Bengaluru, April 28: A basket five seconds before the buzzer sounded helped Punjab University edge Jamia Milia Islamia to a narrow 85-84 win in the final to clinch the men’s basketball gold medal at the Games. University students from Khelo India here on Thursday.
The matchup between longtime rivals Panjab University and Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi (JMI University) in the men’s basketball final provided a spectacle worthy of the occasion. After leading the match from the start until almost the final whistle, Jamia lost the match when Panjab came from behind in the fourth quarter.
Punjab University sparked wild celebrations at full time when they took the decisive lead in the final with four seconds to spare in the final quarter.
After clinching the coveted gold medal, Panjab University captain and point guard of the Indian national basketball team, Sahaij Sekhon, said: “We are delighted to win the gold medal among the best university teams in the whole world. country. This was a special final and credit goes to the whole team and coaching staff because we never gave up despite being down for the entire match. Jamia (Milia Islamia) University played a great final too but we are happy to beat them because our goal was to prove that we are the best varsity team in India, and now we’ve done that.” Being the only regular national team in the men’s basketball draw, Sahaij stated that he was impressed by the individual talent at the Khelo India 2021 University Games. He said, “There are many high caliber players here, and even the national team coach Veselin Matic he’s here to look for good young players. I’m sure he would have seen some players that caught his eye.” JMI University vice-captain Akshay Adhana put on a dissolute figure after the loss, though the 6-foot-tall point guard could have claimed finals MVP for his performances on both ends of the floor.
Speaking about the competition in the men’s draw, Adhana said, “Only the top 8 college teams in the country qualify for this competition, so naturally all the teams here are quite good. As for the organization of this tournament, I feel that the Khelo India University Games is the best tournament in India. There is a world of difference between this event and All India University Games. As an athlete, it feels like we are participating in an international event because everything has been organized so exceptional. for the players,” the organizing committee said in a statement.