Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

A tusker shows the children how to play basketball

— Photo: S. Mahinsha

Second to none: Ramdas, a 33-year-old elephant, is about to score a basket to inaugurate the children’s carnival in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Thiruvananthapuram: It was an unusual and pleasant day out for the participants of the children’s carnival organised by the Alamy-Thiruvananthapuram District Basketball Association at the Central stadium at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Conceived as an instrument to initiate interest for basketball among schoolchildren in the city, the day-long affair had many surprises for one and all. Like the dunk enacted by Ramdas, a trained 33-year-old elephant, to mark the inauguration of the event.

Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar too joined the fun along with the 300-odd participants drawn from 28 schools in the city.

The Minister thoroughly enjoyed it as the tusker moved away from the circle, took position like an expert player and dunked the ball smartly into the basket.

“It was quite a thrilling moment,” said Mr. Vijayakumar, when presented with the ball as a souvenir by TDBA president Shaji Vettooran.

Children got to play fun games like ‘triple-tag’, ‘knock away’ and ‘bulls eye’, incorporating the dribbling, interception and shooting aspects of the game.

The day also witnessed the introduction of ‘street basketball’ a three-player game (instead of the usual five) on a half-court for the first time in the country. Eighteen teams took part in this competition which concluded with Sarvodaya HSS emerging as winner.

Said Anil Thrikovil, the CEO of Alamy Images India and sponsor of the event: “This has been a much needed initiative by the TDBA to give young people an opportunity to become involved in sport and pursue a healthy lifestyle. For all of us at Alamy India, this was a unique opportunity to give something back to the community.”

And when finally the time came to end the session, after more than eight hours of continuous action, parents had a tough time coaxing their children off the court.

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A tusker shows the children how to play basketball

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