The Under- 14 boys and girls athletics competition was inaugurated in a grand manner at the 68th National School Sports Competition on Saturday at Bhagwan Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Morhabadi in the State capital. Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri was the chief guest while Ranchi Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer Utkarsh Kumar was the special guest on the occasion.
Jharkhand Education Project Council Administrative Officer Sachidanand Di. Tigga, Jharkhand Olympic Association General Secretary Madhukant Pathak, State Program Officer Dheersen Soreng, Jharkhand Athletics Association President Chandradev Singh and Jharkhand Athletics Association General Secretary Shiv Kumar Pandey also attended the opening ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, chief guest Manjunath Bhajantri said that we are all very proud of this event. The work of giving a great platform to sports and art has been done here. Unity and diversity are also seen along with sports in such national events. Through sports one develops a healthy body, discipline, leadership ability and teamwork. Bhajantri also said that sports are being continuously promoted by the central and state governments.
Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri, Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer Utkarsh Kumar and other guests formally started the sports program by playing the drum and releasing a balloon.
The inaugural ceremony started with the traditional folk dance of Jharkhand. The students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya, Kanke, presented a group dance on the song Jharkhand Vandana and ‘Kitte Sundar Hamar Jharkhand, Nadiya Hilor Mare Re’ while Musician Madhavi Kumari and her team presented the song ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’. The artists of Bharatiya Lok Kalyan Sansthan, Chutia presented a traditional dance whereas Agni Dance Group performed on the song ‘Jai Ho’.
In the inauguration ceremony, the piper band group of girls students of PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School, Patmada, East Singhbhum, who were zonal award winners and have been selected for the National Pipe Band Competition also performed. The team won the first prize in the Zonal Level Band Competition held in Guwahati on December 22, 2024. On January 20, all the students will go to Delhi by Anand Vihar train along with their teacher and coach for the national level band competition to be held on January 24 and 25. The team will also perform in the Republic Day Parade in Delhi.
A total of 16 bands from all over the country have been selected for the National Band Competition. The Jharkhand team members are all students of class 8 to class 12 at PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School, Patamda while their teacher Saro Hansda and band coach Anish will also accompany them.
As many as 35 teams from across the country have come to the State capital to participate in the Under 14 Boys and Girls Athletics Competition. More than 900 participants, including team managers and coaches, will also participate in the competition. The maximum numbers of athletes- 38 are from the state of Kerala whereas 30 athletes from the host state Jharkhand who will be participating in the events.
