Lucknow, 07 November (HS). The 52nd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial (Outdoor) Cricket and Volleyball Tournament was inaugurated with the march past of the participating teams at the Central Lawn of the Botanical Garden of CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute on Thursday. There will be a competition between scientists from different institutions from Friday. This tournament is being jointly organized by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow and CSIR-Sports Promotion Board, New Delhi till 11th November. The program has been inaugurated by retired IAS Avnish Awasthi, administrative advisor to Chief Minister Yogi.
In this competition, eight laboratories of CSIR family – CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata; CSIR-CCMB, Hyderabad; CSIR-IIIM, Jammu; CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi; CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore; CSIR-IICB, Kolkata; Cricket and volleyball teams from CSIR-NEERI Nagpur and CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, Gujarat are participating in the tournament.
Avnish Awasthi congratulated all the participating teams and appreciated the efforts of CSIR-Sports Promotion Board for organizing such sports tournaments. He said that these sports tournaments not only create strong bonds among the players but also increase self-confidence. He wished all the participants success in the tournament.
While addressing the present players and public, Awasthi informed about the efforts being made by the state and central governments for the upliftment of sports. He called for CSIR to organize competitions for women in sports and encourage more and more women employees. Expressing concern over the decreasing interest among the young generation in playing outside the house, he said that if India has to be taken in the direction of development, then awareness about sports will have to be increased among the youth.
On this occasion, Dr. Prabodh Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, Dr. Bhaskar Narayan, Director, CSIR-IITR, Lucknow, Dr. Anuradha Madhukar, Secretary, CSIR- Sports Promotion Board, New Delhi, Dr. Shri Krishna Tiwari, Chief scientist and others were present.
Hindustan News / Upendra Nath Rai
