Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 14: St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Vamanjoor, hosted the VTU Mangaluru Division Men’s Basketball and Tug of War Tournament 2026–27 on November 11, 2026, at the college basketball court and ground. The tournament provided an excellent platform for student-athletes to showcase their sporting skills, teamwork, discipline, and competitive spirit.
The event was graced by Fr. Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, director, SJEC; Dr Rio D’Souza, principal, SJEC and chief guest; Karna Kumar, VTU Mangaluru regional director (Physical Education), Sahyadri College; Dr Jyothi K Damodara, dean of Student Welfare, SJEC; Fr Kenneth Crasta, assistant director, SJEC; Vanisha V. Rodrigues, physical education director; Sudheer M., assistant physical education director; Priya Miranda, chairperson, Wellness and Sports Group; and Himani Kishan Raj.
Addressing the gathering, chief guest Dr Rio D’Souza emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, and unity. He highlighted that success in sports depends on synchronization, dedication, and collective effort. The tournament was formally inaugurated by Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, director, SJEC, in a unique and symbolic manner by shooting a basketball into the hoop, marking the official commencement of the event. The vote of thanks was proposed by Vanisha V Rodrigues.
The basketball and tug of war competitions commenced with enthusiastic participation from teams representing various institutions. The matches were officiated by Adithya, Shailen, Avinash, Aharsh, and Sagar, who ensured the smooth and fair conduct of the competitions. The tournament witnessed thrilling encounters, healthy competition, remarkable teamwork, and exemplary sportsmanship among the participating teams.
The valedictory ceremony began with an address by Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, director, SJEC, who congratulated all the participating teams and appreciated their dedication and sporting spirit. The prize distribution ceremony was conducted by Dr Rio D’Souza, principal, SJEC, and Fr Kenneth Crasta, assistant director, SJEC, who felicitated the winners and congratulated all the participants for their commendable performances.
Sahyadri College emerged as the overall winner in both the Basketball and Tug of War competitions. Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering (MITE) secured the runners-up position in the Basketball tournament, while SDIT secured the runners-up position in Tug of War. Individual accolades in basketball included the Best Defender title, awarded to Sahavas of Sahyadri College, and the Best Shooter award, presented to Sathvik of MITE.
The tournament concluded on a high note, celebrating not just sporting excellence but also the values of teamwork, perseverance, friendship, and camaraderie among the participating institutions.