The final phase of the Under-17 L D Kazi Memorial Gold Cup Inter-school Football Tournament 2018 kicked off at the Chakung ground in West District of Sikkim.
The final phase of the football tournament was inaugurated by State Sports and HRD Minister R B Subba.
In the inaugural match, Tikalall Niroula Senior Secondary School (Central Pendam) defeated Buriakhop Senior Secondary School bby three goals to two.
Bijendra Rai, Joshan Rai and Jorden Bhutia scored the goals for the Central Pendam school.
In the second match, Namchi Public School defeated Chujachen Senior Secondary School b by three goals to one.
Manoj Limboo, Gyalshen Bhutia and Prashant Mangar scored the goals for the Namchi team.
The two winning teams have now progressed into the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.
Hee-Yangthang Senior Secondary School is taking on Hee-Gyathang Senior Secondary School in the first encounter of Thursday while Tashi Namgyal Academy and Manjushree Public School will clash in the second encounter of the day.
Present on the opening day were Sports secretary S D Dhakal, Soreng SDM T G Bhutia, Sports additional director Kamal Chettri, Sports and Youth Development Board chairman K P Dahal, tournament organising committee president Gyaas Pega and others.
The final match for boys will be played on May 18 at Chakung school football ground in West district.
Meanwhile, the final round for girls will take place at Soreng school football from May 23 to May 31.
Sixteen schools have qualified in both the categories for the final round of the football tournament.
The football tournament is jointly organized jointly by the Sports and HRD departments of the State in both boys’ and girls’ categories.
Winners of the tournament will represent Sikkim in the Subroto Mukherjee Football Tournament in New Delhi later this year.