Mallinson lifts inter-school basketball title

ABID KHAN

Srinagar, Apr 17: Mallinson School lifted under-17 and 19 district Srinagar inter-school Basketball titles, defeating Girls Higher Secondary Amirakadal in the finals played at the basketball court of the school here on Friday.
In both the matches, Mallinson girls dominated and never allowed opponents to regroup.
In under-17 category final, Mallinson defeated GHS Amirakadal by 12-2 baskets. From the start Mallinson girls played aggressively. They scored first basket in first minute of the play. Asmat Ashraf was the scorer. Asmat was the star for the winning team, scoring eight out of 12 baskets while Useeba scored two. 
Through out the match Asmat with her quick reflexes and moving ability kept Amirakadal girls on toes. She was scoring at will, as no one was able to stop her. In the concluding minutes of the match when she saw whole focus of Amirakadal players on her, she changed tactics and passed the ball to other players.
The under-19 girl’s final also turned out one-sided affair. Mallinson thrashed Amirakadal 12-0. With this win Mallinson made clean sweep in the inter-school Basketball championship. They lifted both the titles. Mallinson School physical director, JS Gabriel credited regular practice for dominance of his school in Basketball.
“We give regular coaching to our players and it is because of that we have been successful in keeping our dominance intact,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, four matches were played in two age groups. Girls Higher Secondary School (GHS) Amirakadal defeated GHS Nawakadal by 18-2 baskets in first match of under-19 category while in second match Mallinson School defeated GHS Kothi Bagh by 18-4.
In under-17 category, Mallinson School defeated Iqbal Memorial School by 12-6 in first match while in second GHS Amirakadal beat JMI by 2-0.
Meanwhile, boys competitions which are being held at Burn Hall School basketball court, Delhi Public School defeated SP Higher Secondary School in a one sided affair by 29-1. With this win they booked place in final where they will lock horns with Biscoe School. The final is scheduled on Saturday.
The tournaments are being organized by District Srinagar Youth Services and Sports, department.
Younis Ahmad, a DYSS official said, “It is due to the efforts of DYSS that basketball is alive in valley. J&K Basketball Association has not organized a single event in Kashmir till date. They organize activities in Jammu only. But in school national events we give equal chance to valley players and they have shown how talented they are.”
Younis urged Sports Council authorities to take strong action against the Basket Ball Association for not promoting and giving chance to Kashmiri players.
“Basket ball can be promoted in valley only after Sports Council takes strong action against the Association which is based in Jammu,” he added.

Publihsed in Greater Kashmir on april 18 2009 http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=18_4_2009&ItemID=3&cat=4