Punjab police won the All India Balkar Singh Cheema memorial basketball tournament defeating Kerla State Electricity Board by 69-28 in men’s section while Kerla state Electricity Board defeated Eastern Railways Kolkata by 65-38 in women section in the final matches played at Basketball stadium at village Dabulian on Tuesday night.
In the first women final match played between Kerala State Electricity Board and Eastern Railways Kolkata started at interesting note as Eastern Railways 7feet 2 inches long International player Poonam scored 23 points for her team with her sheer height and skills but failed to led her team to victory due to lack of coordination among the other players. On the contrary kerla team played a brisk game and with the joint efforts of Sreekala,Kavita and Jeena scored 65 point and led their team to victory.
In the second final in men section played between Punjab police and Kerla State Electricity Board was a one sided affair as policemen thrashed Kerla team by 69-28.Punjab police Amritpal Singh played an outstanding game for the winners and was also adjudged as best player of the tournament .The organisers awarded him with bullet motorcycle while Sreekala of Kerla was awarded with Activa for her best performance in the tournament.
The four days tournament started on March 4.
Former Punjab Police DGP R.S.Gill gave away cash prize of rupees 2 lakh each to the winners of championship in men and women section while rupees 1.5 lakh cash to the losers of the final match.
The Organisers also honoured international and Arjuna awardee players on this occasion.
The Tournament was organised in the memory of International Basket ball player Balkar Singh Cheema to encourage the village youths towards basketball game according to International Basketball player Sajjan Singh Cheema brother of Balkar Singh Cheema . The family has constructed a basketball stadium in their native village Dabulian and are imparting free coaching to youths of the nearby villages.