STATE TIMES NEWS
NAGROTA: The All India Sainik Schools Inter Zonal Football Championship 2017-18 got off to a flying start at Sainik School Nagrota on Monday. In all, nine teams in junior and sub-junior categories will compete for the next five days to clinch the coveted championship title. In the qualifying round of the tournament conducted in East, West, North, South and Central Zones amongst teams from Sainik Schools located in their respective zones, nine teams had defeated their rivals and advanced to this Inter Zonal finals being held at Sainik School Nagrota. Sainik School Ghorakhal, Uttrakhand won the North Zone qualifiers in both Junior and Sub-junior categories while other zonal winners in Junior category include Sainik School Punglwa (East Zone), Sainik School Rewari (West Zone), Sainik School Bhubaneswar (Central Zone) and Sainik School Amaravathinagar (South Zone). In Sub-junior category Sainik Schools from Imphal, Kalikiri, Satara, Gopalgunj and Ghorakhal will be competing against one another on league basis.
The first match was played between Sainik School Gopalganj (Bihar) and Sainik School Kalikiri (Andhra Pradesh) among Sub-Juniors while Sainik School Punglwa (Nagaland) took on Sainik School Ghorakhal (Uttrakhand). Both the matches ended in 1-1 draw.
Earlier, the championship was declared open by the Chief Guest, Lt Col Mitali Madhumita, Vice Principal of the School, at school stadium.
He expressed confidence that the participating teams from across the states will display highest standards of sportsmanship and discipline on the ground.
Sqn Ldr Vipin Kumar Sharma, Administrative Officer reviewed the ground preparations.
