Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 11: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) clinched the title at the 52nd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT) Zonal Cricket Tournament, held at CSIR-NBRI under the coordination of the CSIR Sports Promotion Board (CSIR-SPB), New Delhi.
Named in honour of Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, CSIR’s founding Director General; this prestigious annual event celebrates both indoor and outdoor sports, bringing together employees from CSIR’s vast network of 38 labs. Nearly 200 participants compete in each zonal event, with the top teams advancing to the finals.
CSIR-IIIM showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, emerging undefeated throughout the tournament. Led by Captain Dr. Nasir ul Rasheed, the team’s success was marked by a series of strong performances. Dr. Rasheed played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten half-century in the final match. Sumit Roy also made a crucial contribution with a half-century, earning him the “Man of the Match” award; while Krishan Mamwal’s consistent all-round performance earned him the “Man of the Series” accolade. Mohammad Saleem further bolstered the team’s efforts with decisive bowling.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM, lauded the team’s performance and praised their dedication. Rajesh Gupta, the team manager, played a significant role in organizing the squad, ensuring that all logistical needs were met. Other valuable contributions came from Ajay Kumar, Mohammad Ayub, Ashok Kumar, Bikram Singh, Ubair Nazir, Karthik Kapoor, Moses, and Mateen Noor, each playing a part in the team’s collective success.
Training and preparation were conducted under the guidance of the CSIR-IIIM Staff Club, Jammu, led by Dr. Shashank Singh, Vice President, with support from SR Meena, Sports Secretary, and executive members Rajni and Manish Kumar. Their collective efforts ensured the team was well-prepared, motivated, and cohesive. This triumph underscores CSIR-IIIM’s commitment to sporting excellence and a balanced, healthy lifestyle for its members.