Jamshedpur: The 52nd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT) 2024 was inaugurated today at the CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) with great enthusiasm. The outdoor 4th Zonal Tournament, held from 18-20th December, brings together teams from various CSIR laboratories across the country to honor the legacy of Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first Director General of CSIR.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Mrs. Premlata Agarwal, Padma Shri awardee Dr. Anuradha Madhukar, Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury, Director of CSIR-NML, and other prominent figures from the scientific and sports communities. The event began with a flag march by the eight participating teams, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and the sportsmen’s pledge.
In her inaugural speech, Mrs. Premlata Agarwal emphasized the importance of sports for health and personal development, while Dr. Anuradha Madhukar highlighted how sports foster teamwork and leadership. Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury welcomed the teams and paid tribute to Dr. Bhatnagar’s contributions to science and technology.
The tournament will feature matches in cricket, volleyball, and other sports disciplines, with teams from CSIR laboratories across India competing for the trophies. The event promotes camaraderie and sportsmanship among CSIR employees. The opening ceremony concluded with the announcement of the CSIR-NPL team as the best flag-marched team, earning a trophy. The tournament will conclude with a closing ceremony on 20th December.
