Gudivada Municipal Chairman Yalavarthi Srinivasa Rao inaugurated the 26th Junior Nationals Baseball Championship for Boys and Girls at NTR stadium at Gudivada in Krishna district on Wednesday. Nearly 28 teams from all over the country will be participating in the five-day league cum knockout tournament.

Speaking on the occasion the Municipal chairman Yalavarthi Srinivasa Rao said that baseball is an international game and it is a huge craze in the United States of America. After state bifurcation Gudivada town is developing as a sports center and many nationals are taking part here, he said. NTR stadium is encouraging sports and games, he added.

Amateur Baseball Federation of India Technical Committee chairman Harish said that Andhra Pradesh Baseball Association is actively participating in the game promotion. For the first time the association conducting Nationals in a grand note, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Baseball Association president Atchutha Rao, General Secretary MV Satya Prasad, organising Secretary Daram Naveen Kumar, Gudivada counselor Yesu Babu, NTR stadium committee members and others participated in inaugural programme.

DAY 1 RESULTS

AP boys’ register first win Andhra Pradesh junior boys’ team registered its first win on the first day of the tournament. AP team beat Gujarat by 14-3 points while in junior girl section AP team was defeated by Kerala by 3-8 score. Junior boy’s section Punjab beat West Bengal by 10-0, Maharashtra beat Karnataka by 12-2 and Gujarat beat Andhra Pradesh by 14-3 socre. In girl’s section Karnataka beat Bihar by 10-9, Kerala beat AP by 8-3 and Madhya Pradesh beat Haryana by 5-1 score.