NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh women did the unthinkable on Wednesday. Chhattisgarh's fairy tale run in the 64th Senior National Basketball Championship at the Thayagraj Stadium, New Delhi, fetched the girls from this tribal belt of India their maiden title, winning 81-77 in a close final against Indian Railways.

While Chhattisgarh women scripted history by becoming the national women champion, Tamil Nadu underlined their supremacy in Indian basketball winning the men's title when they avenged their 2011 defeat with a thumping 74-57 triumph over Punjab. That the Tamil Nadu men – winners of the 2004 Cuttack nationals – were in a league of their own could be judged from the fact that they remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

The women's clash between second-time finalist Chhattisgarh and the star studded Railways was a riveting final. No sooner than these young girls won the game they lifted their coach Rajesh Patel to acknowledge and appreciate his valuable guidance. It was such a day. It was such a match. One where fortunes fluctuated every moment.

In a high quality final, full of suspense, thrill and drama, Chhattisgarh rallied splendidly to stop Indian Railways in their strides, denying the top Indian team their 12th straight crown.

Though the pace of the game was slow for Chhattisgarh in the first half, but the presence of a strong crowd supporting them set the competitive juices flowing in their camp. Accordingly, what was on offer was fast paced and attacking basketball after the change of ends.

After trailing for almost 30 minutes, Chhattisgarh's outside shooting brought them ahead for the first time in the last quarter. Once they surged ahead they kept their cool in the dying stage to snatch a thrilling triumph. The quarter-wise progress for the winners read 12-23, 26-23, 22-19, 21-13.

The maiden triumph is a dream come true for Chhattisgarh coach Rajesh Patel. "This is my biggest victory. I have won many gold medals in various age category nationals, but in my last 14-year tenure as a coach in senior nationals this is something big and memorable," Patel told TOI by adding, "Our strategy was to stop Geethu and Anju Lakra which our players did brilliantly."

India's Spanish coach Francisco Gracia said, "It was a nice and equal final. At the end, Chhattisgarh's intensity made the difference. Good to see young kids like Kavita and Sharanjeet competing at a high level."

In the men's summit clash, it was Tamil Nadu hoopsters who combined well to take home the crown that too after almost a decade. Tamil Nadu took time to settle into their groove – lost the first quarter 18-22 – but once they were in they turned the tide in the second quarter winning 19-8 to head into the breather with a 7-point advantage.

When it mattered, Tamil Nadu always had that class, and commitment, as they kept their rivals under check and went on to win the last two quarters 22-14 and 15-13 to dominate the final and take home Rs 1,50,000 in cash and a trophy.

For their overall show Rikin Pethani of Tamil Nadu and Kavita Kumari of Chhattisgarh were named as the Harish Shamra player of the championship.

Earlier in the third place play-offs, Services men outplayed Uttrakhand 82-54 while hosts Delhi defeated Maharashtra 79-66 to take home Rs 50,000 in cash and a trophy.

RESULTS (finals)

Women: Chhattishgarh (Kavita 25, Saranjeet Kaur 20, Bharti Netam 16, Deepa L 11) bt Railways (Anju Lakra 23, Geethu Anna Jose 17, Pushpa M 11, Raja Priyadharshani 11) 81-77 (12-23, 26-23, 22-19, 21-13).

Men: Tamil Nadu (Rikin Pethani 22, Pratham Singh 18, Prasanna Venkatesh 15) bt Punjab (Palpreet Singh 19, Gurukripal Singh 12) 74-57 (18-22, 19-8, 22-14, 15-13).

Third Place

Women: Delhi (Prashanti Singh 22, Akansha Singh 15) bt Maharashtra (Shireen Limaye 22, Krittika Divadkar 18) 79-66 (24-16, 17-20, 14-10, 24-20).

Men: Services (Gopal Ram 16, Narender Singh 13, Jai Ram 12) bt Uttarakhand (Yadwinder Singh 15, Amritpal Singh 13) 82-54 (17-9, 25-16, 21-15, 19-14).