Teams from Dimapur join the second edition of interschool tournament in Mokokchung
Mokokchung’s inter-school basketball competition organized by Mokokchung District Basketball Association has expanded beyond the district this year, with two Dimapur schools joining the second edition of the Inter High School and Higher Secondary School Basketball Tournament at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Holy Cross Higher Secondary School and Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, are participating alongside six schools from Mokokchung and its surrounding areas: GHS Changki, Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School Impur, Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Eden Academy and Christian Residential Higher Secondary School.
The tournament is being organised with an aim to strengthen basketball at the grassroots level and identify young players who can progress to higher levels of competition.
“Basketball is at the grassroots level in Mokokchung,” Tutu Jamir, convener of the tournament organising committee, told MT. She said the organisers’ vision was to scout young players and work with those who could eventually represent at the national level and beyond.
Jamir said schools from outside the district had expressed interest after the inaugural tournament last year. While the first edition was restricted to Mokokchung, organisers invited schools from other districts this year to broaden the competition.
She said exposure to teams from outside the district would allow local players to learn from different playing styles and help the sport grow beyond the existing local competition.
The expansion, she added, was encouraging as it could contribute to building a stronger basketball culture in Mokokchung.
For Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, participation in the tournament reflects a broader view of the role of sports in education.
Despite ongoing academic classes, the school chose to send its students to compete, with Vice Principal Fr Daniel Gangmei saying the institution does not equate education only with academic excellence.
“We provide all-round development, be it in sports, music, or so-called academic excellence,” Gangmei said, adding that students who excel in sports should also be given a platform to develop their abilities and find fulfilment in their interests.
He said participation in sports can contribute to character building, team spirit and social relationships, as students learn to interact with opponents and develop respect for coaches and teachers.
Gangmei also argued that sports can provide an important avenue for students who may not excel academically.
“If you force them to focus only on studies, some of them are not good in studies, but they are excelling in sports,” he said, adding that participation can help such students develop through their strengths.
Drawing from his experience of taking students to different tournaments, Gangmei said he had seen sports help students become more disciplined and develop into better individuals. He particularly pointed to students who may be struggling with behavioural issues, saying participation in sports can provide them with a constructive environment in which to grow.
He urged parents and society to take sports more seriously, arguing that it should not be treated as something limited to one or two tournaments.
“That is the place where we see the real character of a person,” Gangmei said.
The tournament is being held at the Basketball Court of Imkongmeren Sports Complex, with DEO Mokokchung Arenla as chief guest.
