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LOYOLA CELEBRATES 74th ANNUAL SPORTS MEET
“Overpower. Overtake. Overcome.” - Serena Williams.
The day that every sports enthusiast waits for, finally dawned on 22nd November 2024. The much awaited 74th Annual Sports Day was marked with a healthy amalgam of athletic activities, curated to cultivate a disciplined and physically fit lifestyle among the students, thus setting an honourable start to an energetic day.
The day kicked off with the unfurling of the flag by the Chief Guest Mr. Chanakya Choudhary along with Rev. Rector Fr. K.M. Joseph, Rev. Principal Fr. Vinod Fernandes, Rev. Treasurer Fr. Gerald Ravi D’ Souza and Vice Principals Mrs. Jayanthi Sheshadri and Mrs. Vineeta Ekka. Mr. Chanakya Choudhary, a distinguished alumnus of BITS Pilani, is currently the Vice President, Corporate Services at Tata Steel. He was honoured by Vice Principal Mrs. Jayanthi Sheshadri with a sapling, a shawl by Fr. Rector K.M. Joseph and a memento by Principal Fr. Vinod Fernandes.
The sprawling Loyola Ground witnessed a synchronised March Past by the 4 house contingents namely The Panthers, The Leopards, The Cheetahs and last, but not the least, The Jaguars. This was followed by the lighting of the torch by our budding athletes which symbolized the beginning of the Sports Meet. The students took the pledge to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play. This spirit of sportsmanship soared with the release of the balloons and the Sports Meet was declared open by our Chief Guest, which added grandeur to the occasion. In his inspirational speech, he emphasized on the importance of embracing sports as a way of life and that winners are not those who never fail, but those who never give up.
Students from Std. 6 and 7 demonstrated their mastery of martial arts techniques celebrating their journey towards enhanced self-confidence, resilience and mental strength. From Taekwondo’s dynamic high kicks and rapid spins to Karate’s precise hand strikes and quick reflex stances, each martial art form showcased aims to develop agility, adaptability and flexibility – necessary for self-protection. Students also engaged in the traditional martial art of Kalarippayattu and Mixed Martial Arts that integrates techniques from multiple combat sports, thus ensuring the building up of versatility and strategic thinking.
A plethora of exhilarating races and track & field events comprising 100m sprint, 4× 200m Relay, Alumni Races were some of the highlights. The atmosphere was thick with excitement and eager anticipation fuelled by loud cheers and encouraging shouts from the audience.
The Guest of Honour for the Closing Ceremony was Colonel Rajneesh Sharma, the Station Staff Officer, Jamshedpur. Commissioned into the elite armoured corps of the Indian Army in 1993, he has led military personnel for patrol to the Indo-Chinese border and helped secure a crime free environment in Upper Assam. He was accorded a warm welcome by Vice-Principal Mrs. Jayanthi Sheshadri with a sapling, a shawl by Rector Fr. K.M. Joseph and a memento by Fr. Principal as a token of love and appreciation.
The prize distribution ceremony was held in different categories. The Cheetah House lifted the Overall Championship Trophy followed by The Panther House in the 2nd position. The Jaguar House bagged the Best Marching Contingent Trophy and the Best Disciplined House being The Leopard House. The lowering of the school flag marked the end of the closing ceremony. Col. Sharma applauded the efforts of the students for making this event a huge success and a day filled with enthusiasm and memories to cherish.
Fr. Vinod Fernandes, Principal, Loyola School, proposed the Vote of Thanks. In his speech, Fr. congratulated each and every participant who has contributed to the collective success of this momentous day, thereby celebrating both victories and defeats with zeal and good sportsmanship. It is only through such endeavours that we strive to nurture not just academic excellence but also the overall development of our students.
