CHEERING THEM ON: Students participating in the march past at the inauguration of the 17th Senior National Tennis Ball Cricket Tournment in Vijayawada on Thursday

VIJAYAWADA : The 17th Senior National tennis ball cricket tournament began on a subdued note on Thursday at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, despite the intermittent rain, which played spoilsport on the inaugural day. As many as 26 men's teams and 18 women's teams are taking part in the tournament from all over the country, which is conducted in league-cum-knockout basis.

Deceptive weather

With bright sunshine in the morning, the organisers went ahead with the inaugural ceremony. Girls from Sathavahana College took part in a march past carrying the tri-colour. ACP M. Satyanarayana declared the tourney open and took salute from the contingent.

Says Ramba Prasad, secretary, Andhra Pradesh Tennis Ball Cricket Association: "We have made boarding and lodging arrangements at IGMC stadium and DRR indoor stadium. Due to the heavy rains in the afternoon, the matches were not held in the morning session."The organisers have spruced up two courts at the football grounds, out of which one is has floodlight provision. "All league matches will be played eight overs by each team. Semi-finals will be 10 overs by each team. The final will be a 12-over affair," says Mr. Prasad.

All India Tennis Ball Cricket Association general secretary Anees Lari, Krishna District Tennis Ball Cricket Association secretary L. Eswar Reddy, association patron Fr. Balaswamy, All India Beach Kabaddi Federation general secretary K.P.Rao, district sports development officer B. Sudhakar took part in the inaugural function, said organising secretary Y. Jaganomhan Raju.

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