NONGPOH:
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) East Zone Inter University Handball (Women) and Chess (Women) Tournaments 2022-23 began on January 28 at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM).
USTM has organised these zonal-level tournaments under the aegis of the AIU, New Delhi. Altogether 26 universities under the East Zone are participating in the two disciplines in the women’s category, which will continue till January 31.
Kalyan Gogoi, Chairman, East Zone Handball Federation of India and Kandarpa Kalita, President, All Assam Chess Association, inaugurated the handball and chess tournaments, respectively, in a colourful inaugural ceremony that saw the participation of more than 500 players at the USTM playground. In the handball tournament, 20 teams are competing while in the chess tournament, 22 teams are going to play.
The AIU and USTM flags were hoisted by Balendra Kumar Das, Pro Vice Chancellor of USTM, RK Sharma, Advisor, Kalyan Gogoi and Kandarpa Kalita in the presence of referees, arbiters, students and faculty members. After the flag hoisting, the oath-taking ceremony took place following the ‘East Zone Inter University Handball (Women) and Chess (Women) Tournament 2022-23’ was declared open by the delegates.
Addressing the players, veteran Kalayn Gogoi said, “There is much scope in handball today. Such university-level tournaments produce national and international players who represent the Indian team. I am delighted to see the beautiful infrastructure provided by USTM”.
In this context, Mahbubul Hoque, chancellor USTM said that the university is organising such big events with the goal of providing a platform for the youth of the country in sports along with academics. USTM always encourages sports because this is an area which enriches unity, peace and harmony among the people of the country and globally, he said.