Jammu-based team Avengers secured the inaugural Akhnoor Premier League (APL) Season-1 title, defeating the local side Jai Chandi Maa (JCM) by 42 runs in the final match. The concluding encounter took place at Palwan Stadium in Akhnoor.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that in the final, Avengers batted first and set a target of 112 runs. In response, JCM was restricted to 70 runs, falling short by a significant margin. Surinder Kumar of Avengers was awarded the Man of the Match for his crucial 43-run contribution with the bat. Rishabh, also known as Shaktiman, was declared the Man of the Tournament for his exceptional all-round performance, which included scoring 40 runs and taking 11 wickets throughout the league.
The winners of the Akhnoor Premier League received a cash prize of Rs 51,000, while the runners-up, JCM, were awarded Rs 25,000. The Man of the Tournament, Rishabh, also received a cash prize of Rs 5,000. This marks the first time a floodlit night cricket tournament of this scale has been organized in Akhnoor. The league featured 16 participating teams and attracted an audience of over a thousand spectators for the final.
Mohan Lal Bhagat, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Akhnoor, was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony. He commended the organizers for the successful execution of the event. Bhagat also announced plans for the future development of sports infrastructure in the area, including proposals to upgrade the Palwan Stadium and establish a dedicated akhara for players. His presence underscored the importance of promoting local sports talent.
Several other dignitaries were present to witness the final and participate in the prize distribution. These included SDPO Varinder Gupta, ZEPO Ashok Kumar, and Judo Coach Jugal Kishore. A large number of local citizens also attended the event, highlighting the community’s engagement with the tournament. Among the attendees were Ganesh Sharma, Yash Sharma, Shamsher Dass, Dev Raj Bhagat, Suman Singh, Sham Lal, Bindu Singh, Karan Singh, Sonu Malhotra, Sanjay Sharma, Sumit Sharma, Krishan Lal, Darshan Chib, Harish Sharma, and Rattan Lal.
The Chenab Times News Desk