Report - Sports Day 2023 - 24

HFS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEET 2023-24

The 7th Annual Athletic Meet of Hiranandani Foundation School International took place on December 15, 2023. Given the sheer magnitude and immensity of an event preceded by the roaring success of its predecessors, the excitement, energy and enthusiasm on the sports ground was thrice as palpable and contagious. The chief guest and guests of honor for the day included Mr. Narsingh Yadav, an Olympic gold medalist wrestler and deputy superintendent of police, Mr. Sumeet Kabra, Director at RR Global, Mrs. Jayshree Ramesh, Director at Kotak Education Foundation and Mr. Punit Mehra, CEO, Sportsters Academy and a professional cricketer. Hiranandani Foundation School International hosted Kotak Education Foundation supported students for their Annual Athletic Meet under their community outreach program. Kotak Education Foundation conducts various online and offline student exchange programmes in pursuit of empowering students from the underserved community through education to rise above poverty. Needless to say, the familial ties shared by HFSI with our eminent guests added to the necessary motivation needed by our young athletes to go the extra mile on the field.

After the 7th Annual Athletic Meet was declared open by HFSI Head of School, Mrs. Kalyani Patnaik, the day began with the customary march past – the young HFSI athletes’ synchronized swing of arms and proud thud of feet reverberating on the hallowed school grounds. The march past was a stunning display of months of rigorous practice by all four houses – alpha, beta, sigma and delta – along with the senior learners of the school from IBDP programme and the contingent of our IB Outreach programme – The Kotak Education Foundation. Following close on the heels was a stunning array of drills – planobics, gymnastics and taekwondo. Each drill aimed to infuse the sought-after spirit of sportsmanship – the qualities of resilience, tenacity, endurance and courage – in the students in order to help them experience the true wonders of the human spirit. Each drill focused on how sports infused the same unwavering spirit to expand human frontiers of knowledge and skill as the nation’s proud expedition to space and that we needed to be braced to take on new challenges with unyielding resolve, determined to look back at the lessons we learnt and be reminded of the miracle that is the HUMAN SPIRIT. Reinforcing the message were our tiny mascots - the mininauts on HFSI soil – marking the microcosmic power needed to maintain macrocosmic supremacy.

The final races in the junior, senior and super-senior categories were a delight to watch and the surprise element was the parents’ race with enthusiastic participation from all quarters. It was thrilling to watch parents as they raced to reach the finish line – demonstrating to our young learners the oft-required precarious art of keeping apace with the times as you journey through life, often against time.

Of course, no HFSI event is complete without the inspiration that comes from our beloved principal, Mrs. Kalyani Patnaik. As the event drew to a close, she announced the winners for the special trophies of the day with words that put ‘success’and ‘failure’ in their rightful perspective. Her words of wisdom sent a jubilant wave of cheer through the crowd as they celebrated the culmination of a successful sports meet.

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