Samuel Vasanth Memorial Basketball from today

Some of the finest hoopsters from the city will be seen in action in the inaugural Samuel Vasanth Kumar Memorial Basketball Tournament, under the joint aegis of Sports Writers Association of Telangana (SWAT) and Sports Village, when it gets underway at Victory Play Ground (VPG) on Thursday.

Players from leading institutions, clubs, municipal playgrounds and colleges will vie for honours in the eight-day round-robin invitation tournament that is being conducted in the memory of an accomplished individual, who has served the sport with distinction in various capacities, including as a player, coach, official, international referee and administrator in a fruitful career spanning four decades.

According to SWAT President, N Jagannath Das, this was the Association’s humble tribute to perpetuate the legacy of Sam (as he was affectionately called), who endeared himself to all sections with his ever-smiling face and livewire enthusiasm with which he undertook any job assigned to him.

Sam, who was 59 when he passed away, retired as the Assistant Director of Sports, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and was closely associated with the media during his prolific stints with Press Trust of India (PTI), the now defunct Newstime and Times of India as a sports correspondent.

He earned the respect of one and all while serving the Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad basketball associations in various capacities besides being integral to the YMCA in Narayanguda and Secunderabad.

Samuel Vasanth Kumar memorial tournament will be an exciting fare given that seasoned campaigners and battle-scarred veterans like former India captains Mohd Rizwan and Harikrishna Prasad will be battling it out against energetic young cagers, who are waiting in the wings to have a shot at fame.

The tournament will formally be inaugurated by GHMC Commissioner Dr B Janardhan Reddy in the presence of senior officials of the Corporation, family members and friends of Samuel Vasanth Kumar.