The 54th State Senior Basketball Championships for Men and Women will be held at the Public Stadium in Thiruvalla from November 17 to 23.
Mr. Anto Antony, MP, released the logo for the championships at a function held at Thiruvalla YMCA on Saturday. Mr. Cherian Polachirackal, Municipal Chairman, Fr Santhosh Azhakath, publicity convener, Mr. T.C. Koshy, District Basketball Association president and other office-bearers, Alex Mammen, P.D. George, M.M. Chacko, P.O. John, Babykutty and K.O. Oommen, also spoke.
According to Fr Azhakath, 56 matches will be played on a league-cum-knock-out basis. The State basketball championships will also be a prelude to the State School Games to be held in Thiruvalla, later, in December.
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Mr. Babykutty, Organising Committee Convener, said the Thiruvalla municipality has sanctioned Rs. 6,11,000 each, for setting up a new basketball court close to the old one at the public stadium .
It is noteworthy that the game of basketball dribbled its way into Kerala in 1926 and the first basketball court in rural Kerala came into being at Kurianoor, a small village in the district. The game gained much popularity in this part of Central Travancore with a firm base at places like Kuriyannur, Vadaserikara, Kumplampoika, Thiruvalla and Niranam.