'SPORTS DO NOT BUILD CHARACTER, THEY REVEAL IT ‘ this statement emphasizes the importance of sportsman spirit in a student's life to take up all challenges in a lighter vein and move forward with true sportsmanship.
The sprawling ground of Podar World School, Sherkhi was all set to organize the 8th Annual Sports Meet for the academic year 2017-’18.The atmosphere was filled with great zeal, excitement frolicsome students, eagerly waiting for the events to start. The program began with a warm welcome extended by Dr. Durgeshwari Gusein (in English) and Rupa Singh (in Hindi) to the Chief Guest Mr D.K.Malaviya, a sports icon of International repute serving at Reliance Industries Ltd, Vadodara, to Ms Rekha Shah, Principal of Podar World School, Sama, Ms Michelle Ganeshani, Principal of Podar World School, Maneja and Ms. Dipti Ratanpal, HM of PJK, Sherkhi. Ms Preeta Pillai, Principal, Podar World School, Sherkhi extended a warm welcome to the august gathering and introduced the internationally renowned, Chief Guest, Mr D.K. Malaviya, and read about his meritorious achievements in a graceful manner. She persuaded her students to continue to play as nothing less than the sky was their limit. She concluded her words with the Sports Motto, “Never Give Up, Never Give In, Just Play the Game” and the students verbatim repeated her. Then the Chief Guest and the Principal executed the flag hoisting ceremony escorted by other dignitaries on dais along with the Head Boy and the Head Girl. The Sports Captain, Ms Amrita Joseph's speech followed wherein she quite proudly talked about her Captainship of under nineteen girls' cricket team and her gratitude to the Principal and the teachers for having extended their wholehearted co-operation in helping her to complete the backlog academic work by providing notes and guidance. This was followed by the Torch Run lit jointly by the Guests and the Principal and carried over by the students who are National achievers in varied sports. It was a very proud moment for the Podarites to see a group of 10 to 12 students ( as every year one or two students get added to the tally of National achievers) running to the flame pillar where it was installed by the Chief Guest and the Principal till the end of the Sports Day. A golden colored scroll with the school’s name in red, written on it was then released to the sky with a bunch of white balloons, depicting peaceful co-existence thus announcing the Sports Meet Opened by the Chief Guests. Soon after the declaration of Sports Meet Open, the Principal who is always concerned about the safety of the students grabbed the opportunity to caution the students about safety measures to be followed while flying kites and take special care about the birds who might get entangled in the sharp thread of the kites, thus following quite solemnly the idea of 'Live and Let Live'
The very first attraction of the day was the Mass Drill by students of Primary section where they displayed almost all postures of Yogasans and glimpses of different games. Then the Sports Captains, Master Manav Patel and Kumari Amrita Joseph sought the permission of the Chief Guest for the beginning of March Past and having got his permission took their positions right in front of the contigents of different houses holding the school flag. At the instructions of the P.E. Instructor, Mr.Ashish Jha, the March Past began and the students of the four houses beginning with Satya, Adarsh, Seva and Ahimsa marched in perfect co-ordination and precision of movement with the ideals of each of the houses being announced both in English and Hindi by the comparers in quick succession. The Spots Oath was then administered to the House Captains and Vice Captains by the P.E. Instructor, Mr Ashish Jha. The Chief Guest, Mr D.K.Malaviya was then invited to give his speech. He foremost expressed his gratitude for extending the invitation and honoring him. He expressed his appreciation for the students and lauded the Principal for her excellent leadership qualities that has led the way in drawing out the best in her students. The Achiever's of the academic year 2017-’18 were then awarded.
The students displayed a wide array of colourful events including Yogasan, House Drill or Fancy Drill wherein each house promoted variety of games such as Cricket, traditional games, Martial Arts etc carrying different props such as Kites, tri-colored ribbons, cricket bats, dumbbells, lazins and the most beautiful Sari Drill with colorful plain saris amazing formations including the formation of Tiranga. This was followed by the team events for the Primary, Middle school and Secondary including passing through the Hulla hoops, Relay and Kabbadi. Soon after, each of the events, the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were awarded medals and certificates. The kaleidoscopic events for the day included events for all age group as Grandparents race,'Slow and Steady Race' Parents' race,'Teri Bindiya Mera Muffler', ground staffs race, 'Langadi Race', teachers' events, 'Tug of War'(Primary Vs Secondary teachers).
The prestigious prizes were awarded at the end which included ‘the Best Sports Girl’ in the Primary section, was won by Kripa Elango (Seva House) while ‘the Best Sports Boy’ award won by Shravan Shah (Ahimsa House). In the Secondary section, ‘the Best Sports Girl’ award was again shared by Amrita Joseph(Ahimsa) and Harni Elango’(Seva) as in the previous year while ‘the Best Sports Boy’ award was won by Vicky Kolhe (Seva House). The prize for ‘Best March Past’ was lifted by Seva House and ‘Best Fancy Drill’ by Ahimsa House while the prize for ‘Best March Drill’ went to Seva House in the Primary section. The Majestic Trophy for the academic year 2017-18 was bagged by Seva House securing 502 points, the highest of all the scores. The Grandparents race was won by Ms Saroja devi, the grandmother of Khush Mahajan (VIB) and Teertha Mahajan(IIIB) while the parents race was won by Ms & Mr Bhattacharya, the parents of Abhijit Bhattacharya (IVA). The Langdi race was won by Vidya didi and the 'Tug of War' between the Primary and Secondary teachers was won by the Primary section. All the winners were cheered and awarded with certificates at the victory stand.
The Vote of Thanks was administered by the P.E. Instructor Mr Aashish Jha. The day ended with a cheerful note, heralding the year2018 filled with promises for all the young sports enthusiasts. Soon after the National Anthem, the ceremony of 'Beating the Retreat' was accomplished with the burning torch extinguished and brought down from its pedestal and the school flag brought down and handed over to the Head boy, Head girl, Sports Captain boy, Sports Captain girl who quite solemnly carried it and then folded it and handed over to the Principal, Ms Preeta Pillai.
Concluding with the famous saying, ‘Winners win, winners lose, but winners do play.’
