RESULTS - day two

Volleyball (girls) 
7.00 am BITS v/s MITS -- BITS won 2-0

Volleyball(Boys) 
NIES v/s YMCA -- YMCA won 2-0
MNIT v/s SKIT -- SKIT won 2-1

Hockey 
BITS v/s SRCC -- SRCC won 6-0

Football

MBM, Jodhpur v/s PEC  -- PEC won 2-0

GIT, Jaipur v/s D J Sanghvi -- GIT won 1-0

SRCC v/s Deshbandhu college -- SRCC won 1-0

Cricket

BISM v/s SRM  -- BISM won by 6 wkts. (Target 81)

BITS, Pilani v/s RAIT -- BITS won by 9 wkts. (Target 112)

Basketball

Boys:

GGSIP bt.  IPS, Indore  -- Final Score  40-27

PEC bt. D Y Patil     -- Final Score  29-12

Girls

MITS bt. D Y Patil    --  Final score  17-11

MBM bt. RAIT    --  Final Score  25-19

SiGhTs & SoUnDs --- DAY 1

SCHEDULE for 12th September

Cricket

7.30 am BISM v/s SRM
10.45 am BITS v/s RAIT
2.30 pm SBJMC v/s GVIT

Football
Forenoon-
8.15 am SRCC v/s Deshbandhu
9.30 am DJ Sanghvi v/s GIT
10.45 am MBM Jodhpur v/s PEC

Afternoon-
1.00 pm RGIT,Mumbai v/s RAIT Mumbai
2.15 pm Annamalai v/s Vasavi
3.30 pm Zakir Hussain v/s SIES
4.45 pm MNIT v/s DY Patil

Basketball

Boys-
7.00 am IPS v/s GGSIP
9.00 am PEC v/s DY Patil
5.00 pm IPS v/s NIEC
7.00 pm BITS v/s PEC
9.00 pm Zakir Hussain v/s MNIT (MNIT will get walkover)
9.00 pm Vasavi v/s SKIT

Girls-
6.00 am DY Patil v/s MITS
8.00 am MBM v/s RAIT
6.00 pm KNC v/s MBM
8.00 pm LNIPE v/s BIT

Volleyball

Girls-
7.00 am BITS v/s MITS
5.00 pm Gargi v/s Kamla NehruS

Boys-
7.30 am YMCA v/s NIEC
8.15 am IPS v/s MBM
9.00 am JIMS v/s Vasavi
9.45 am MNIT v/s SKIT
10.45 am NIES v/s DY Patil
11.30 am DC RUST v/s COVS
12.30 pm JIIMS v/s BKBIET
3.00 pm Vasavi v/s GIT
4.00 pm MBM v/s COVS
6.00 pm SRM v/s DY Patil
7.00 pm BITS,Pilani v/s SIES
8.00 pm IPS v/s DC RUST

Badminton(Girls)
2.00 pm BITS 'B' v/s BITS-Hyderabad
3.00 pm RAIT v/s DC RUST
5.30 pm winner of (RAIT/DC RUST) v/s Deshbandhu
6.30 pm BITS 'A' v/s MNIT

Table Tennis
11.30 am MNIT v/s Vasavi
11.30 am DJ Sanghvi v/s IISER,Pune
12 noon BITS 'B'v/s SRM
12 noon JIMS v/s GH Valce
5.00 pm BITS 'A' v/s Rajiv Gandhi
5.00 pm SBMJC v/s Rajasthan Tech.

Athletics
6.15 am 3000 mts (boys)
6.45 am Triple Jump (girls)
7.00 am 1500 mts (boys)
7.30 am 1500 mts (girls)
8.00 am Long Jump(boys)
8.45 am Long Jump (girls)
8.45 am 4*100 mts (relay) (boys)
9.00 am 4*100 mts (relay) (girls)
9.30 am 200 mts (boys)
9.45 am 200 mts (girls)
3.00 pm Discuss throw (girls)
3.30 pm Discuss throw(boys)
4.00 pm Javelin throw (girls)
4.30 pm Javelin throw (boys)

Swimming

7.00 am
400 mts free style(men)--- Time trials
50 mts breast-stroke(men) --- Heats (postponed)
50 mts Breaststrke (women) --- Heats
100 mts Butterfly (men) --- Time trials
100 mts Butterfly (women) --- Time trials

5.00 pm
50 mts Breast stroke(Women) --- Finals
100 mts Free Style (men) --- Time trials
100 mts Free Style (Women) --- Time trials
4*50 mts Free style relay (Men) --- Time trials
4*25 mts Free style Relay (Women) --- Time trials

Cricket @BITS

Anirudh, of the BITS-Pilani cricket team requests everyone to be present at their first match, which'll be at 11 am on 12th (friday) and wish them luck....

It's War time!

While BOSM excites those who dare to push the limits within the sporting arena, there are those who are watching and observing everything. These are the ones who prefer trivia crunching to actually playing on the field. These are the ones who can’t shoot a hoop but can surely tell you who the only person in NBA history to have scored 100 points in a single game is. (Psst it’s Wilt Chamberlain)

This Friday (12th September) the auditorium will play host to the sports trivia maniacs on campus at 5.30 PM to win the coveted title of the BOSM Sports Quiz.
Teams of upto 3 members are allowed.

The quiz is going to be a colossal 5 hour mega event. Rumours that it’s a “never-ending-quiz-till-you-drop-dead” event have also surfaced in the recent couple of days.

And what if you don’t make it on stage? Don’t worry! Do stay behind, for our men at BOSM Sponz have done a wonderful job of getting companies to sponsor loads of goodies which shall be given as audience prizes.

Issue 2 editorial

After months of planning, BOSM has finally started. We are playing host to the largest number of participants so far. We have the highest sponsorship so far. I am sure you’ve heard these statements a lot of times earlier with reference to this fest. However, even after meticulous planning and care in implementation, there are always so many things that come down to last minute decisions, split second choices and in the face deadlines. Only the people who have been closely involved with the fest will know what went on behind the scenes. The chaos that was inside. The calm that is projected outside. But somehow things always happen. They fall into place. This is so characteristic of student fests and probably the reason why we leave every edition of the fest with more experience to make the next one even better.

The inauguration ceremony was a well managed affair. The crowds turned up in huge numbers. This was in sync with the rising importance that sports are getting in BITS. First it was the football league and then its basketball version that ensured that Gym G sees some activity through out the year. How tomorrow will shape up remains unknown. The scheduling is going on, changes will still be made. But then we are students – ready for anything, anywhere, anytime. Even with all this uncertainty, once on the field order will prevail. With this belief and spirit, things will always fall into place. But whatever happens tomorrow, you can be sure that the Third Base team will be there to cover it. So keep reading.

Monkeying Around

With BOSM finally underway, the soaring enthusiasm levels have reached sky high. Hoping to capitalise on this mounting frenzy is the department of Informalz, that has planned plenty of fun events this BOSM. We spoke to the Informalz co-ord, Anviksha Khare, who gave us a round-up of all the events in store. First up is Monkey Kick-off. A game in which you kick the ball as far as you can, it is the humanoid version of a highly popular flash game that had the campus crazed last sem. Scrabble, the battle of words, and human foosball are the two other new introductions this year. Anti-chess, where you “lose to win” and tug of war, the ultimate test of brawn are the events continuing from last time. There will also be crosswords and quizzes available at major hang-outs like Gym g and SAC that people can solve and drop in at the Informalz booth. Anviksha said that plenty of experimentation has gone in this BOSM and she hopes that it will pull crowds of BITSians and outstis alike to the Informalz booth.

Hearsay

EPC sounded a few outstation participants out to gauge the general response to BOSM. Here is a selection of their responses.

Ritu and Mansi, both first-timers at BOSM from the MITS volleyball team, expressed satisfaction with the place and barring the temperature, their stay (so far) has been comfortable. They added that their team was hopeful about their medal chances.

In the words of the football team captain of RGIT, Mumbai, “The atmosphere here is thrilling and it feels great to be here. We are overwhelmed with the welcome we have received.”“Looking at the amazing turnout for the meet we look forward to have some intense competition. We are very well prepared and will give our best. The facilities provided are very satisfactory”, said the Cricket Captain, JGJ College.

Overall, the organizers can take heart from the participants’ positive responses to the arrangements made, though accommodation has remained a long-standing sore point with the outstation teams.

Inauguration

It was 8 in the morning, and he was sleeping as usual. And a minute later, his eyes lit up, he had got it. He had got THE IDEA. Add a few more of those ‘eye-illuminating’ ideas and a month later it culminated into the 23rd BITS Open Sports Meet (BOSM).

BOSM 2008 was given a kick start this 9th September, with the inaugural ceremony commencing at 7 PM, at the Gym Grounds. Teams from all over India had assembled at the grounds, and we could all feel the thrill and excitement in the air. The ceremony began with the distribution of mementos by the sports secretary to the Vice-Chancellor, and other dignitaries. The teams were then introduced, after which all 25 of them assembled on the basketball court. The oath-taking ceremony began and vows to play fair and to play well were taken.

At around 7:35 PM, the inaugural basketball match between BITS and IP College, Delhi began with loud cheers and roars from the crowd, the excitement indeed was infectious. Every failed attempt was lamented; every point scored was clapped and cheered for. The match was as exciting as it should have been. At half time, the scoreboard read 10-6, us in the lead. After play resumed the match just got more one sided, with BITS scoring 8 more points. By the end of the match BITS emerged victorious, with the score line saying 18-8.

With four days to go, and many more matches yet to be held, our teams will surely make us proud.

Rec 'n' Acc

Rec' and Acc' is going all out this BOSM to ensure that everyone who comes to Pilani spends a comfortable four days here. Commitment levels are on an incredible high and the enthusiasm was evident as work began last night, with the first arrivals of outstation participants. The EPC spoke to Vandana, the COSSACN of the department about the fest, and some of the major changes that Rec' and Acc' have made for this BOSM.

The entire registration procedure has been revamped and made an online one, with use of efficient software that will make the whole process more convenient and accurate. Rec' and Acc' has also arranged for a shuttle of sorts to ferry outstation participants from the Rec' and Acc' booth or the main gate to their respective accommodation. "The routes will be operable all day and prove to be especially helpful to participants given accommodation in staff quarters at the far end of campus" Vandana emphasized.

This department of 30 volunteers and 25 core members has also been seriously working on smoothing out last year's wrinkles. BOSM 2007 was witness to many complaints regarding cleanliness of the rooms provided to participants and in order to ensure a better response this year, special care has been taken to ensure cleanliness. Problems faced last year with respect to congestion are also a distant memory this year, with the upper common rooms in the boys' bhavans also being given as accommodation. Twenty out of thirty coaches have also been provided with single room accommodation.

Vandana also stressed on how supportive the Dean SWD, Prof N V Muralidhar Rao and the Chief Warden, Prof S K Varma have been over the past one month, saying that their cooperation has helped them infintely. And to sum it up, in the words of the COSSACN, Rec and Acc for BOSM 2008, "Ultimately, all of us want every outstation participant to leave BOSM wanting to come back next year."

LAWN TENNIS - Day one - Results

BOYS

RRRGIT, Mumbai bt. IPS Indore : 2 – 1

MNIT, Jaipur v/s Vasavi college. Vasavi college - walkover conceded.

BITS, Pilani bt. RGIT, Mumbai : 2 – 0

Anshul defeated Karan : 9 – 2

Suhas defeated Trideep : 9 – 1

NIBITS, Pilani (B) v/s Rajasthan Tech., Kota

Rajasthan Tech., Kota - walkover conceded

GIRLS

· BITS, Pilani (B) bt. MITS, Jaipur : 2 – 0 (9-0, 9-7)

Chess Day One Selected Standings

Venue: SAC

Pool A (Out of 8 Points)
BITS A - 7.5
BITS C - 7.5

Pool B
Zakir Hussein - 5
MNIT - 5
BITS B - 4.5
PEC - 3.5

BITS Girls Beat GITS in Basketball !!!

2023 hrs
The game seems to have evened out now...Still 21-14. And there goes the final whistle. BITS wins 21-14.

2022 hrs
Still typing offline...Still 21-14...Meanwhile Photog is doing a brilliant job of capturing the scene. Tripod
and cameras make them look like professionals. And looking at their pics, you wouldn't disagree either.

2019 hrs
Anubha finally breaks the GITS scoring run. 21-14 to BITS. Meanwhile, the latest in the long series of MAMA buckets has breathed its last. Also, poor CEL first yearites are also doing scoring alongwith BOSM controlz for their SLAM DUNK event. So please play the game to make their efforts worthwhile.

2017 hrs
The technical glitch is still there...I am typing offline as I speak...or type...The bandanna is not red or orange...It is pink...That's Harsha's observation. Meanwhile, BITS leads 19-14. Some semblance of a fightback from GITS.

2010 hrs
We're back after that huge technical glitch. BITS has started off the second half well. 15-6 to BITS. Meanwhile, Soumya asks "Does anyone know the outsti with the red bandanna"? Udit says "It's an orange bandanna!"

Meanwhile, news has just come in that BITS Boys have won their volleyball match. And at a timeout, the MAMA train goes once around the court.

Latest update : BITS leads the match against GITS 19-10.

1958 hrs
And after all the missed free throws, finally Varsha sinks one in. 9-3 to BITS. We are onto odd numbers now...Another cool shot from No. 10, Nupur. Latest: 11-3 to BITS.

1957 hrs
And Richa and Varsha have a mix up and give the ball away to GITS. They fail to capitalize though...

1956 hrs
Some comments about the last match:

"SRCC played well. The match wasn't interesting!! It was pre-decided. 26-8 for God's sake!!!" (Somebody needs to get the scores right)

Some MEite, "Was a very good match, SRCC passed well." (Well, they outshot and outscored the opponents as well"Meanwhile 8-3 to BITS.

1954 hrs
Too many timeouts already. It's a jittery sort of match till now. But hey, BITS is leading...No complaints there!!!

1952 hrs
And now HDC gets into the act. "DAALO RE DAALO KOI TOH DAALO"
And Varsha seems to have heard it!! 6-0 to BITS.

1950 hrs
And finally the DOPY-MAMA cheering rivalry makes an appearance. DOPY has the numbers though and many more kids on their side. Score: BITS leads 4-0. I swear it was 5-0 some time ago. Meanwhile, a pizza makes its way across the sidelines.

1946 hrs
The crowd is relatively quiet again. It seems that teams are more defensively oriented this time, making points a more precious and rare commodity than they already are.

1944 hrs

How do you pronounce "Chrrrrrrrrrakkkaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr
Chrrrrrrrrrakkkaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr" and what does that mean? The hoo-haas are understandable though. But that's what the crowd does as Anubha gives BITS a 4-0 lead.

1942 hrs
And there goes Vivek Krishnan, asking the referee to shoot a three pointer. It looks like he is going to oblige but sadly doesn't.

1939 hrs
The jerseys are really clashing. Nobody from the crowd knows who is in possession of the ball. The only indication of the teams is the side they are aiming for. Early score: BITS leads 2-0

1936 hrs
The updates are going to come thick and fast now. The teams have taken court and are waltzing their way through the warmup routines. The whistle goes and now, the match shall begin. But all is not well as the tipoff has to be taken again.

GIRLS BASKETBALL MATCH (SRCC v/s MITS)

Update 3.0 @ 7:27pm
And SRCC wins. Score was 22-6 to them.

Schedule Update: Meanwhile, the BITS girls take court to huge cheers. Some cheers reserved for the opposition too. The uniforms are badly clashing though. Both black. Wonder why they can't have home and away jerseys.


update 2.0 @ 7:08 pm
SRCC still leading, but it seems like MITS is trying to fight back.... Score's 7-5 still in SRCC's favour... and SRCC has scored again! Score's now 9-5. MITS trying to make a comeback with a fe long shots... but not always successful.

Foul in SRCCs favour, they've made use of it.... And Scored!


Basket-Ball match @7:02 pm
The refree throws the ball in the air, and the game is ON..... It's a basky match between SRCC and MITS girls. The stands look full, and cheers and applauds can be heard. After a dull few minutes, the game has picked up speed.... SRCC seems to have gotten an early lead... the score is 7-2 in favour of SRCC.

Panel discussion on 11th september, evening

Update three @1831 hours:
Summarising the discussion, Dr. G. K. Pillai says that, the results might not be proportional to the investment, but those interested should play play to the best of their abilities and this is what counts in the long run. Dr.Natrajan has to say that Sport reduces crime and increases educational performances. One point that needs attention is the involvement of women in sports. How vibrant sports is in a institute depends on the attitude of the people.
One of a eminent sports personalist expresses his joy in being a part of the discussion and lays strees on the point that, the outlook towards sport is not given much importance. If this can be looked forward to then the results would be very promising.

Update two @ 1816 hours:
Continuing further on the discussion, the Table tennis captain Abhijeet Kamath says that, people in general have a negligent attitude towards sports on campuses like ours. There are laboratories and libraries coming up, but very few playgrounds. Talking about the Coaches and physios, Dr.B.R. Natrajan says that the system is very polarized right now. It is either completely study or completely sports, while there should actually be a more holistic approach to it, such as including sports programmes in the curriculum.

Beginning @1809 hours:
The Panel Discussion has stated off really well. Mr. G. K. Pillai has emphasised on the fact that events like BOSM may not produce Olympic medalists, but they go a long way in creating a successful professional. Prof. B. R. Natrajan stressed that funds are not the only thing to be blamed. Ways have to be found to work around it.

Preparations underway:
The BEP panel discussion on revitalizing sports in India is all set to begin at 5 in gym grounds today. Please turn up and show that your opinion counts!

Afternoon Schedule - 11th September 2008

Volleyball (Boys) Venue: Gym-G
1.30 pm : SIES Mumbai v/s MNIT Jaipur
2.15 pm : VASAVI Hyderabad v/s BKBIET
3.00 pm : SKIT v/s SIES Mumbai
3.45 pm : GIT Jaipur v/s BKBIET
4.30 pm : YMCA v/s D.Y.Patil
6.00 pm : BITS Pilani v/s MNIT Jaipur

Swimming Venue: Swimming Pool
Starting from 5 pm, events are:
1. 50 metres Butterfly (Men) Finals
2. 50 metres Butterfly (Women) Finals
3. 100 metres Backstroke (Men) Time Trials
4. 100 metres Backstroke (Women) Time Trials
5. 4 X 50 metres Medley Relay (Men) Finals
6. 4 X 25 metres Medley Relay (Women) Finals

Table Tennis Venue: SAC
5.00 pm IISER Pune v/s Rajasthan Tech. Kota
5.00 pm DJ Sanghvi v/s SBMJC, KGF
5.30 pm VASAVI, Hyderabad v/s Deshbandhu College
5.30 pm SRM, Gaziabad v/s JIMS, Delhi
6.30 pm BITS 'A' v/s B.K.Birla Inst. of Tech.
7.00 pm BITS 'B' v/s G.H.Patel Inst.

Hockey Venue: Gym-G
4.45 pm BITS Pilani v/s GCA

Athletics Venue: Gym-G
3.00 pm Shotput (Boys) Finals
3.30 pm Shotput (Girls)Finals
4.00 pm 100 metres (Boys) Heats
4.45 pm Triple Jump (Boys) Finals

Football Venue: Gym-G
1.00 pm - 2.15 pm Zakir Hussein v/s GIT Jaipur
2.15 pm - 3.30 pm Annamalai v/s MNIT Jaipur
3.30 pm - 4.45 pm Deshbandhu College v/s RAIT Mumbai
4.45 pm - 6.00 pm BITS Pilani v/s MBM Jodhpur

Volleyball(Girls) Venue: Gym-G
5.00 pm Gargi College, Delhi v/s Sridevi Women's Engg. College, Hyderabad

SIGN UP NOW!

BOSM 2008 might just be the most adventurous BOSM yet, with events such as "zorbing", rock climbing and spider web, courtesy BOSM Sponz. The snag? Apparently, the organization handling these events has agreed to offer their services on the condition that at least ONE THOUSAND people sign up. The events will be held on the 13th, spanning the whole day. Mess sittings are underway. So go on, do something crazy this BOSM...

And for those who are wondering, "zorbing" involves being suspended in a transparent ball and 'rolling with it'.

Athletics: 800 metres Boys Results

Event: 800 metres boys
Venue: Gym-G

Gold - Sagar U Shetty (MNIT Jaipur)

Silver - Pitabash Panda (IPS academy)

Bronze - Varun Kashyap (PEC Chandigarh)

Congratulations to the winners!!

Athletics: 5000 metres Boys Results

Event: 5000 metres boys
Venue: Gym-G

Gold - Pitabash Panda (IPS Academy)

Silver - Virendra Verma (MNIT Jaipur)

Bronze - Pawan (BITS Pilani)

Congratulations to the Winners!!!

First Cricket Match results

Event-Cricket match

Time-7.30 a.m., 11th September

DJ Sanghvi vs DY Patil

Result- DY Patil-104 runs
DJ Sanghvi won by 9 wickets

Top scorer-Vishal of DJ Sanghvi, scored 62 runs of 51 balls

Congratulations to the winning team !!!!

Swimming (Girls) 100m Breaststroke Results

Event: 100 metres Breaststroke Girls
Date: 11th September 2008

Gold - Pallavi Goyal (MITS Jaipur)
Silver - Esha Vyas (BITS Pilani)
Bronze - Poorva Agarwal (BITS Pilani)

Congratulations to the winners!!

Swimming (Boys) 100 m Breaststroke Results

Event: 100 metres Breaststroke.
Date: 11th September 2008.

Gold - Ankur Dalal (BITS Pilani)
Silver - Vaibhav Shashtri (BITS Pilani)
Bronze - Prakrit (IPS Indore)

Congratulations to the winners!!!

Schedule List One

Our readers have been constantly asking us for schedule of events. We had earlier not been able to upload it owing to non-availability of schedule with BOSM Controlz. But here it is now - sport by sport.

Athletics on 11^th September

6:30 am 5000mt (boys)

7:30 am 800mt (boys)

9:15 am 800mt (girls)

3:00 pm Shotput (boys)

3:30 pm Shotput (girls)

4:00 pm 100mt (boys) Heats

4:45 pm Triple Jump (boys)

Volleyball 11^th September

5:00pm Gargi College, Delhi vs Sridevi Women’s Engg. College, Hyderbad

Football 11^th September

7:00am – 8:15am DJ Sanghvi vs SIES, Mumbai

8:15am – 9:30am Vaasvi College vs D Y Patil

9:30am -10:45am SRCC vs RGIT, Mumbai

10:45am- 12:00pm P.E.C vs MNNIT, Allahabad

1:00pm – 2:15pm Zakir Hussein vs GIT, Jaipur

2:15pm-3:30pm Annamalai vs MNIT, Jaipur

3:30pm-4:45pm Deshbandhu College vs RAIT, Mumbai

4:45pm- 6:30pm BITS, Pilani vs MBM, Jodhpur

DOPY - Clicking Enthu

The department of photography has Nandan Reddy heading them this time. They have a dedicated 70 member work-force. Commenting on the first yearites involvement he said they have a very enthusiastic set of 20 first yearites.

DOPY is the biggest revenue generator for BOSM. It generated a revenue of Rs 1.31 lakhs for BOSM 2K7. It’s expected target this year is Rs 1.40 lakhs. This is generated through snaps and other allied merchandise. He said he is happy with the pre-BOSM Bhavans’ clicking sessions. 30 rolls have been clicked pre-BOSM.

DOPY has a booth in old TT room in gym ground. 3 DSLRs will be used for clicking photos for the first time. DOPY also plans to check yhe feasibility of live clicking starting with the inaugration today.

So, DOPY is all set to help preserve memories and put a smile on every face.... Say cheese!!!!

LIVE - Inaugural Match : The Entire Commentary

2005 hrs

And the match is over...BITS Pilani has won 18-8. Brilliant performance by the BITS Baski boys.

Stands are now gradually emptying. The Chief Guest too has just left, while the basketball court has been hijacked by random people who were inspired by the match and now want to play.

Meanwhile, great news for all of you who are in Pilani tomorrow. We just received confirmation from Mr G.K.Pillai, the Chairman cum Managing Director of Heavy Engineering Corporation, BITS alumnus of 1968 batch. He is on his way to Pilani and will be participating in the Panel Discussion tomorrow at 5 pm on Basketball court. The topic is "Revitalizing Sports in India - Campus Involvement and Policy Changes".

More on the panel discussion a little later.

Meanwhile, as the lights dim upon the basketball court, the centre of attention now is the Domino's stall. So, we will have a small break in the BEP updates. Keep reading.

P.S. For those who are wondering, it's 120 bucks a pizza.

P.P.S. Request from BITS Powerlifting team: "It's going to be one of the most impressive events this BOSM. It is at 6.30 pm tomorrow (11th September) at SAC Amphitheatre."

A First Yearite: "I have no clue what to do next. I am zonked and confused."

1952 hrs

Finally the first points of the second quarter. BITS Pilani leading 12-6.


1950 hrs

No points scored in the second half yet. The teams seem strangely afraid of attacking each other.


1949 hrs
DOPY seems to be half asleep, though it hasn't stopped one of them from coming and asking us for our snaps. And we, always glad to look like proper journalists, are only so happy to oblige.

Meanwhile, the second half has started.


1946 hrs
BITS finally manages to halt the 6-0 scoring run of Indraprastha. The match is still a bit jittery at the moment. And there the whistle and the team make their way to the sidelines at the end of the first half

Current score: BITS Pilani leading 10-6.

Meanwhile, the guys from IPS Academy, Indore, who arrived just an hour ago and are at BITS for the first time, say, "The fest has been glamorized very well. And it's like a open national tournament."


1942 hrs

Where is DOPY? Their usual cheer isn't cheerful enough. Seems like the lack of competition has put them off. The BITS team though is doing slightly better...in fact much better. As I type this, Indraprastha seems to be fighting back. Commentator's jinx maybe??

Score: BITS leading 8-6.


1940 hrs

And the whistle has gone, and the match has started. There seems to be quite some confusion regarding the jerseys won by both teams. Both are in red vests and black shorts. Though the BITS team has quite a bit of black on their vests. The audience already seems to be into the game. And as BITS begins the scoring with two points, a huge cheer goes up from the crowd. Both teams seem to have started well defensively. Lots of rebounds and steals going through. But it seems that the BITS team is starting to turn it on offensively as they establish an early lead.

Current score: 8-2 BITS Pilani is leading.

1935 hrs

The teams are now greeting the Vice-Chancellor of BITS Prof L.K. Maheshwari. Surely, words of encouragement being said there.


1932 hrs

The great cheerleading rivalry between DOPY and Maharashtra Mandal (MAMA) hasn't come to the fore yet, although there are many DOPY members visible, doing their usual bit - taking snaps and generally getting in the way of people. MAMA seems to have given up on their claim though, the members don't seem visible as a group.

And with that the whistle has gone. The warm-up time is over. As the teams go into a huddle, the audience waits with bated breath for the action to start.

1927 hrs

BOSM is kicking off with an inaugural friendly Basketball match BITS Pilani boys and Indraprastha College, Delhi. Like every year, with basketball usually being the most watched sport, the stands are full. As the teams run on to the court and start warming up, they are greeted by huge cheers from the stands - people who just can't wait for the action to start.

EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR !!! (Third Base Issue One)

SLAM DUNK
This BOSM, everyone can play! ...
Slam Dunk- a super selector like game for Basketball is being organized by CEL (www.cel-bits.org). Choose your dream team of five, gain points when your players play well. You can change your team after every match. Prizes worth Rs.8000 are at stake. Play smart and win big. To play, visit www.bosm.cel-bits.org.

PANEL DISCUSSION : 11th September, 5 pm, Basketball Court
This BOSM, BEP is holding a panel discussion on ‘Revitalizing Sports in India- policy changes and campus involvement’. The idea is to have constructive discussion on what can be done with regard to sports administration in our country. A first time ever in BOSM, this panel discussion will be moderated by Ramya (former EPC Secretary) and will see some eminent personalities on the panel. The guest panellist is Mr. G.K.Pillai, the Chairman cum Managing Director of Heavy Engineering Corporation based in Ranchi. Mr. Pillai is an alumnus of distinction with a keen interest in sports and has played hockey at the national level. Joining him on the panel will be Dr. Raghurama, Deputy Director (Academic) and Dr. B R Natrajan, Dean, DLPD, BITS, Pilani. The student panellist is Abhijeeth Kamath, the Table Tennis Captain of BITS Pilani team and is also a former state level player for Maharashtra. This discussion will help in creating a positive environment of hope around the fest.

ANTI-CHESS, TUG-OF-WAR & MONKEY KICKOFF : 11th September, 4.30 onwards, Gym-G
The Department of Informalz presents three events—Anti-Chess, Tug-of-War and Monkey Kickoff on Day 1 of BOSM. Monkey Kickoff is based on the flash game which was the rage on campus all through last semester. Anti-Chess is the game of anti-games where you have to “lose to win”. Meanwhile, Tug-of-War is just that—the age old brawny exercise involving grown Homo sapiens tugging at a rope.

The Gaming Geeks - A Sneak Peek at Ignition (Third Base Issue One)

A fact that very few people know about BOSM is that its largest event does not involve any muscle movement exceeding 30 cm. For the sake of those who are as slow as the one who wrote this report, we’re talking about Ignition - The LAN gaming challenge. With a sponsorship of 1.2 lakhs and over 50 out of the total 200+ participants being outstation clans, Ignition is all set to provide gamers with the adrenaline rush that they’ve always looked forward to.

The SAC main hall has been booked for the purpose, with gaming going on both during the day and night. Ignition has both clan games as well as individual games. Counter Strike, Age of Empires II, DOTA, Need for Speed and FIFA 08 are the competitive events that will take place throughout BOSM. In addition, 12 systems have been supplied by CRISIS whose usage will be without any charge, allowing interested individuals a chance to experience this new game on high specification systems.

BEP caught up with Parijat, a member of the organizing team, to find out a few more details of the event. Counter Strike is by far the most popular (No surprises there!) followed by DOTA and AOE in the clan category. And FIFA scores over NFS in the individual category. (Unfortunately, Unreal Tournament does not have enough takers to be held as an event here. Hopefully, this trend will soon change.) There was a definite word of appreciation towards the BITS management for allowing the event to happen (giving the kind of opposition that Gaming usually faces from most college managements) The total prize amount is 40,000 to 45,000 in both cash and kind, and there will be big screens put up for spectators to see the action from a first persons view.

Ignition was originally conceived as a means to popularise BOSM by attracting a more varied crowd. Though the event was planned out last year, it had to be cancelled due to the hardware suppliers backing out at the last moment. So it’s up in full vigour this time. Hopefully there will be some real “action” at SAC in the next three days...

Third Base Issue One Editorial

It is that time of the year again. Time when all attention is on Gym grounds for a change. When SAC is not just about departments putting enthu. This is the 23rd edition of the BITS Open Sports Meet (BOSM) and by the look of things, the fest seems to be going stronger than ever before. This BOSM is unique in the sense that it is a blend of things from past that we can’t leave behind and things of today that we can’t ignore to include. It is hard to keep anything isolated from the rest of the world. More so when you are talking about a vibrant student fest with close to 900 participants from all over India in addition to the hosts in Pilani. For the first time, cyber gaming will find a place in the sports festival. Sports as an entertainment package – that is the trend all over. The number of ‘auxiliary’ events this BOSM promises to make the fest a complete entertainment package – from panel discussion to a super selector like game.

Still at the heart of the fest will be the effort of sportspersons and the spirit of gamesmanship. Loads of reasons to cheer about this BOSM – maximum participation, highest sponsorship, diverse events and the Olympic cheer. Let us enjoy all this while they last over the next four to five days. At the Third Base, we will bring you the closest possible view without actually being in the picture itself. In some ways a justification for the name. This issue of the Third Base is all about the pre-fest preparation, the hard work of people who are not playing themselves but setting up the stage for others to compete.

In Total Control (Third Base Issue One)

BOSM is about to get underway and preparations for the same are in full swing. BOSM Controlz are naturally in the thick of things, what with all the registration, scheduling and organizing to be done. Department CoSSAcn Reeturaj Mishra said they keen to see to it that this BOSM turns out to be bigger and better than the last. A major worry in recent years has been the low attendance of BITSian spectators in the sporting events. To attract and retain their attention, some fun events are being planned by Department of Informalz and Jhankaar. Another new feature is Ignition 2k8, a gaming event that is bound to find many takers, considering the popularity of LAN games in the institute. In addition, BOSM Controlz plans to set up tents for spectators so they can watch the action comfortably. They also plan to upload results of completed matches at least twice a day and post updates and schedules in the messes on a daily basis. This year’s 23rd edition of BOSM will witness an unprecedented boom in the number of participants – up to 950 from 750 last year. Lastly, but importantly, Reeturaj hopes for a good response from the BITSian junta and much better attendance than last year’s disappointing figures.

Money Matters (Third Base Issue One)

Chintan Raghuvanshi, the BOSM SPONZ CoSSAcan, is very enthusiastic about our annual Sports Fest this year. And with good reason too. Thanks to the untiring efforts of his 45 man crew, BOSM has been able to accrue over Rs. 2 lakhs this year. Principal sponsors this year include Saras, UCO Bank, Indian Oil, Nestle and Domino's. Domino's is planning to setup a stall, and the Hindustan Times has agreed to be the media partner. When asked about his work for BOSM, Chintan who is called Chintu by friends and foes alike, replies candidly 'The work does get hard occasionally, but it is rewarding when BOSM is carried out succesfully.' The work has entailed quite a few trips to Delhi and Jaipur, and was partly interrupted by the ongoing strikes there. But despite all the hassles, Chintan and his team have managed to gather a very significant amount for BOSM this year. Here's hoping all their hard work pays off on the field and off it this BOSM.

'Accio' Outstis (Third Base Issue One)

“When it comes to BOSM, it is most important and rather challenging to ensure a balance between adequate participation and quality”, says PCR front man Kamal Ganeriwal. He gave us a glimpse into this year’s participation for the BITSIAN sports meet.

There are 900 participants, 730 boys and 170 girls, from 50 odd colleges as opposed to last year’s 800. This increase has been made possible by the SWD by rendering the upper common rooms of the boys’ Bhavans available for outstation accommodation. Amongst sports football has recorded the maximum no of teams (15) whereas hockey has recorded the least (2).Besides that we will have participation from 4 NITs, namely Allahabad, Patna, Surat and Jaipur. Certain other DU colleges have enlisted huge participation as well.

So this BOSM we can expect some quality sports action from the increased participation and hopefully many more BITSIAN medals.

Inaug Live !!!

1926 hrs

We are at the scene at Gym-G at the Basketball court. The inaug is just over. The Sports Secretary has just had his say. And now it is time for all the athletes and competitors to take the oath of honesty and allegiance to the sporting spirit.

1905 hrs

BOSM Inaug has just got underway, with the Chief Guest Prof L.K.Maheshwari, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani having just arrived. More to follow soon...

BOSM 2008 is about to start!

Gym Grounds in BITS, Pilani is full of people waiting eagerly for the inauguration ceremony of BOSM 2008. The news is that it is about to start in 10 minutes from now. The turnout is huge for the inaug and thankfully weather Gods are playing along!

So, if you are in Pilani and still not in Gym Grounds, there is 10 more minutes time for BOSM to kick off! And if you are not in Pilani, catch all the action @ the BEP blog. Keep reading!

Mind Games

Of Rooks, Pawns and Knights

Tense, drawn-out battles of the mind and the wit...With some of the sharpest minds doing battle...That is chess for you. Although Rohan Karwa, captain of the BITS Chess team, insists that it is as much fun to watch chess as any other spectator sport.

In this year's BOSM chess competition, BITS has three teams participating in botht he Classic and Rapid Chess tournaments. 5 players each of BITS A and B teams will participate in both the events while from the BITS C team, 5 players will participate in Classic Chess while the remaining 5 will participate in the Rapid Chess tournament.

Following on from their silver medal performance last year in the Rapid Chess version, Rohan is very optimistic about his team's performance this time. With the usual stalwarts from teams like SSN and Shaastra absent during BOSM this time, he says that the unknown factor in the competition would make it quite interesting.

Rohan is also very happy with the interest shown by BITSians in the game. Around 80 people had turned up for the tryouts, out of which 20 were finally selected. At last, he signs off by urging the BITSian population to not just crowd the basketball courts at all times, but to visit at least the finals of all sporting events. They are worth it!

Note: The chess tournaments will be held in SAC all through BOSM. The finals will be held on the 14th of September while a problem solving event involving teams of three will be held on the afternoon of the 14th.

SLAM DUNK !!!!

This BOSM, everyone can play! ...

Slam Dunk- a super selector like game for Basketball is being organized by CEL (www.cel-bits.org). Choose your dream team of five, gain points when your players play well. You can change your team after every match. Prizes worth Rs.8000 are at stake. Play smart and win big. To play, visit www.bosm.cel-bits.org.

The Mermaids

With BOSM around the corner English Press Club talked to the swimming team captain Mahima Garg about her expectations and apprehensions for the coming event.

The team comprising of seven girls including one first year student has been practicing since 10th of August, with the constant help from the coaches.

The captain does not have any apprehensions about competing with any of the teams coming for this BOSM. With all the good efforts the team has given in, all it expects is good competition,a challenging BOSM.

Fly on the Wall : Adventure Sports @ BOSM 2k8

Isn't this just the day for great things happening? Sources tell us that BOSM Sponz has a proverbial ace in its sleeve, which is organizing Adventure Sports at BITS this BOSM. Wonder what they will be and where it will be held...

Keep visiting this blog for fresh updates on this and much more.

Inaug : The Fest Kickoff

Sources have just confirmed that the BOSM 2008 inauguration function is going to be held in the evening today at 6 pm. The venue for the inaug is Gym-G. More to follow later...

It's A Six !!!

Anant Padmanabhan, the captain of BITS cricket-team, spared a few minutes from his time and let us interview him, during which he shed some light on the present conditions of the “great” game in BITS. It’ll come as a surprise to most, but the players of our cricket team, in addition to playing in the BOSM matches, have the more important and difficult job of conducting the whole tournament. Be it organizing the matches, deciding the schedule of matches, or the meagre task of taking care of refreshments for participants, it’s done by the cricket squad only, which currently consists of around 26 people.

The captain told us that they had the good fortune of getting some very promising players in the team this time. Even the turnout for the cricket trials was pretty decent, the count finally reaching to 80. Out of these, some 10 people were taken after rigorous practice eliminations. The team is really very enthusiastic about BOSM this year and they hope of winning the gold that they unfortunately missed last time. The performance of the team has been quite remarkable in the last few years though; and they do hope to improve their skills further.

This year, a total of 12 teams (including BITS) are expected for the competition which will be played during BOSM. The tournament would be played according to the proper 20-20 format, and they will be organizing 3 matches per day for the whole period. Considering that cricket is such a sought after sport, Anant also mentioned a few improvements which would be made in terms of facilities for the audience.

All the team needs now is a little luck, and a lot of hard work and confidence to achieve what they are hoping for…

Chak De BITS!

With BOSM knocking at our doors, practices and preparations for every game are now at fever pitch. However, the Boys Hockey captain, Aditya, expressed his belief that some games do get left out in this rush at times. As regards hockey, certain things do seem to be wanting. Firstly, there are only 2 outsti teams participating this year, from GCA and SRCC. According to Aditya, the team faced several problems before and during practice. Hockey not being a major game in BITS, applicants for the team were limited. The team was denied access to the hockey field for about 15 days to make space for practices of other games. Also, all their new equipment came in a mere 1 day before the start of BOSM, giving them hardly any time to familiarize themselves. However, the captain believes that, despite initial glitches, he and his team have worked hard enough to give a good show. We can only hope that this will indeed be the case, and that the BITS team will deliver well on D-day.

BASKETBALL GIRLS

After leading her team to a gold medal triumph in MNIT Jaipur, Aditi Asthana, Girls’ Basketball Captain will look to replicate that performance in a much tougher field at BOSM, one that includes colleges from Delhi that have never been here before. In spite of declining to venture a prediction of her team’s medal chances (“I don’t want to get jinxed.” She replied sheepishly) Aditi seemed confident of improving on last year’s third-place finish. Bolstered by the presence of three first year students (including a national level player) and the early arrival of a highly attentive coach (“the best coach we’ve had yet.”), the team has stayed positive throughout their practice sessions that have lasted over a month now. On being asked to comment on the effect of a declining female population on girls’ sports teams, Aditi offered an optimistic opinion. She believes that while the numbers might have fallen, the interest levels and sporting capabilities of the girls from the current batches have definitely improved, as evinced by the positive response that her team received for their selection trials. She conceded that playing dual roles (team captain and Joint Sports Secretary) has worked to her advantage. In addition to being able to choose convenient fixtures, she has acquired an understanding of what it feels like to be on the organizational side of things, which, she admitted, isn’t an easy side to be on. Overall, Aditi would look forward to rounding off what looks like a bigger more eventful BOSM with a basketful of glory.

Pocketing the Queen

The Carrom team captain Kranti Kiran sounded a confident note on his team's practice ahead of BOSM 2008. The 14 member team (3 teams of 4 each with 2 - standby) comprising many 4^th and 5^th year students is all geared up to take the centre stage in the five events that will be held for the game of carrom. "The support from the institute has been overwhelming" the captain told the BEP team. "We have been provided with the new tables that were very much needed by us, and this has improved our game considerably", he added.

Though the captain was a little disappointed with the low participation of the first year students he told us that the turnout for selections this time was beyond expectations, especially with a lot of second year students taking turning up for practices regularly. The team had started their practice sessions early, and is very well prepared to take the top honours. The captain hopes that people turn up for the events to cheer for their team.

Powerlifting

Continuting with our round of captains' interviews, BEP met up with Siddhartha Sankar Sahu, the powerlifting and bodybuilding captain who appeared upbeat about the team’s prospects during this BOSM. He gave us a brief insight into the team which consists of 14 members including 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th yearites. The captain complained that the event did not attract much attention from the BITSians even after the stupendous show last year where their medals tally was second only to that of the swimming team. The powerlifting team won 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze last year fending off tough competition from SASTRA, DU and perennial rivals MNIT, Jaipur. This BOSM holds a special place for the team as this is the first time that weights conforming to international standards will be used in BOSM. The regular two-day event is being scaled up to a full-fledged 3 day event. The team boasts of its edge over other competitors in deadlift and bench-press. The success in MNIT Sports Meet does speak volumes about their proficiency.

The captain hinted that the unavailability of proper time slot for practise does have a negative influence in the team’s progress and interests. As suggested by the captain, the university should step in and ensure that BOSM elevates to the same level as OASIS and APOGEE.

Sports Secretary Interview

The Sports Secretary Kambadur Manoj is very satisfied with the way things are happening. He confirmed that the XXIII BITS Open Sports Meet (BOSM 2008) will see the highest ever outstation participation with an increase of around 150 participants. He also added that the department of Reception and Accommodation has been working through the nights to ensure that the participants are made comfortable in course of their stay at BITS.

Another reason to cheer about this BOSM is the increased Sponsorship ensuring improved organization of the events and better co-ordination among the various departments and clubs. This would also lead to the creation of a healthy environment which would get the best out of the players. Talking about the scheduling of events he told us that they are totally unbiased and efforts have been to avoid having a team to play two matches on one day, but in some cases it was inevitable considering the time constraint and the increased participation.

"This BOSM is going to be the best ever" says Manoj proudly. So he urges the BITSian's to stay on and turn up to cheer for their teams and to the outstation participants he assures that this would be their most memorable Sports meet ever.

Winning may be the only thing but the essential fact about sport is that you don't know what happens next. No one does. So if you have a desire to win step out and give your best and the rest will follow. After all the game isn't over till it's over.

Scorching the Baseline

While most girls’ teams are suffering from a lack of interest amongst, this year’s tennis team certainly is not to be included in the list. We talked to Shivangi, the captain of the girls’ tennis team, and caught up with her about our tennis team. Talking about this year’s turn-out, she told us excitedly how some of the best players had joined them this year. Three girls – with experience at both the state and the national levels – have been selected from the first year. The team last year had not fared too well, considering there had been only two players, but this year Shivangi is certain that being one of the best teams BITS has ever had, they are sure to win several medals. She told us that the facilities provided to the team, however, are certainly run-down and not up to the mark. The courts and nets desperately need to be improved upon and the most astonishing face was the absence of a coach for the girls’ team. However, despite these drawbacks, it was heartening to see the bright smile and confidence with which Shivangi assured us that this year we would certainly win. She said that she would like everybody to turn up, cheer, and participate in all the open events conducted during BOSM. We do hope her team lives up to all the expectations and sets an example for all the other teams too!

Boys at the Table

With the sports mania on campus increasing as BOSM draws closer, EPC caught up with the captain of the table tennis team, Abhijit Kamath, to discuss the level of preparedness and expectations of the team this BOSM. A large number of students turned up for the tryouts this year of which four made the cut, taking the total number of players in the team up to nine. The team already has two national level players, making it a major contender. Talking about the facilities in SAC, Abhijit was satisfied with the tables and racquets; although he said that the flooring is not up to scratch and exhaust fans in the TT room are still awaited. Last year our team won the silver medal as they went down fighting to Hansraj College. Even though the team is expecting a tough fight from Hansraj and SRCC this time too, Abhijit confidently asserted that they had their sights trained on nothing less than gold. He believes that as long as every player gives it his best shot, there should be no room for disappointment. Truly, we hope that this admirable confidence reflects in all the matches they play and wish them all the very best!

The "Baddie" Boys

The BITS Men’s badminton team have performed well in recent years and team captain Amit Deshpande thinks the team has a good chance of bettering their third place finish last year. A large number of students turned up for trials but only two vacancies meant only the best made the cut. There are two teams- an A team and a B team, classified on the level of play, each comprising five players. The new recruits have shown promise so far and are learning the nuances of the game from their seniors. The team has two practice sessions daily of two hours each. The focus in recent weeks has been mainly on match play and fitness. After their gold medal winning performance last year at MNNIT, there are a lot of expectations from this team and Amit assures us that they won’t dissapoint. Amit hopes BITSians will keep up the support they have shown in recent years and leave no stone unturned in bringing home the trophy.

Pinging through the Pong

BEP met up with Kriti Jain, the captain of the girls’ table tennis team, and talked to her about the team and its level of preparedness for BOSM 2008. Talking about the dwindling participation of girls due to their lackadaisical attitude towards sports, we were shocked to note that only three girls had turned up for the tryouts this time. Of them only a single first yearite had been selected to play in the team which takes the total number of members in the team to three. Disappointing as this is it also rules out the possibility of our team playing in any doubles event, something extremely unfortunate. While talking about the facilities provided, Kriti was satisfied with the coach and the tables provided at SAC although she admitted that racquets for the players were still awaited. We talked about the teams that are coming over and the toughest competition that we face. Last year our girls’ team won a silver medal in the event and Kriti confidently asserted that this year they would be aiming for nothing less than the gold. Her message to all BITSians was to turn up, watch the event and support them. Truly, we wish her and the team all the very best and are sure that they will certainly add to the medals tally!

Basking in the Glory

Basketball has always been one of the most popular sports in BITS with huge spectatorship. This year’s men’s ‘BASKEE’ team are looking good to finish well in BOSM, reckons skipper Anuj Loomba. Basketball has been a traditional crowd-puller in BITS and BITSians are known to get behind their team in victory and defeat. Coach Honey has been inspirational so far and the team is playing well as a unit. Anuj credits the coach for the high degree of preparedness of the team and the confidence of the team members. The team undergoes a strict daily practice routine involving an hour of drills/workouts and match practice where the team is divided into groups that play against one another. The rigorous regimen has resulted in the players feeling match-fit and raring to go. The team has performed well in training and we can expect a better finish than last year, feels Anuj. So as they do their bit we BITSians much keep up the support and and play our role in boosting their morale. Anuj hopes the team play the level they are capable of and bring home the gold this BOSM.

Smoking Aces

As a series of interviews of captains, we met up with Anshul, the tennis captain of the BITS BOSM team. This is a event with two singles player and one doubles. Only one of the singles player is also allowed to participate in doubles. This event has had participation from well-renowned colleges across India, including Sports colleges. In spite of that,the tennis team has been a consistent good performer in the meet, winning last year's silver medal. On being quizzed on how they expected to perform in this year's meet, Anshul said that, all of the six participating teams are at the same level. He also added that they hoped to clinch the gold this year. When asked about the participation of freshers in the BOSM Team, he said that the turnout of freshers at the try-outs were like any other year. But he also commented that the quality of freshers was not very good, and none of them made it to the final BOSM team.

Anshul also hoped that the turnouts of the BITS populace will be better than it was last year, when except for one match the turnout was abysmally low. He requested all BITS-ians to turn up in large numbers to cheer his team in BOSM.

Football talk

In tune with the sports frenzy building up on the campus, BEP met up with the football team captain Bhargav Rani. He sounded optimistic and confident about the team’s form. He said that the team’s performance had been pretty good last year, though they couldn't make it to the finals they were in the third place. Since the team has improved since then and is in its best shape right now, he feels that they have a fair chance of getting the top position this BOSM.

Talking about the first yearites participation he said he was quite disappointed since they have only one first yearite in the team. He hopes this situation will improve later and that they would be able to get good quality players from first year too. The maximum participation is from second yearites. He credited the football leagues for the drastic improvement in the second yearites’ game. The football league was a huge success last year with around 250 people participating. Rani said that the football league had also boosted football’s popularity in BITS. Considering all these benefits of the league, he plans to make the Football League a tradition in BITS

He is happy with the practice sessions and the team’s dedication to the game. The team practices 5:30pm to 7:30pm every day of the week. There is a football coach too to help them improve their game. Rani however regrets the state of infrastructure available. Uneven ground and water logging are major problems hindering their practice. The team’s practice was also hampered by the workers’ strike as they could not play full-length matches due to overgrown grass & weeds in the ground. However, he is quite satisfied with the way they have used available resources for the game.

During the course of the conversation he informed that 15 out-station teams were coming for BOSM this year and that this is the largest participation in the past few years. So there will be lots of action for everyone to watch on the football ground. Matches will start from 7:00am itself with more than 5-6 matches a days. A team may have to play two matches a day but this he says is inevitable considering the participation. He hopes all the Bitsians will turn up and cheer the BITS team.Let us hope to see filled up stands and some great football!!