Shyam Sundar Batra Urges Youth to Stay Away From Drugs and Take Up Sports at Baloli Cricket Tournament

Sixteen teams compete in village cricket tournament; Chhachhrauli lift the title while Azizpur finish runners-up

A cricket tournament organised by Baloli Cricket Club at Baloli village in Yamunanagar district brought together 16 teams from surrounding areas, giving young players an opportunity to compete, display their skills and promote a healthy sporting culture in the rural belt.

Congress leader Shyam Sundar Batra attended the tournament as the chief guest and congratulated the players and organisers for conducting the sporting event. During his interaction with the participants, Batra encouraged young people to remain away from drugs and develop a greater interest in sports and physical activities.

Chhachrauli team wins the tournament

The tournament saw participation from 16 teams representing Baloli and nearby areas. After a series of competitive matches, the Chhachrauli team emerged as the winner. The team was led by captain Mannu Batra. Azizpur finished as the runners-up, with Rocky leading the side.

The organisers and villagers congratulated both teams and appreciated the players for maintaining the competitive spirit throughout the tournament. The event also provided local youngsters with a platform to spend their time in a constructive environment while developing teamwork, discipline and confidence.

Batra appeals to youth to stay away from drugs

Addressing the young participants, Batra appealed to them to stay away from drugs and make sports an important part of their lives. He said sporting activities help young people maintain physical fitness while also encouraging discipline, hard work, determination and a positive outlook.

He stressed the importance of providing young people with constructive opportunities in their villages and surrounding communities. Regular sporting competitions can help channel the energy of youth towards productive activities and create a stronger culture of fitness and healthy competition.

Rural sports events provide a platform for young players

The Baloli tournament highlighted the role that village-level sports events can play in identifying and encouraging local talent. Such competitions bring players from different villages together and give them the opportunity to test themselves in a competitive setting without having to travel far from their communities.

Cricket remains particularly popular among young people in Haryana, and tournaments organised at the local level often become an important meeting point for players, families and villagers. Beyond the result of an individual match, these events can strengthen community participation and encourage youngsters to pursue physical activity regularly.

Organisers and villagers extend support

The tournament was supported by organisers and local residents including Manish Raunta, Vishal, Vipin, Rohit, Gaurav, Saurav, Harpreet, Sonu, Manpreet, Prince, Karanpal, Rahul, Lucky and Goldy. Their efforts helped bring the participating teams together and conduct the tournament in the village.

Moni, Purnchand, Vikram Rathi, Abhi Walia and Munish Batra were also present on the occasion. Their participation reflected the support extended by the village community to the sporting initiative.

The event concluded with congratulations for the winning Chhachhrauli team and the runners-up Azizpur side. The organisers said the tournament was aimed at encouraging young people to participate in sports and strengthening the spirit of healthy competition in rural areas.

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