Gadchiroli Jan. 13 (District Correspondent) The Lloyds Sports Academy of the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. has organized ‘Gadchiroli Premier League (GPL) on the District Stadium of Gadchiroli from Feb. 5 next. Well known cricketer Ravi Shastri will inaugurate the matches.
This was informed by Mr. S. S. Khandwawala, Director of the company in a press conference at Hotel Landmark here this morning. Colonel Vikram Mehta, Director, Bholubhai Somnani and Raja were prominently present at the press conference.
As many as 16 teams will participate in this tournament and attractive prizes have been declared for the winners besides several other individual prizes. The winner will be given a prize of Rs. 7 lakhs, runner up Rs. 5 lakhs, third one Rs. 3 lakhs. The police, revenue and forest departments will be sending their teams and one team will be from the Lloyds company, Khandwawala told.
The Company wants to promote the local youths in sports and the premier league is a part of it. The best players will be sent for the training at the cost of the Company so that they could play in national and international matches, he told.
The day and night 20 overs matches will be played for at least 15 days and a renowned cricket star will be invited for the concluding ceremony. The arrangements of a standard running commentary and live telecast of the matches will also be done, Khandwawala told.
A suitable cricket stadium will be raised in Gadchiroli in the days to come to enable the players to play the cricket and show their skill, he added.
Colonel Mehta said that the Lloyds Sports Academy has already been working to train and encourage the local players and has been doing well. Many players have performed well and have won the prizes too. The Company intends to promote the local games also. The premier league has been organized to boost up the sports skill of the local youths and this endeavour will be continued further, he added.
