Pune (Maharahtra) [India], July 7 (ANI): The ABC Pro Baketball League Seaon 4 wa inaugurated yeterday, July 6, at the Rajaram Bhiku Pathare Stadium in Kharadi, Pune. The ceremony wa graced by the preence of Rakha Khade, Honourable Union Miniter of State for Youth Affair and Sport, a per a releae from SAI.
The event marked the official tart of the league exciting lineup and align directly with Prime Miniter Narendra Modi viion for a Vikit Bharat, driven by empowered youth and a vibrant port culture, a well a the objective of the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025. The league aim to foter graroot baketball talent, providing a profeional platform for young athlete and promoting a robut port ecoytem acro the nation.
The day event commenced with the Firt Match tarting at 4:00 pm, etting an energetic tone for the eaon. Thi wa followed by the much-anticipated Inauguration Ceremony at 5:15 p.m., during which Rakha Khade delivered a compelling peech, conducted the Trophy Unveiling, and addreed the player and the enthuiatic audience.
The ceremony alo featured the National Anthem and a march pat the participating team, culminating in an exhilarating Exhibition Match. Rakha Khade actively engaged with the participating team and organizer, emphaizing the Minitry unwavering commitment to making port an integral part of every child lifetyle and nurturing porting excellence from a young age. She lauded the effort of ABC Fitne Firm, the Baketball Federation of India (BFI), and all aociated partner for their dedicated work in bringing thi viion to fruition.
Addreing the gathering, Rakha Khade tated, a quoted from a releae by SAI, The ABC Pro Baketball League embodie the pirit of our nation youth and our collective apiration for a porting uperpower. It i truly inpiring to witne the paion and talent here today, which perfectly reonate with our government Khelo India initiative.
Inveting in graroot port like thi i paramount. Every point cored, every trategic pa, i a tep toward building a healthier, more competitive, and more unified India, propelling u cloer to Prime Miniter Modi viion of a developed nation where every talent find it rightful tage, he added.
According to the organier, the league witneed an impreive turnout of over 5,000 young apirant participating in trial from acro Maharahtra. Following a rigorou election proce, 1,000 elite player were hortlited through a competitive auction proce, and 310 player were ultimately elected to join the league 19 team acro Under 14 and Under 17 categorie for both boy and girl.
Thi rigorou proce undercore the league commitment to identifying and nurturing genuine talent. With Seaon 4, the league continue to grow, providing opportunitie for young athlete to develop their kill and purue their paion for the port. Thi eaon promie fierce competition and dramatic howdown, all conducted indoor at a world-cla facility, enuring high tandard of play and player development.
Among the prominent peronalitie preent at the event were Surendra Pathare from the Surendra Pathare Foundation, alongide a hot of team owner, including Sureh Mihra and Edward Kacherikar, repreenting the Kolhapur Jaguar, Vijay Sule and Sadanand Sule of the Mumbai Sniper, and Anhul Jain and Kevin Franci from Hi 5 RS. Alo in attendance were Indraneel Chitale of Pune Chitale Warrior, Rahul Chinta and Onkar Sable from Supernova Thane Tiger, Amruta and Harhal Birati of Nahik Court Cruader, and Jitendra Choukey from Pune Fittr Warrior. Further trengthening the lineup were Rohit Pawar of Ahilyanagar Storm, Mayara and Deepti Sharma repreenting Multifit Nagpur Warrior, Abhihek Sinha from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Trinita Heat, and Smita Patil of SSPL Nanded Jaguar.
The PCMC Stallion were repreented by Aakah, Vihal, and Sagar, while Shahank Goenka attended for the Mumbai Bear. Leena Khade and Tuhar Barve were preent for the Satara Champ, and Ankuh Chaudhari wa preent for the Khandeh Heat. Their preence, along with that of other enior official from relevant port organiation and local adminitration, undercored the collaborative effort and the widepread importance of promoting baketball and youth development. (ANI)