At the crack of dawn on a Saturday, the FE Block playground was abuzz with activity as first graders to seniors of Classes XI and XII, along with teaching and non-teaching staff members of St. Francis Xavier School, converged there.
It was the 20th biennial sports meet that was set to kick off. Champion athlete Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, an Arjuna Awardee, a former MP and a resident of CL Block, arrived after some time as the chief guest.
The school flag was hoisted followed by the the torch relay, the marchpast to the rhythmic beat of the Kolkata Police Pipe Band, and the crowning of Netaji House as the overall champion.
Sikdar shared nuggets of wisdom, setting the stage for the oath-taking ceremony, where students pledged to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship. The chief guest, alongside the secretary and administrator Ajay Chopra and officiating principal Anil Srivastava, then declared the sports meet open, releasing balloons in the sky.
Through the day, various races and drills unfolded. The primary section displayed vibrant energy. Special events for teachers and parents were a treat, adding spice to the event. The grand finale was the closing ceremony, a victory marchpast, and the distribution of prizes. Teams battled it out in a tug of war, showing strong teamwork. The relay race was dramatic. Girls and boys showcased speed in the 100m and 200m races. Sideway race brought a playful twist, and boys faced challenges in the hurdles race.
The event concluded with the national anthem, harmonised by the beats of the Kolkata Police Pipe Band. Tagore House (Green) emerged as the oveall winner while the red brigade of Netaji House were the runners-up. Ardiyaan Waqar earned the title of Best Athlete among the boys while Arwa Naterwala was named the Best Athlete among the girls.
Author is a Class XI student, St. Francis Xavier School