Date:17/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/17/stories/2005051704022000.htm

Sport - Basketball

IOB takes title

RAJAPALAYAM: Indian Overseas Bank, Chennai, lifted the P.S. Kumarasamy Raja Memorial Trophy defeating Indian Army, Delhi, 90-75 for its third win in the last match of the semifinal league in the Ramco-Rajapalayam City Basketball Association golden jubilee all-India basketball tournament here on Sunday.

Indian Army finished runner-up losing only to IOB. Central Excise and Customs, Kochi finished third defeating Signals, Delhi 83-68 for its only win in the league.

A rejuvenated IOB team, with the inclusion of Sukavaneshwaran and Meher Pandey, settled as a fine combination, though international Robinson, who is at the national camp and ball handler Gopinath who is in the injured list, did not play for the team.

IOB made a rousing start with Sukavaneshwaran and Meher Pandey basketing accurately and built up a 9-point lead (26-17) in the first quarter and an 18-point lead (55-37) at half time.

Indian Army, winner of the Nagercoil all-India tournament only a week back, tried hard to come back into the match after the interval, with Phool Singh and C.M. Pandey accelerating the scoring. But the lead was too big and the side could not make any headway against the determined defence of IOB, controlled superbly by Harihara Sudhan.

Mr. P.R. Ramasubrahmanaya Rajha, Chairman, Ramco Group of Industries, presided and Mr. Inbathtamizhan, Minister of Youth and Welfare, gave away the prizes.

The occasion chosen to honour six Indian internationals from Rajapalayam, Bhiman, Ganesh Raja, P.K. Suriyanarayana Raja, N.A. Ramasubramania Raja, S. Dharmakrishnan and S. Krishnama Raja.

The results: IOB 90 (Sukavaneshwaran 30, Meher Pandey 16, Swaminathan 20) bt Indian Army 75 (Phool Singh 21, P.M. Pandey 10); Central Excise and Customs, Kochi 83 (Harris 34, Vivek 13, Vinoth Ravi 12) bt Signals, Delhi 68 (Jairam Jet 24, Jaswinder Singh 10).

Special awards: Player of the tournament: Sukavaneshwaran (IOB); Promising Youngsters: Men: Ravikumar (IOB); Women: Adhirai (Southern Railway).