As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Border Security Force (BSF), District-Level SPANDAN League Basketball and Junior Football Tournaments were organised simultaneously in Shillong and Tura on Friday under the Sports for Peace and Development (SPANDAN) Programme of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The sporting events aimed to promote youth participation in sports, foster discipline and sportsmanship and strengthen community engagement through a positive sporting environment.
In Shillong, the District-Level SPANDAN League Basketball Tournament was organised by 153 Bn BSF at the Indoor Basketball Court of St. Anthony’s H.S. School. Shri Om Prakash Upadhaya, IG, FTR HQ BSF Meghalaya, graced the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest and interacted with the participating teams and young players.
Addressing the participants, Shri Upadhaya encouraged the youth to pursue excellence while embracing the values of discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and healthy competition. He emphasised that sports play a vital role in building confidence, developing character and nurturing responsible and disciplined citizens.
The opening match between St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School and Army Public School witnessed an enthusiastic display of talent, determination and team spirit, with St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School emerging victorious.
In Tura, the District-Level SPANDAN League (Junior) Football Tournament was organised by 144 Bn BSF at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School. Shri Lalit Mohan Sharma, DIG, SHQ Tura, graced the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest and interacted with the young footballers. He motivated the participants to strive for excellence and uphold the principles of discipline, teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship.
The opening football encounter between St. Luke’s H. S. School, Tura and Don Bosco H. S. School, Tura, provided an exciting contest, with St. Luke’s H. S. School emerging victorious.
The successful conduct of the two tournaments highlights BSF Meghalaya’s commitment to engaging with youth and local communities through sports. Through the SPANDAN initiative, BSF continues to promote sports as a powerful instrument for fostering peace, unity, discipline, healthy lifestyles and positive development among young people, while strengthening the bond between the Force and the communities it serves.
