Chandigarh, May 2, 2026:The fourth edition of the Allengers Gully Cricket Tournament 2026, organised by the UT Cricket Association (UTCA) in collaboration with Chandigarh Police, concluded on a high note at Punjab Lok Bhavan. The Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, felicitated the winning and runner-up teams along with outstanding players during the closing ceremony.

Present on the occasion were Sh. Saudan Singh, National Vice President, BJP; Sh. Sanjay Tandon, Chairman of the Tournament; Sh. Sagar Preet Hooda, Director General of Police, UT; Ms. Prerna Puri, Secretary Sports; Sh. Amit Kumar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh; Sh. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, DIG Chandigarh; Ms. Kanwardeep Kaur, SSP, UT Police; and Sh. Sorabh Arora, Director Sports, Chandigarh, along with other officials, sponsors, and stakeholders.

The tournament commenced on April 17, 2026, at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium and witnessed participation from 288 teams, including 256 boys’ teams and 32 girls’ teams, comprising nearly 3,400 young cricketers aged between 14 and 19 years. The primary objective was not only to provide a competitive platform for budding cricketers but also to channel the energy of youth towards constructive engagement. Aligned with the vision of the Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan, the initiative aimed to steer youth away from substance abuse by promoting discipline, teamwork, and healthy competition through sports.

In the boys’ category, Team No. 93 emerged victorious over Team No. 159 in a dramatic Super Over to lift the title. In the girls’ category, Team No. 32 delivered a dominant performance, defeating Team No. 1 by nine wickets to claim the championship. Reena and Nitin Kumar were adjudged the best batters in the girls’ and boys’ categories, respectively, while Tanya and Dhruv were declared the best bowlers.

Cash prizes of ₹3 lakh were awarded to all semifinalist teams in both categories. Additionally, girls received hygiene kits from Shipra Bansal, Chairperson, CCPCR, while boys were provided medical kits by Scott Edil. Players were also given cricket kits and shoes by Saudan Singh. The Indian Street Premier League felicitated the winners with cash incentives and offered 25 outstanding players an opportunity to compete at the national level.

On the occasion, the Administrator also released a coffee table book based on the third edition of the tournament.

In his address, the Administrator UT Chandigarh, Sh. Kataria congratulated the winners and commended UTCA for successfully organising the tournament. He thanked all stakeholders and highlighted that the Chandigarh Administration has disbursed ₹31 crore in cash awards to around 6,000 players over the past one and a half years. Expressing confidence in the city’s sporting talent, he said Chandigarh players are poised to bring laurels in upcoming Asian championships. He further shared that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will soon be signed with sports associations to facilitate better utilisation of government school grounds and support talented underprivileged players. On the occasion, he announced an additional cash award of ₹1 lakh for first position holders and ₹50,000 for second position holders, stating that the same incentive will continue in future editions.

Speaking on the occasion, UTCA Chairman Sanjay Tandon emphasised that performances throughout the tournament were closely monitored by selectors, with promising players being identified for higher-level opportunities, including pathways to BCCI-affiliated tournaments. He also shared that UTCA’s Nandini Sharma has been selected for the World Cup squad.

DGP Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda highlighted that, in line with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, community participation is crucial in the fight against drugs. He lauded Chandigarh Police for its consistent efforts over the past four years in partnering with UTCA for this initiative, which strengthens community bonding.