Chennai: The 53rd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Indoor Tournament (SSBMT) - Zonal-1 began at the CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai, on August 30.

The three-day event, organized by the CSIR Sports Promotion Board, will conclude on September 1, bringing together teams from eight CSIR laboratories to promote team spirit, leadership, and unity.

The tournament commemorates Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (1894-1955), the first Director General of CSIR and a pioneer of Indian science, who championed the use of science for national development. His contributions laid the foundation for CSIR's network of 37 laboratories across the country.

Participating laboratories include:

CSIR-Fourth Paradigm Institute (CSIR-4PI)
CSIR-Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI)
CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP)
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB)
CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL)
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI)
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI)
CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR)

Competitions are being held in Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Carrom, and Bridge.

The tournament was inaugurated on August 29 at Vigyan Auditorium, CSIR-SERC. The inaugural ceremony featured Chess Grand Master Shri Karthikeyan Murali and Olympian Smt. Valdivel Jeyalakshmi as Chief Guests. The event began with the traditional lighting of the Kuthuvilakku.

Dr. J. Prabakar, Chief Scientist & Organizing Secretary, delivered the Welcome Address, while Dr. (Smt.) N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC, and Dr. K.J. Sreeram, Director, CSIR-CLRI, gave the inaugural addresses. The Chief Guests released a Souvenir to mark the occasion.

The SSBMT Oath was administered by Dr. Varsha R. Ohatker, Medical Officer, CSIR-IICT & SPB Observer. Dr. K. Lakshmi, Senior Principal Scientist & Secretary, Staff Club, CSIR-SERC, proposed the Vote of Thanks.