WITH the assistance from Nagpur Municipal Corporation, selection trials for Indian men and Under-23 boys softball teams for the Asian Championship concluded at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur on Saturday. The trials were organised jointly by Indian Softball Association, Maharashtra State Softball Association and Rajmudra Krida va Sanskrutik Prathisthan. The concluding function was graced by District Collector R Vimala, ex-MLA Sudhakar Kohale, NMC’s Sports Officer Piyush Ambulkar, Institute of Science’s Dr Madhavi Mardikar, social worker Chandansingh Rotel, sports organiser Ajay Hiwarkar, Pravin Manwatkar, Dr Surajsingh Yeotikar, Dr Vivek Shahu, Ketan Thakare, Vinod Surghuse, Nikhil Wahane and others.

 

Softball players from all over the country took part in the trials. Those who performed well will be picked for the Under-23 Asian Championship is going to be held at Singapore and the finalists will be selected to take part in the World Cup which is going to be held at Argentina in October. Addressing the gathering Vimala said that softball seems to be a good option for cricket and that she was happy that many young players from the region were doing well in the sport. She hoped that the selected players do well in the upcoming tournaments and urged those players who have not been selected, not to lose heart. All those players, from all over India, who did the country proud. were honoured by the Collector. Indian Softball Association’s General Secretary LR Maurya, CEO Dr Pravin Anavkar, Maharashtra State Softball Association’s Secretary Dr Pradip Talvelkar and an entire team of selectors were present.