For those growing up in a boarding school in Mussoorie, April is usually one of the favourite times of the year. April means spring, warm weather in a place that is usually either cold or rainy, and most importantly, it is basketball season, it is by far the most exciting time to be up there. Basketball has historically been a cult sport, and the host team has always been amongst the favourites to lift the trophy.
“It was the time here that made me into the basketball fanatic that I am,” stated Woodstock alumnus, Karan Madhok echoing the timeless nostalgia and thrill associated with the Win Mumby All-India Basketball Tournament that kick-started in Mussoorie on Wednesday .
One of the most popular sports competitions among India’s elite public schools. It is an exciting time for students in Mussoorie as Woodstock School hosts the 14th edition of the Tournament.Over a dozen of India’s top schools from the Mussoorie/Dehradun region, and some from much further like New Delhi, Sanawar, and Patiala, take part in this annual tournament.
This year the three-day competition that will conclude with trophy distribution on April 26 features sixteen teams in all. These comprises girls from Welham Girls’ School (Dehradun), Vasant Valley School (Delhi), The Shri Ram School (Gurgaon), The lawrence School (Sanawar), Modern School (Delhi), Doon International School (Dehradun), Wynberg Allen School (Mussoorie), Woodstock School (Mussoorie) and boys’ teams from Kodaikanal International School (Tamil Nadu), Welham Boys’ School (Dehradun), The Doon School (Dehradun), Modern School (Delhi), The Asian School (Dehradun), Wynberg Allen School (Mussoorie), St George’s College (Mussoorie), Woodstock School (Mussoorie).
Interestingly, the host school has been lifting the boys’ trophy for the last three years in succession and presents a tough challenge this edition too.
The competition’s highlights included Pep Rally featuring Woodstock’s jazz band along with other musical ensembles. As informed by Woodstock’s Head of Sports Ajay Mark, the tournament will also have expert workshops for participants and coaches throughout the tournament on injury prevention and developing the core by Woodstock School’s sports performance trainer Clark Simons.
Also, this year for the first time in many years Kodaikanal School from Tamil Nadu, formerly Woodstock’s sister school, is participating in the tournament.A time to hike in Mussoorie for the local sports enthusiasts, for the coming days as it is basketball mania at its highest in the idyllic Queen of Hills!