POONCH, Aug 29: National Sports Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and sporting spirit at Shaheed Dy.SP Manjeet Singh Memorial Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Poonch, today. The day is observed annually across the country on August 29 to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and to promote awareness about the importance of sports in daily life. The programme was organised under the overall supervision of Mr Anwar Khan, Principal, Model Boys Higher Secondary School Poonch.
Dr Ajay Sharma, Additional SP, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He was accompanied by distinguished guests of honour, including Mohd Qasim, District Youth Sports and Services Officer, Poonch; Mushtaq Ahmed, Incharge Manager, Sports Stadium Poonch; and Sarla Rani, Zonal Physical Education Officer, Poonch. The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Shabi-ul-Hasan, Senior Lecturer of the school, who compered the event throughout.
The morning began with the administration of the National Sports Day Pledge, led by Pawan Kumar Sharma, Physical Education Lecturer, wherein students and staff collectively resolved to uphold the values of discipline, fair play, and physical fitness in their lives. The special attraction of the programme was an exhibition hockey match played between Team A and Team B of the school, which witnessed spirited play from both sides and was thoroughly enjoyed by students, staff, and guests alike, reflecting the school’s rich hockey legacy and its continued commitment to nurturing the sport.
A proud moment of the event was the felicitation of the school’s Under-17 UT Level Hockey Champion Team, winners of the prestigious Jawahar Lal Nehru Hockey Competition. The school honoured all 18 players of the championship-winning team with hockey sticks and certificates of appreciation in recognition of their outstanding achievement. The parents of the team members were also felicitated by Principal by presenting shawls. The team will now represent the school and the Union Territory at the National Level Hockey Championship, carrying forward the aspirations of the entire school community.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohd Qasim, District Youth Sports and Services Officer, Poonch, lauded the efforts of the school administration for consistently supporting and nurturing sports talent among students, and assured continued support from the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
Principal Anwar Khan, addressing the gathering, highlighted the multifaceted importance of sports in life, emphasising how sporting activities instil discipline, promote physical and mental health, and build emotional intelligence among students, and urged students to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship in every walk of life.
Pawan Kumar Sharma, Physical Education Lecturer, spoke at length about the life, career, and legendary achievements of Major Dhyan Chand, popularly known as “The Wizard of Hockey,” inspiring students to emulate his dedication and passion for the game.
In recognition of their contribution to the sporting success of the school, certificates of appreciation were also presented to the officials who conducted the exhibition match and the coaches who trained the champion team.
Sujal Mehra and Navjot Singh, who officiated the match as umpires, were felicitated, along with coaches Pawan Kumar (PEL), Matinderpal Singh (PET), Mr Harmik Singh (PET), and Ramanjot Singh (REK), whose efforts have been instrumental in the team’s success.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks extended to the Chief Guest, guests of honour, staff, students, and all those who contributed to the successful organisation of the programme. The celebration reaffirmed the school’s continued commitment to promoting sports culture and holistic development among its students.