The South Zone Inter-University Men’s Cricket Tournament 2019-20, conducted by the Department of Physical Education (DPE), University of Mysore (UoM), got off to colourful start at the University Sports Pavilion here on last evening. The tournament was inaugurated by Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, UoM, Santosh Menon, Secretary, KSCA, Sudhakar Rai, Convener, KSCA Mysuru Zone and Dr. P. Krishnaiah, Director (in-Charge), DPE, UoM, by releasing the doves in the air. 

Prof. B.S. Vishwanath, Chairman, DoS in Bio-Chemistry, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, welcomed the gathering. 

Inaugurating the Tournament, Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar welcomed all the participating teams to the royal city of Mysuru and stressed the importance of fitness, effort and concentration for getting positive results in sport. He also said that every team cannot win and wanted all the participating teams to have a positive outlook and play well to achieve success.

Later, in his speech as the chief guest, Santosh Menon, Secretary, KSCA, said that cricket is a game very popular in our country, and the present day cricketers need to be intelligent, have mental toughness, understand and perform according to the situation to succeed. 

He also said that cricketers in the country are a privileged lot as there are lots of opportunities for their career development. He said Mysuru is the next best cricket centre after Bengaluru in Karnataka, and all the participating teams must be happy to be here in this wonderful city to play the South Zone Inter-University Cricket Tournament.

All the participating teams were introduced to the guests. The 2004-05 Mysore University Cricket team members along with support staff and coach, which finished runners-up in the All-India Inter-University Tournament, the 2006-07 team which finished runners-up in the All-India Inter-University Tournament and the 2018-19 UoM team which finished runners-up in the All-India and South Zone Tournament, were felicitated by the DPE, UoM. Dr. Mansoor Ahmed, Cricket Coach, UoM, proposed a vote of thanks.

A total of 107 University teams from South India are participating in the Tournament. 

The matches began at seven venues  (UoM SDNR Wadiyar Grounds, JSS-SJCE Grounds, Gangothri Grounds, Maharaja’s College Grounds, JSS (Medical) College Grounds, Goutham Hostel Grounds, Manasagangothri Ground (Coffee Board), JSS  Dental College Ground, Vidya Vikas College Grounds) from today and will be held till Dec.10. A total of 13 first round matches will be played today.