UTCA affiliation to BCCI in 2019 gave Chandigarh identity at national level: Gulab Chand Kataria 

Six teams, namely Altruistians, Capital Strikers, Chandigarh Kings, Dr Morepen Dazzlers, Panchkula Bashers and Talanoa Tigers, will compete in the league. With a total of 33 matches, including one final and two semi-finals, the league will conclude on September 13 with 1983 World Cup winning Indian captain Kapil Dev being the chief guest during the final. This is the third edition of the league after UTCA had organised the first edition of the league in 2023 six zones, namely Rose Zone, Rock Zone, Sukhna Zone, Plaza Zone, Terrace Zone and Leisure Zone.

Earlier this year, UTCA had organised the second edition of the league in a franchise-based format with six teams, namely HIIMS Hawks, Talanao Tigers, Punjab Panthers, Wild Wood Warriors, City Challengers and Manohar Mavericks competing in the league played at Panchkula this February. With the third edition of the league happening at Sector 16 Stadium, a stadium the UT Administration has been renovating for the last one and a half years, it also means that the stadium will host domestic matches once again.

“Chandigarh has seen the growth of sports as well as infrastructure in recent years and our aim is to make Chandigarh as one of the leading sports-promoting cities in India. Apart from introducing a new sports policy, which gives Rs 6 crore to an Olympic medallist apart from Rs 4 crore to Olympic silver medallist and Rs 2.5 crore to Olympic bronze medallists, UT Administration also gave away award money of Rs 5.67 crore to 446 sportspersons and scholarship worth Rs 1.32 crore to 320 players in a function attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya earlier this year. Our next focus is providing jobs for sportspersons and soon the process will start. We are also developing an indoor sports complex worth more than Rs 300 crore, whose other formalities are being done. UT Director Sports Sorabh Kumar Arora has been doing a brilliant job and our aim is to provide every opportunity to the sportspersons in Chandigarh,” added Kataria.

Manan Vohra will captain Altruistians while Shivam Bhambri will captain Chandigarh Kings. Dr Morepan Dazzlers will be captained by Mohd Arslan Khan while Capital Strokers will be captained by Raj Angad Bawa. Sandeep Sharma will captain Talanoa Tigers while Ankit Kaushik will captain Panchkula Bashers.

“With the Sector 16 Stadium being fit for the league and now renovated, the league will see two matches every day.  We have got every support from UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. We are thankful to the UT Administration for all the support for this league too. We will also hold talks with UT Administration regarding increasing the lumen power of the floodlights so that the matches can be held in evening too in next edition,” said Sanjay Tandon, UTCA president.

Ashok Malhotra, former Indian cricketer and member of BCCI Advisory Committee, also lauded UTCA efforts. “Being one of the new members of BCCI, UTCA has been doing good work and it’s good to see the Chandigarh Premier League under a franchise model happening with an aim to promote young talent,” said Malhotra.

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