The playground in FE Block was abuzz with excitement as Apeejay School celebrated its annual sports day after a two-year hiatus.
The chief guest at the BG Block school’s event was Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua. “Sports days remind me of my time in school. We were always on the field playing football but nowadays, children prefer gadgets,” he said. “Parents are also scared to send them outside. During the lockdown many started online chess as parents thought it was better than them playing violent games online. Children must be involved in activities and sports, not just chess.”
School CEO Kiranjit Singh Pannu said sport was integral to the school’s curriculum. “Alongside academics, sports and co-curricular activities are also important.”
Junior run
The primary section was happy to run to the finish line, even if at times it was before the starting whistle was blown!
Four-year-old Deboneel Majumdar had started sprinting but then noticed he had not picked up his bag and bottle like he was supposed to in the “hip hop to class race”. Anisha Chakraborty came first in this one. “This is her first year in school and we are happy to see her enjoying herself. She loves jumping and running around,” said Anisha’s mother Satarupa Chakraborty.
In the Goldilocks and Three Bears race, upper KG students were split into teams of four. The three bears ran relay, while Goldilocks completed the final leg of the race. Myra Chowdhury was happy with her team’s first-place finish but not with the tresses she had to put on for the race. “This wig is too long to be running in,” she said.
Drill on a chair
The four houses — Gandhi (yellow), Radhakrishnan (green), Nehru (red) and Tagore (blue) — performed drills and six-year-old Arnesh Patra, recovering from brain surgery, won hearts by participating from a chair. “My son recently underwent surgery but wanted to take part,” said his mother, Banishree Kundu. “We were concerned about the risk of injury so his teachers allowed him to sit and perform his drill. If he recovers well, he may participate in full-fledged sports next year.”
Anantajit Seal couldn’t contain his joy as he finished the 75m flat in first place, securing points for Tagore house. “I ran with all my energy and I’m determined to help my house win the cup,” said the fifth-grader.
Nishtha Ghosh claimed the top spot in girls’ shot put by throwing the five kilo ball a distance of 6.1m away. “This was my first attempt in shot put and I didn’t expect to win,” said the eleventh grader.
Even the students from the children’s library eagerly participated in flat races. The library is a special learning section of the school for underprivileged students.
Over to parents & teachers
A flat race was organised for the parents, and while fathers were uncertain about participating, a huge number of mothers eagerly put their best foot forward. In fact so many moms turned up that they had to stand in two rows. Amrita Singh, mother of Ishant Singh of Class IX, won, and that too, barefoot. “It’s been years since I participated in any sports activity, but seeing everyone else doing it, I signed up.”
The final race was reserved for teachers, and students joyfully cheered for their favourite ones. “I wasn’t dressed perfectly for running, but I have always been dedicated to fitness. Today was truly enjoyable,” said Rima Choudhuri geography teacher, who came second.
