The 17th TIA Cup inter-school basketball tournament organized by Thungram International Academy (TIA) is starting from Friday.

TIA Principal Neera Pradhan informed a press conference on Thursday that 40 teams from 28 schools will participate in the competition, which is being held with the aim of implementing the slogan 'Education and Sports Together'.

24 teams in the boys' and 16 teams in the girls' categories will compete on a league-cum-knockout basis.

The organizers have stated that around Rs 350,000 will be spent to run the competition. The games of the competition will be played at the organizer's court in Hattigaudha.