The Andaman and Nicobar Islands marked National Sports Day 2025 with a string of sporting events across disciplines, commemorating the birth anniversary of hockey icon Major Dhyan Chand. Organised jointly by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education, the celebrations featured open tournaments in basketball, football, volleyball, and archery.
On August 26, basketball and football semi-finals set the tone for the week-long sports fest. In the men’s basketball knockout tournament, the first semi-final saw APF defeat Kamaraj convincingly with a score of 45-07. The second semi-final was dominated by Minnie Bay Tiger, who overcame Fight to Win by 36-13. Both matches, staged at Minnie Bay Command Multi-Purpose Hall, drew enthusiastic participation and set up an exciting final.
Football semi-finals also unfolded with equal energy. USC secured a 2-0 victory over Nayagaon in the first semi-final, while AB-XI outclassed Birsa Munda with a 3-0 win in the second. These matches paved the way for an eagerly awaited men’s football final scheduled for August 27 at the JNRM Football Ground.
The tournaments are being organised in an open format, allowing both institutional and independent teams to showcase talent. Officials confirmed that the line-up of upcoming matches includes volleyball for men and women at Netaji Stadium’s multipurpose hall, archery competitions across different ranges, and finals for both men’s and women’s football. The events are slated for August 27 and 28, subject to weather conditions.
The decision to hold competitions across multiple sports underlines the administration’s efforts to encourage wide participation and foster community engagement. National Sports Day is seen as an occasion not only to pay tribute to Dhyan Chand but also to reinforce the role of sports in promoting fitness, discipline, and teamwork among youth.
The basketball and football semi-finals reflected the competitive spirit of local teams, many of whom have been training at community facilities across the islands. For young athletes, the opportunity to compete in an organised tournament is a platform to test their skills, gain recognition, and motivate others to participate in sports.
By incorporating both traditional and modern sporting disciplines, the schedule caters to diverse interests. Football and basketball remain popular among youth, while archery reflects an effort to introduce more specialised events, giving local players exposure to broader sporting opportunities.
For spectators, the matches have added vibrancy to the sporting calendar, bringing communities together to cheer for local teams. For participants, they represent a step towards building sporting careers and contributing to the islands’ athletic culture.
As the finals approach, attention now turns to whether the momentum generated by the celebrations can be sustained beyond National Sports Day. Organisers hope the enthusiasm will encourage more youth to take up sports seriously and possibly represent the islands at higher levels.
