PUNE: The Trophy and Jersey Unveiling Ceremony, along with the Player Selection Event for the Vishwajeet Marathi Celebrity Cricket League (VMCCL), was held with great enthusiasm on Sunday at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Educational Campus, Dhankawadi, Pune. Organised on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the grand event brought together an impressive galaxy of Marathi film personalities, transforming the campus into a vibrant celebration of sports and entertainment.The ceremony was held under the chairmanship of Vishwajeet Kadam, Secretary, Bharati Vidyapeeth. The prestigious tournament is being organised by the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Foundation and will be played under floodlights on 15 and 16 August at the SBGI Turf Ground of the Sanjay Bhokare Group of Institutes, Sangli.The launch event was graced by veteran actor and filmmaker Pravin Tarde, actors Sanjay Jadhav, Saurabh Gokhale, Shashank Ketkar, Hardik Joshi, Prathamesh Parab, Dhananjay Pawar and actress Sonali Patil, along with several Bollywood personalities. The artists expressed their enthusiasm for travelling to Sangli, playing cricket and enjoying the hospitality and warmth of the people of the district.Known for its rich legacy in art, politics, social service, theatre and sports, Sangli has produced generations of accomplished sportspersons, particularly in wrestling, kabaddi and cricket. Following the successful editions of the Celebrity Cricket League in Dubai and Thailand, former Ranji cricketer, actor and director Vidnyan Mane resolved to organise the third edition of the Vishwajeet Marathi Celebrity Cricket League in Sangli. Accordingly, the tournament is being jointly organised by Vidnyan Mane Studios and the Sachinbhau Kadam Welfare Foundation.Kadam has accepted the complete patronage of the tournament, with the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Foundation extending wholehearted support for its successful organisation. Sanjay Bhokare has also assured complete cooperation and joined hands with Vidnyan Mane Studios in organising the league. Sachinbhau Kadam, Founder of the Sachinbhau Kadam Welfare Foundation, along with Nitish Chavan, Dhananjay Powar, Prithvik Pratap and Sagar Pathak, has played a significant role in the planning and coordination of the event.As part of the tournament preparations, the grand Trophy Unveiling, Jersey Launch and Player Selection Ceremony was organised at the Bharati Vidyapeeth campus. The programme commenced with a warm welcome and introductory address by actor Vidnyan Mane, who shared the vision and objectives behind the league.During the ceremony, the champion and runner up teams of the Marathi Celebrity Premier League held in Thailand last year, along with recipients of awards including Man of the Match, Best Bowler and Best Batsman, were felicitated by Hon. Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam.In his address, Kadam said that Bharati Vidyapeeth has always remained committed to nurturing excellence in sports, arts and culture alongside providing quality education. He observed that every sport contributes significantly to physical fitness while also helping individuals overcome stress and maintain mental well being. Celebrity participation, he noted, serves as an effective medium for spreading this positive message throughout society.He further explained that the tournament had been intentionally organised in Sangli so that renowned artists could experience the cultural richness and sporting traditions of the district while inspiring local youth towards sports. He expressed confidence that the tournament would become a memorable sporting festival for the people of Sangli.
