NAGPUR district youth champions and title contenders Shivaji Nagar Gymkhana (SNG-A) kick started their campaign with an easy victory on the second day of the Asmita Khelo India U-17 girls basketball championship on Monday. In their tournament opener, SNG-A made light work of Nikalas Sports and Cultural Academy (NSCA) by as many as 20 points (27-7). On the second day of the seven-day event allotted to Nagpur by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and Sports Authority of India (SAI), both the SNG teams recorded victories in contrasting fashion. While title contenders SNG-A defeated NSCA 27-7 after a slow start, the SNG-B team took time to settle into their groove. After managing to score just one point in the first quarter, SNG-B took a handy lead at the half-time and defeated Hanuman Nagar Krida Mandal (HKM) in a low scoring clash 17-7.

 

For the winners, Arya Dagwar emerged top scorer with 13 points as Swara Mitkari fired all the seven points netted by HKM. Later, SNG-A rode on the joint effort of Manjiri Padhye (10) and Samruddhi Kotriwar (7) outplayed NSCA 27-7. In an exciting clash, hosts Dharampeth Krida Mandal (DKM-C) defeated Apollo Basketball Club (ABC) 18-9. After winning the first quarter 5-2, DKM-C stretched the advantage further by winning the second period 3-2. With a handy four-point lead at the half time the third team of hosts started the third quarter with a full court press. They won the same 6-3 and blanked ABC 4-0 in the fourth quarter to clinch the match by nine points.