the men’s third-place playoff held earlier in the day, Indian Overseas Bank defeated Indian Air Force 70-51. In the women’s third-place match, South Western Railway beat Central Railway 89-55 to secure third place. In the men’s final, Indian Army defeated Indian Navy 95-77 to lift the title. In the women’s final, South Central Railway defeated Kerala State Electricity Board 67-64 to emerge champions.
The Indian Army team received a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh along with the Nachimuthu Gounder Trophy, while runners-up Indian Navy received Rs.50,000 and the Dr. N. Mahalingam Trophy. Raghul Kumar of Indian Army was adjudged the Best Player of the tournament. In the women’s category, South Central Railway received Rs.1 lakh and the CRI Pumps Trophy, while Kerala State Electricity Board received Rs.50,000 and the runners-up trophy.
Harshitha K. B of South Central Railway won the Best Woman Player award. Tamil Nadu Basketball Association Vice-President, Coimbatore District Basketball Association President and CRI Pumps Managing Director G. Selvaraj presided over the finals. Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna distributed prizes to the winning teams. Sakthi Group Chairman Manickam participated as the guest of honour.
Tournament arrangements were made by Coimbatore District Basketball Association Secretary S. Balaji and Joint Secretary M. Deepala.