NAGPUR: For the first time in the history of Maharashtra basketball, Gadchiroli will represent Nagpur Division in the schools state championship.
In an unprecedented turn of events, the Gadchiroli cagers from Gondwana Sainiki Vidyalaya made history by becoming the first team from the Naxal-affected district to defeat both Nagpur NMC and Rural schools teams to clinch the U-14 divisional basketball tournament, and qualify for the state championship scheduled at Nanded later this month.
In a well-paced boys’ final played at the SNG courts in Shivaji Nagar, the speedsters from Gadchiroli outclassed BVM Civil Lines representing Nagpur NMC 40-25 to emerge as the new Nagpur division champions. With this 15-point title triumph, Gondwana Sainiki Vidyalaya, a residential school in Gadchiroli, became the first basketball team in the history of the divisional tournament organised by the District Sports Office (DSO) to earn the right to represent Nagpur Division in the state school championship.
The Gadchiroli outfit’s success hinged on the sensational performance of Arya Bhandarkar, a Nagpur native who had enrolled in Gondwana Sainiki Vidyalaya two years ago in Class VI. In the title clash, Arya fired a game-high 29 points as Gadchiroli boys took an early lead and maintained the momentum till the final whistle. Om Balagwar contributed 7 points for the winners, while Sachmann Bedi (11) fought the lone battle for BVM Civil Lines. The quarter-wise progress for Gadchiroli read 14-7, 9-6, 5-8, 12-4.
Earlier, in the semifinal, Gadchiroli cagers made light work of Podar International School, representing Nagpur Rural schools, comprising players from various clubs of the city. In the semifinal too, Arya Bhandarkar had made all the difference as he scored baskets from all corners with yet another game-high 18 points.
The impending state U-14 tournament at Nanded will be uncharted territory for the 12-member Gadchiroli contingent. Upon being informed by Bhavesh Kuchanwar, secretary of the Nagpur District Basketball Association, about their forthcoming journey to Nanded, one of the Gadchiroli players innocently inquired with his teammate, “Where is Nanded?” The response was equally innocent, “Even I don’t know, but don’t worry, our sir will take us there, and we will have fun.”
Under the guidance of Prashant Mashakhetri, the Gadchiroli team’s remarkable journey from the hinterlands of Maharashtra to the state’s basketball apex is nothing but awe inspiring.
RESULTS:
U-14 Boys (Final): Gondwana Sainiki Vidyalaya, Gadchiroli (Arya Bhandarkar 29, Om Balagwar 7) bt BVM Civil Lines, Nagpur NMC (Sachmann Bedi 11) 40-25 (14-7, 9-6, 5-8, 12-4)
SEMIFINALS: Gadchiroli (Arya Bhandarkar 18) bt Podar International School Besa, Nagpur Rural (Satvat Gaidhane 6) 24-12 (8-3, 4-0, 6-6, 6-3); BVM Civil Lines, Nagpur NMC (Sachmann Bedi 13) bt Wardha (Divyansh C 8) 26-18 (5-10, 14-2, 2-4, 5-2).
