by Ashish Rajkumar Sanglikar and Swati Patil
PUNE, NOV 30, 2017: Don Bosco High School and Junior College, Pune witnessed adrenalin pumping sporting action as the institution celebrated its 40th 
annual Sports Festival, on November 25 at the school grounds.
annual Sports Festival, on November 25 at the school grounds.
Students participated in a wide array of disciplines, which included events like long jump, shot put, discus throw, athletics, relay race and tug of war. Each house in-charge ensured that a majority of students participated in the competition.
Apart from track and field, students from standard five to eight displayed their karate skills which helps in shaping body, mind and soul. The students were coached by Sunil Vanve and Jyoti Kshirsagar. Students from standard 11 displayed various shapes and symbols of sportsmanship through pyramids. Their teachers, Sabina, Blossom, Amit, Johan Anthony and Prathamesh Botre coached them for the same.
Students from the primary and secondary section then performed a zumba dance, while students from standard nine and ten displayed the traditional lezim. Finally, standard 12 students did an aerobics display.
Guru Gharath, a gold medallist in triathlon in national and South Asian Games in 2015, 2016, Asian Championship and also a triathlon gold in 2017, was the Chief Guest, while Dreeraj Sawant, a gold medalist in triathlon in South Asian Games in 2016, a silver medalist in triathlon in senior national games in 2016 and a bronze medallist in trithlon in national games in 2015, alongside Manish Anand, the Vice President of Maharashtra Hockey Federation were the Guests of Honour.
The competition began with a guard of honour, which was followed by the march past. The school band then played the National Anthem. Gharath hoisted the sports flag. Lavina Lobo and Hrushi Pacharne from the secondary section, Kayadu Lohar and Johan Anthony from the junior college, Ashish Patare, a teacher representative and Cyril Ashirwadam, PTA representative carried and ignited the sports flame as a symbol of sportsmanship.
Alisha Khemali, the college captain, administered the sports person's oath. Catherine Moses, college sports secretary led the sports person's prayer. Father Bosco D'Mello, the Principal, then introduced the Chief Guest and the other dignitaries. Sawant addressed the gathering and urged parents to give their children more opportunities in sports and to be open to sports activities. He also said that sports makes an individual more disciplined and talented which is not possible through academic's alone.
The red house from the secondary section and the blue house from the junior college were declared as the champions of the year. "As a house in- charge it's indeed a proud moment for me to be declared as winners but the credit goes to all the students who have won the medals and made the house proud," Vanita Roham, a teacher from junior college, said.
Jyoti Kshirsagar, another teacher, added, "We, the teachers have been preparing the students in the months that have gone by and today it seems that our hard work has really paid."
Dikshyant Bandari, a young athlete from standard 12, said, "I was preparing very hard for this event and I feel proud that I have bagged 3 gold and 1 silver, it's the biggest day in my life till date."
The primary section held their sports meet on November 24, with Devendra Singh, a gold medalist at Asian Yoga Championship 2015, a silver medalist in national yoga championship 2016, in attendance as the Chief Guest.
The primary students performed mass drills by using various sports equipment as their props. Tiny tots from standard one and two performed aerobics, whereas standard three and four performed lezim to the famous Nashik dhol music.
The students then competed in a host of events, such as the flat race, potato race, book balancing, sack race, garlanding the partner and relay. Parents too won prizes by participating in events like musical chairs and tug of war.
"I am very delighted to see my son securing a gold medal in the relay race. This has surely boosted up his confidence and will encourage him to participate in more events in the coming year," Pillay, a parent, said.
Mohit Thakur, a student, added, " My parents will be very happy to know that I have won 2 gold medals and 1 bronze medal in the 50 metre race , 100 metre flat race and relay race respectively. They will surely be proud of me."