STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: 47th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) organised three-day High Altitude Football Tournament under the aegis of Khelo India Programme, Ministry of Sports, Government of India, which concluded here at Chushul.
“The endeavour to boost sports was highly successful as teams from the border region of Changthang Ladakh like Chushul, Tsaga, Durbuk, Lukung, Khargyam and Merak participated in the tournament which was played at an altitude of 14,386 feet. It also gives the opportunity to ITBP forces who guard the Himalayan height to engage local civilians and materialized the vision of winning harsh and instill a sense of oneness and goodwill,” a release from the ITBP said.
The four days tournament witnessed crowds from far and wide and it was the Youth Association Chushul team that emerged the winner.
Prizes worth Rs 1.5 lakh were distributed by the Chief Guest J.P Yadav, DIG SHQ (Ladakh) in a closing ceremony.
The tournament was played on the knock out basis but it was made sure that the participation was encouraged as full football kit, tracksuits, and certificates, were distributed to all eight teams comprising 15 members each.
Individual performances were awarded with cash prize and trophies that included winners Rs. 25,000, first runner up Rs. 20,000, second runner up Rs. 15,000, third runner up, best player, Best Goal Keeper and highest scores Rs. 10,000 each.
The tournament was organized under the leadership of Parwinder Singh, Comdt, 47th Bn, ITBP who felicitated the Lama Ji of Chushul with a painting for the Gonpa.
The students of High School, Chushul were also awarded along with village Namberdar.
The closing ceremony marked a festive atmosphere as students from Chushul High School presented a beautiful cultural programme and the teams marched on the tunes of the pipe band which gave a bit of flavour of the forces to the young budding footballers and instilled a sense of discipline in them.
Jaipal Yadav, DIG, SHQ (Ladakh) assured the locals of the continued efforts from ITBP in the development of this region.