Tribal Affairs Minister Inaugurates Tournament with a Symbolic First Ball
Udaipur, January 29: The 68th National School Cricket Tournament (Under-19 Girls), organized by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), commenced in Udaipur with grand enthusiasm. Hosted by Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Sundarwas, the tournament was officially inaugurated by Tribal Affairs Minister Babulal Kharadi, who played the ceremonial first ball to mark the beginning of the event.
The inaugural ceremony was presided over by City MLA Tarachand Jain and attended by noted dignitaries, including social worker Chandragupt Singh Chauhan, Kishanlal Khatik, University Sports Board Secretary Bhimraj Patel, Joint Director Ranjana Kothari, Chief District Education Officer Mahendra Kumar Jain, and SGFI Observer DK Singh.
Minister Babulal Kharadi took the salute of the march-past conducted by participating teams, followed by the hoisting of the tournament flag. Addressing the players, he encouraged them to uphold the true spirit of sportsmanship. The tournament saw participation from 22 teams representing various states and educational boards across India.
First Matches and Key Highlights
- The tournament began with an opening match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, preceded by the official welcome of guests by Principal Ashutosh Tuli and Senior Physical Education Teacher Vijay Singh Rawat.
- NCC Cadets (Girls) of Residency School presented a Guard of Honor to the distinguished guests.
- The opening ceremony was hosted by Harish Vaishnav, Richa Rupal, Vanita Wagrecha, Payal Kumawat, and Renuka Theoplus.
- A vibrant cultural program featuring yoga performances and a musical tribute to “Vande Mataram” was also presented by students.
Match Results and Performance Highlights
Matches are being played across six venues in Udaipur, including:
- MB Cricket Ground A & B
- BN College Ground
- Railway Training Ground, Pratap Nagar
- Rajasthan Agricultural College Ground
- Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital Ground
Day 1 Match Results
✅ Rajasthan vs. Jammu & Kashmir (BN College Ground, 1:30 PM Match)
- Jammu & Kashmir batted first and scored only 38 runs in 15 overs.
- Rajasthan chased the target in 4.3 overs, winning by 7 wickets.
- Star Performers:
- Bowler Taniska took 4 wickets for just 4 runs in 4 overs.
- Medhavi secured 2 wickets for 9 runs in 3 overs.
- Vrinda Sharma (14 runs) and Nisha (13 runs) led the chase.
✅ Telangana vs. Madhya Pradesh (Geetanjali Ground)
- Telangana won by 20 runs, scoring 85 runs first and restricting Madhya Pradesh to 65 runs.
✅ Uttar Pradesh vs. Uttarakhand (MB A Ground)
- Uttar Pradesh won by 4 wickets, successfully chasing the target.
✅ Chhattisgarh vs. CISCE (Rajasthan Agricultural College Ground)
- Chhattisgarh comfortably chased a 102-run target, losing only 2 wickets and winning by 8 wickets.
Uniting the Nation Through Cricket
Deputy District Education Officer (Physical Education) Lakshman Salvi emphasized that this national-level event serves as an important platform for young athletes to showcase their talent and represents a major milestone in promoting women’s sports in India.
With high-energy matches, enthusiastic participation, and a competitive spirit, the SGFI National U-19 Cricket Tournament 2024 in Udaipur promises to be a thrilling display of young cricketing talent.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.