Friday 26 / July / 2024
Muscat: Indian School Muscat held its 40th annual athletic meet and drill display at the school grounds recently.
Amidst the display of colours created by scores of flags and decorations, the young athletes displayed their talents in track and field events. It is one of the prestigious events of the school, rewarding the four houses for their team effort during the year. The four houses equally displayed their grit and dexterity in their crucial bid for the Cock House Trophy presented to the Champion House.
Shri Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman,attended as the chief guest. A special guard of honour made up of the Scouts and Guides, as well as Student Council members, welcomed the Ambassador and other guests. Winners of CBSE nationals presented potted plants to the Ambassador and the other guests.
Syed Ahmed Hilal Al Busaidy, Wali of Muttrah, Said Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Busaidi, Deputy Wali of Muttrah, Abdul Malik Abdul Karim Al Balushi, CEO, Oman Post, Hussain Mallallah Al-Lawati, Deputy General Manager for Support Services, Oman Post, Salim Al Gamari, Municipal Council Member, Sreejesh Ravindran, Vice Captain, Indian National Hockey Team, Oliver, Kiren Asher, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Mohammad Basheer, Finance Director, Board of Directors, Riyaz Kuttery, Chairman, Sports Sub-Committee, ISM managing Committee and other members from the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, Dr. Avirat Vaishnav, President of the SMC, members of the SMC, Principal, Srinivas K. Naidu, along with Vice Principals and Asst. Vice Principals of various sections, teachers and a large number of parents and students witnessed the meet.
Dr. Avirat Vaishnav, while welcoming the gathering, said he appreciated and thanked all who were part of the fulfillment of the project, the Astro-turf field which was inaugurated by by the Indian ambassador.
Riyaz Kuttery flagged off the football match and steered in the first field event on the top class Astro Turf Field.
R.S. Pathyarch, Head of Department, Physical Education, and the coach of ISM athletic team, Johns Abraham, jointly began the first track event on the synthetic track. Athletes who represented ISM at the CBSE nationals jogged on the track, holding high the school flag.
The march past to the tune of ‘Hum Honge kamyaaab’, one of the prestigious events of the sports meet comprising four contingents, represented the four houses. The Head Boy, Alen Jiji Tom, the Head Girl, Angela Alex, and members of the Students’ Council, led the march past. The flag of ISM, held high by the Head Boy, swayed gently in the centre. They were followed by the four houses that marched royally in their distinct colours – Red, Green, Blue and Yellow, led by their Captains, Hannock Rajan, Prashant Matapathi, Hensi Kara, and Rachit Nair. The flag bearers of all four Houses, with their contingents, marched around the school ground amidst great precision and cheer. Also, the school band, led by bandmaster Nandlal Sharma, played a marching tune.
The chief guest, declared the 40th annual athletic meet and drill display open. The Sports Coordinator, Avantika Murali, took the oath on behalf of the students, promising their enthusiasm to participate and compete by the rules. The drill display conquered the hearts of the gathering with its varied and intricate dynamics. More than 2500 students from across various sections participated in the day.
On this occasion, . Abdul Malik Abdul Karim Al Balushi, CEO, Oman Post, accompanied by the Principal and Priya Murali, Vice Principal, Primary Section, released the First Day Cover highlighting the 40 years of ISM, in the presence of the dignitaries. As a token of appreciation and gratitude, Dr. Avirat presented mementoes to all other guests.
A series of inter-house athletic events were conducted on the occasion. The Cock House Trophy, March Past Trophy and the much sought after Athletic Championship Trophy for the year 2015 – 2016 were swept and proudly lifted by the Blue House. House Captain Hensi Kara, along with House Master . Muraleedharan Thampy and the House Mistress, . Daisy Antony, received the trophies.
The individual champions in various categories also received their trophies at the function. The following are the individual champions: Raj Vardhan of Blue House (Sub-Junior boys), Antonio Biju of Green House (Junior Boys), Xavier D’Souza of Yellow House (Intermediate Boys), Irfan Ummer of Red House and Ismail Khalid of Blue House (Pre-Senior Boys), and Mohd. Hisham of Red House (Senior Boys) were the champions in the boys’ category. Alfina Thomas of Yellow House and Oindrilla Sanyal of Red House (Sub- Junior), Harshita Ramesh of Blue House and Roylin Pereira of Red House (Junior Girls), Natasha Raji of Green House and Abir Zubeda of Blue House (Intermediate Girls), Anoushka Punja of Red House (Pre-Senior Girls) and Evelyn Fernandes of Blue House (Senior Girls) earned championships in the Girls’ category.Olympian . Sreejesh Ravindran, . Mohammad Basheer and . Riyaz Kuttery, accompanied by the Principal, gave away the prizes to the winners of the events.
With the sounding of the Last Post, the show came to an end. The school flag was brought down and handed over to the four House Captains. They handed it over to the Head Boy and the Head Girl, who in turn gave it to the chief guest. The Principal received the flag from the chief guest.
This symbolic event signified the end of the sporting activities of the school for the year 2015 - 16. The Head Boy proposed the vote of thanks. All lauded the efforts of the staff, led by the Principal, . Srinivas K. Naidu, . R.S Pathyarch, Head of the Department of Physical Education, and his team, the support staff and the enthusiastic students for making the 40th annual athletic meet and drill display a success.
