THE TOURNAMENT WILL STRENGTHEN NASHA MUKT BHARAT ABHIYAN AS WELL EMPOWER TEAM’S BENCH STRENGTH : SANJAY TANDON, PRESIDENT, UTCA ·.ORE THAN 7200 YOUNG CRICKETERS REPRESENTING AS MANY AS 600 TEAMS TO EXHIBIT THEIR SPORTING TALENT /YOUTH WILL GET A NEW PATH TO CAREER, HELPS TO CURB PETTY CRIMES: IG CHANDIGARH POLICE
Sports Desl/Chandigarh
The UT Cricket Association (UTCA) and Chandigarh Police have officially announced the launch of the third edition of the 'Gully Cricket Tournament 2025,' which will kick off on April 20. This annual tournament aims to encourage a passion for cricket among the youth of Chandigarh while simultaneously supporting the 'Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan' (Drug-Free India Movement) and curbing petty criminal activities.
This year, a total of 600 teams representing around 7200 young cricketers aged 14 to 19 will participate and showcase their sporting talents in this exciting event. The tournament is well-supported by the Municipal Corporation, Social Welfare Department, Sports Department, Education Department and Chandigarh Administration. With this massive participation, organizers are aiming to register the event in the Guinness Book of World Records. This edition is being strengthened by Allengers, Tynor, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank and others.
The tournament will be inaugurated by Gulab Chand Kataria, UT Administrator and Governor, Punjab Matches will be played at 20 venues across the city to ensure convenient access for players. Registration for the tournament is being conducted through all police stations in Chandigarh with the deadline for team registration on April 7. The tournament will be held on a knockout basis as each match consists of ten overs per side and players will compete with tennis balls to avoid injury.
To further engage the community, intellectuals from across the city will also participate in exhibition matches on weekends during the course of the tournament to promote the spirit of cricket.
Sanjay Tandon, President, UTCA emphasized that the Gully Cricket Tournament is a unique initiative aimed at tapping the cricketing potential of young people from slums, colonies and sectors. UTCA’s goal is not only to provide a platform for these young cricketers but also to mentor and nurture talent, giving them the opportunity to represent Chandigarh in national-level BCCI tournaments.
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The UTCA panel of selectors will be closely monitoring the tournament and the most outstanding players will receive further guidance and support after the event. Tandon added that this initiative is an integral part of the Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan with a strong focus on redirecting the youth away from drugs and petty crimes.
Present on the occasion, RK Singh (IPS), IG, Kanwardeep Kaur, (IPS) SSP and Geetanjali Khandelwal (IPS), SSP City highlighted the crucial role youth play in shaping society. She noted that the tournament serves as an excellent opportunity to channel the energy of young people into productive activities like sports, which in turn helps reduce criminal behavior and drug abuse.
The tournament promises to be an exciting event with cash prizes awarded to the champions in various categories. Online scoring will be available throughout the tournament via the UTCA website and app. The second edition of the tournament, which took place last year, was a tremendous success with the participation of 302 teams, earning a spot in the Asia Book of Records.
Those present on the occasion include tournament Chairman Ravinder Singh Billa, Secretary Devender Sharma, Treasurer CA Alok Krishan, senior members Hari Singh Khurana, Yuvraj Mahajan, senior officials from Chandigarh Police, RS Kanwar, MD Allengers and nodal officers from MC and Chandigarh Administration.
