61st Annual Athletic meet of Sainik School conclude in Kapurthala

April 22, 2024 10:51 am

Published by: PreetiMahajan

P .S.Walia

Kapurthala, October 14

The 61st Annual Athletic Meet of Sainik School Kapurthala concluded marking the end of a thrilling three-day sporting event. The occasion was graced by Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, AVSM, YSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command, as the esteemed Chief Guest. It was a moment of pride for the school, as the General Officer himself is a proud alumnus, a “Saikapian.” Joining him was DIG Rajpal Singh Sandhu, IPS, PAP – Jalandhar Range, who attended as the Guest of Honour.

The final day saw an impressive display of skill, discipline and team spirit as cadets participated in a variety of events, including a meticulously executed march past, captivating aerobics and gymnastics displays, exhilarating track and field events and a stirring band performance. The cadets’ performances were a testament to their hard work, dedication and the school’s focus on all-round development.

In his closing address, General Manjinder Singh inspired the cadets with profound words on the importance of time and self-development. “What you sow here, you will reap. Build friendships, character and human qualities. This is the right time and place for you. Help each other, and society will remember you,” he said, urging the cadets to seize the opportunity to contribute to a better India. “You are the future of this nation. In this Amrit Kaal, India’s progress has outpaced global development. Work hard, aim high and strive to join the National Defence Academy. Parents should motivate their children to dream big and excel in every field.”

The Chief Guest also commended the spirit of participation, emphasizing that the journey of competing matters more than winning or losing. Reflecting on his own time as a student, General Singh became emotional, remarking how the school has evolved and improved over the years.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions, General Singh presented the prestigious ‘GOC-in-C Commendation Cards’ to Wing Commander Deepika Rawat, Vice Principal of the school; Lieutenant Colonel JBS Beg, Administrative Officer and Sunny Kumar, UDC and PA to the Principal. Earlier in the day, the General paid homage to the martyrs at the school’s memorial, a solemn reminder of the institution’s deep ties with the Armed Forces.

In the competitive events, Ranjit House claimed the coveted Best House title in the Holding House category, while Lajpat House and Bhagat House emerged victorious in the Junior and Senior House categories, respectively. The trophy of Best Athlete was awarded to Vivek Kumar, Pawanpreet Singh, Avinash and Arushi in their respective categories, with Saikapian Advocate Chandra Shekhar Sharma honouring Vivek with a tracksuit and sports shoes.

The Principal, Group Captain Madhu Sengar, along with Vice Principal Wing Commander Deepika Rawat, extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurdeep Singh, Colonel Vinod Joshi, Lieutenant Colonel JBS Beg, Tajinder Kaushal, Amrik Singh, Sushant Bhatia, Sukhjinder Singh Ghotra, and Vipin Azad, among others. Their presence added to the grandeur of the event, which will be remembered as a milestone in the school’s rich tradition of athletic excellence.