2nd Ravinder Khajuria Memorial Basketball tourney commences

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, June 13: The 2nd Ravinder Khajuria Memorial Basketball Tournament commenced with great enthusiasm at the Basketball Court of the University of Jammu today. Organized by the Royal Basketball Club (RBC), Jammu, the tournament is being held in memory of late Ravinder Khajuria, a distinguished Assistant Sub-Inspector in J&K Police and a respected basketball coach who played a significant role in promoting the sport across Jammu and Kashmir.

The opening ceremony was attended by Devyani Rana, MLA from Nagrota Constituency, as the chief guest. The event began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolizing sportsmanship, unity and excellence. A special attraction of the ceremony was the unveiling of the official tournament T-shirt by the chief guest. Senior basketball players of J&K were also felicitated for their contributions to the game.

Addressing the gathering, Devyani Rana appreciated the efforts of RBC in organizing the memorial tournament and preserving the legacy of Ravinder Khajuria. She encouraged participants to display discipline, dedication and true sporting spirit before formally declaring the tournament open.

Earlier, RBC General Secretary Abhimanyu Katoch welcomed the guests, players, officials and supporters and highlighted the contributions of Ravinder Khajuria towards the development of basketball in the Union Territory.

The opening day featured several exciting matches. Katra defeated Hoop Hustlers by 47-32, Paloura Tigers beat All Stars by 56-32, Western Command overcame Parade by 57-30, Bathinda defeated MSP by 43-33, CISF outplayed RBC Junior by 56-17, while BSF registered a 53-31 win over Udhampur.

Senior Coach Ranbir Singh presented a memento to the chief guest. The tournament will conclude tomorrow after more competitive matches featuring teams from different regions.