ICAR Inter-Institutional Tournament (Western Zone) was organized at CAZRI, Jodhpur, from March 4 to 8, 2008. Fourteen Institutes out of nineteen of this zone with more than 500 sports persons participated in the tournament. The ties were drawn in the presence of Chief-de-Missions and Managers of different institutes by Shri Om Prakash Sharma, Retired Director, Physical Education, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur and Mr. J.S. Sisodia, International Arbiter for Chess on 3 rd March 2008.

The games were declared open by Dr. L.K. Shekhawat, Vice-Chancellor, JNV University, Jodhpur, on March 4, 2008 in a splendid opening ceremony presided by Dr. K.P.R. Vittal, Director, CAZRI, at Institute Playground. All athletics events took place in the morning while outdoor games were held in the forenoon and afternoon.

The athletic events for men included races 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 4x100 m relay, cycle race, discus throw, javelin throw, shot-put, high jump, long jump, pole vault. Women events included 100 and 200 m races, discus throw, javelin throw, shot-put, high jump, and long jump. Games for men were football, volleyball (shooting and smashing), kabaddi, badminton, table tennis, carom and chess. Games for women included badminton, table tennis, carom and chess only. All the teams maintained an excellent discipline and refereeing was of very high standard. No case was referred to Jury.

A cultural program was arranged in the evening of March 7, 2008, where the participating institutes presented different items. Few guest artists also presented short entertainment programs. Presentations from CAZRI and NRC Groundnut, Junagadh were adjudged first and second respectively.

Closing ceremony was held on March 8, 2008. Dr. K.P.R. Vittal, Director, CAZRI welcomed the Chief Guest, Mr. B.P. Jain, IRS, Income Tax Commissioner, Jodhpur, Dr. P.C. Pande, Organizing Secretary, presented the detailed report on the tournament. Chief Guest gave away the prizes to winner and runner-ups of different events.

Mr. Bhuvanesh Verma of CAZRI, Jodhpur, was declared the best athlete (men) while Ms. Rekha Singh of ICAR (HQ), New Delhi, the best athlete (women). Fair play trophy was awarded to CIRCOT, Mumbai, and Best March Past Trophy was presented to NRC on Agroforestry, Jhansi. Overall General Champion Trophy was won by ICAR (HQ), New Delhi. Mr. D.D. Verma, Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, of this Institute proposed the vote of thanks. The Chief Guest declared the tournament closed and the ceremony ended with the lowering of the sports flag and handing it over to the Director, CAZRI, Jodhpur.

Source: CAZRI, Jodhpur