LBA players log easy wins in U-17 tourney

Ludhiana, August 29

Players (boys and girls) of the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA) scripted easy wins in the Punjab Youth (U-17) Basketball Tournament being held at Guru Nanak Stadium here on Thursday.

The tournament was scheduled to be conducted at Kirpal Sagar Academy ground, Rahon, in Nawanshahr district but rain turned the venue into a pool, forcing the organisers — Punjab Basketball Association (PBA) — to shift the venue to Ludhiana where the matches could be played indoors.

In the girl’ section, LBA trounced Amritsar 41-5 while their counterparts toyed with Hoshairpur boys whom they routed 78-30.

In other matches (boys), Jalandhar outplayed Gurdaspur 29-15, Mansa outwitted Ludhiana district 50-25, Hoshiarpur got the better of Pathankot 38-8, Mansa pipped Mohali 65-31, Patiala beat Jalandhar 54-41, LBA defeated Mansa 50-35 and Patiala prevailed over Bathinda 46-45.

In the girls’ section, LBA outnumbered Mohali 54-17, Ludhiana district overpowered Mansa 70-37, Mohali outclassed Kapurthala 40-28, Mansa scraped past Jalandhar 37-34 and Amritsar beat Patiala 32-15.

Kuldeep Chugh, District Sports Officer, inaugurated the tournament while Teja Singh Dhaliwal, honorary general secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, was the guest of honour on the occasion, Daroachrya awardee (hockey) Baldev Singh along with JP Singh, president District Basketball Association, besides Vijay Chopra and coaches were also present there.

Performance during the tournament would be taken into consideration while finalising the Punjab teams for the forthcoming National Youth Basketball Championship, said, Dhaliwal.