August 7: At 3.30 p.m, the inter-departmental basketball tournament commenced with loud jeers and cheers during the opening ceremony. Tenzin Duktak, the sports coordinator led the march past followed by teams from each department. The Tibetan National Anthem was sung and a minute of silence was observed to mourn the recent spate of immolation both in Tibet and exile.
After the formal procession, the event began with distribution of laddoos and fresh water by the student council.

BA Tibetan department and BCA/Chinese department was at a standoff at the prelims of the girls’ basketball match but the BA-Tibetan team soon outscored and won with 21-14. The boys’ basketball tournament began with huge vigor as the crowd unsettled over a stiff competition between the BCA-Chinese and B.Com students. However, the agility of the B.Com players soon helped them seal their victory with a score of 25-39.

Norbu Bista, a second year B.Com says, “I didn’t take part in the game but as an audience, I expected it to be a tough game. I am happy that it turned out to be an easy win for our team.” Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen on the Tibetan department’s victory says, “There is a huge improvement on the girls’ performance. They played wholeheartedly and so much better than last year. ”

Reported by: Jangchup Wangmo