HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Aug 24: The 5th State-Level Inter-School Basketball Tournament, organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Basketball Association, concluded with great enthusiasm and record participation at the Donyi Basketball Court, Lower Borum, on August 23.
The week-long event, which began on August 17, showcased the growing popularity of basketball in the state and the emergence of new talent from schools across districts.
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According to an official statement, the tournament was inaugurated by Gumnya Karbak, Director of Sports Authority, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, who attended as chief guest.
The inaugural function was also graced by Lobsang Tsering, Education Secretary of the All Papum Pare Students’ Union (APPSU), as guest of honour.
The closing ceremony was marked by the presence of Assistant Director of Sports and Incharge, Education Department, Takam Pate, as chief guest, along with BJP Vice President Taying Shakuntala as guest of honour.
Both functions reflected the support extended by state authorities and community leaders to strengthen grassroots sports culture.
This year’s edition of the tournament was described as one of the largest and most competitive school-level basketball events ever held in Arunachal Pradesh.
A total of 27 schools participated, fielding 46 teams with over 600 student-athletes.
For the first time, the reach of the tournament extended beyond the capital region, as schools from Bana, Thrizino, Palizi and Aalo took part, giving the event a truly state-level character and adding further prestige to the competition.
The matches, played over the course of seven days, were closely contested and drew sizeable crowds of students, parents and basketball enthusiasts.
Many of the games went down to the final moments, underlining the high level of competitiveness and discipline among the participating teams.
The tournament not only gave young players the opportunity to showcase their skills but also highlighted the potential of basketball as a sport that is steadily growing in the state.
In the championship results, Garden Dew School, Itanagar, emerged as Senior Boys Champions, successfully defending their title with back-to-back victories.
Alphabet Girls Residential School, Nirjuli, created history by clinching a double victory in both the Senior Girls and Junior Girls categories, a feat that brought immense pride to the school. Don Bosco School, Doimukh, also retained their crown by winning the Junior Boys championship for the second consecutive year.
These victories, achieved by defending champions and new contenders alike, added to the excitement of the event and set a high benchmark for future editions.
The Arunachal Pradesh Basketball Association expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the participating schools, coaches, referees, volunteers and sponsors whose collective efforts ensured the success of the tournament.
The Association, in its closing remarks, reiterated its commitment to nurturing young talent, providing structured opportunities for school-level athletes, and promoting basketball as an accessible and aspirational sport in the state.
Officials noted that the rising participation levels and the enthusiasm witnessed this year were encouraging signs of the sport’s future in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Association also emphasised that such events play an important role in instilling discipline, teamwork and sporting spirit among schoolchildren, while creating pathways for them to progress to state and national-level competitions.
With the 5th edition concluding on a high note, the Arunachal Pradesh Basketball Association announced plans to further expand the tournament in the years ahead, both in terms of geographical reach and competitive standards.
The Association hopes that the talent and energy displayed by the students this year will inspire more schools to take up basketball and strengthen the state’s representation in the sport at larger platforms.
