Shimla Red emerged as champions of the first Anti-Chitta Inter-District Under-21 Volleyball Championship, organized under the banner of the International Shimla Summer Festival 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi Multipurpose Sports Arena and Ground, Sanjauli. The championship was held with the theme “Quit Drugs, Play Sports”, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among youth.
On the final day of the tournament, Shimla Red defeated Mandi in a thrilling final match by 3-2 sets to clinch the championship title.
The closing ceremony was attended by Harish Janartha, MLA, Shimla Urban Assembly Constituency, who presented the glittering running trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh to the winning team. The runners-up team, Mandi, was awarded a cash prize of ₹50,000.
Individual awards were also presented for outstanding performances. Siyal (Mandi) was named Best Attacker, Krish (Shimla Red) received the Best Setter award, Himanshu (Kullu) was declared Best Libero, and Piyush (Shimla Red) was honoured as Best Blocker.
Speaking on the occasion, Harish Janartha said that this was the first such initiative by the district administration and expressed satisfaction over its successful execution. He noted that the event had fulfilled the aspirations of local residents and demonstrated the potential of the Sanjauli sports facility to host major sporting competitions.
He announced that, for the first time, teams reaching the quarterfinal stage would also receive a financial incentive of ₹20,000 each, provided by the district administration. He further assured that Under-19 school training camps would be organized at the same venue and encouraged coaches to continue training young athletes regularly at the sports ground.
The MLA also stated that open sports competitions would be organized at the venue in the future. The District Administration and Municipal Corporation Shimla would jointly prepare and release a schedule for various sports activities to ensure regular and structured use of the facility.
Emphasizing the importance of sports in youth development, he said that children must be provided adequate opportunities to play, as sports contribute significantly to both mental and physical well-being. He also congratulated the organizing committee for successfully conducting the championship.
Notably, this was the first time that volleyball was included as an official event of the International Shimla Summer Festival. The championship was held from 8 to 12 June 2026, attracting participation from 13 teams representing different districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Welcoming the chief guest, Pankaj Sharma, Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order), informed that the championship was organized under the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, with the objective of encouraging youth to stay away from drugs through sports. He said that planning and preparations for the tournament had begun nearly a month in advance, contributing to its successful execution.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
