Patna: The first Bihar Softball Premier League began on Thursday under the aegis of Softball Association of Bihar. In the opening match, Patna Panthers beat Gaya Gladiators 11-0 while Bhagalpur Blasters defeated Muzaffarpur Matrix 14-6.
Earlier, the league was inaugurated by Bihar State Sports Authority Director General Raveendran Sankaran and Director cum Secretary Pankaj Raj by lighting the lamp and releasing balloons in the air. On the occasions, the Sankaran honoured Ajay Narayan Sharma, the founding secretary of softball while former Indian players Prachi Sharma, Rupak Kumar, Madhu Sharma, Suman Nayak, Mohit Srivastava, Vijay Kumar, Ravi Roy, Rajesh Kumar, Vipin Kumar, Md Saifulla were honoured by Pankaj Raj. He also felicitated Shikha Sonia, Tanuja Kiran, Shweta Kumari and Rekha Kumar.
On this occasion, Kumar Vijay of Bihar State Kabaddi Association, Vinay Kumar Singh of Bihar Wrestling Association, Gaurishankar of Bihar Ball Badminton Association, Dharamveer Kumar of soft tennis, Imtiaz Hussain of Bihar Football Association and Jyoti Kumar of softball cricket were felicitated for the development of the game by Softball Association of Bihar.
Association president Gautam Kanodia, vice president Pranav Pandey, treasurer Pawan Kumar Pappu, Sujay Saurabh, Bidhurani Sahai Singh, former secretary Madhu Sharma were present on this occasion.