Shimla Red Clinches Title in Anti-Chitta Inter-District Volleyball Championship
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Shimla, June 12: Shimla Red emerged champions of the first Under-21 Anti-Chitta Inter-District Volleyball Championship, defeating Mandi 3-2 in a thrilling final held at the Rajiv Gandhi Multipurpose Sports Complex, Sanjauli, as part of the International Shimla Summer Festival 2026.
Organised under the theme “Quit Drugs, Play Sports,” the five-day tournament aimed to encourage youth participation in sports and promote awareness against drug abuse. A total of 13 teams from across Himachal Pradesh participated in the championship.
Shimla Urban MLA Harish Janartha presented the winners with the championship trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, while runners-up Mandi received ₹50,000. Individual honours were awarded to Siyal (Mandi) as Best Attacker, Krish (Shimla Red) as Best Setter, Himanshu (Kullu) as Best Libero and Piyush (Shimla Red) as Best Blocker.
Addressing the gathering, Harish Janartha termed the tournament a successful initiative to engage youth in positive activities and announced that quarterfinalist teams would also receive ₹20,000 each. He said the Sanjauli sports ground would continue to host youth sports camps and future open tournaments to nurture sporting talent.
Additional District Magistrate (Law & Order) Pankaj Sharma said the championship was introduced for the first time during the Summer Festival under the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner, with the objective of keeping young people away from drugs through sports and healthy competition.
The championship witnessed enthusiastic participation from players, coaches, parents and sports lovers, highlighting the growing popularity of volleyball and the importance of sports in building a drug-free and healthy society.
