Udupi District-level School Athletic Meet begins with a colourful note
Udupi: The first ever District-level, three-day long School Athletic Meet hosted by St Lawrence Educational Institutions in association with the District administration commenced with a grand procession and inaugural function on October 9. A large number of students from St Lawrence Educational Institutions, teachers and members of Women’s Organization of St Lawrence Parish (women organization) and Shri Khestra Dharmasthala Self Help Group with ’Kalasas’ participated in the procession accompanied by the school band and ’chende’.
Fr Clement Mascarenhas, Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions flagged off the procession from the premises of the Church Aided Higher Primary School at 9:00 am. The procession passed through the main road of Moodubelle, entered the main gate of the church, passed through the road by the side of the cemetery and entered the St Lawrence PU College ground.
The ground was prepared for the mega event. A gigantic stage was erected for the grand inaugural function that began at 9:45 am. The inaugural function was presided over by Vinay Kumar Sorake-MLA of Kaup Constituency. Other dignitaries on the dais included Dinakar Babu President of Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Dr Lawrence D’Souza Secretary of CESU, Sheela K Shetty Vice President of Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Nalini Pradeep Rao President of Udupi Taluk Panchayat, Wilson Rodrigues Member of Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Ranjani Hegde-President of Belle Grama Panchayat, Sujata Suvarna-Member of Udupi Taluk Panchayat, Fr Clement Mascarenhas-Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions, Fr Denis D’Sa-PRO of Udupi Diocese, Fr Alphonse D’Lima-Rector of Diocesan Minor Seminary, Fr Lawrence Cutinha-Assistant Parish Priest, Rajesh M V-Assistant General Manager, Syndicate Bank Udupi, Mukund Kamat-Businessman, Moodubelle, Vincent Fernandes-Vice President of Parish Council, Gerald Fernandes-President of PTA, A K Alva-Former Vice President of Parish Council, Shekar-Deputy Director of Department of Public Education, Udupi, Venkatesh Nayak-Udupi Zonal Education Officer, Madhukar S -District Physical Education Officer, Shekar Gowda C. Patil-Udupi Taluk Physical Education Officer, Leena D’Silva-Headmistress of St Lawrence Kannada Medium High School, Veera Fernandes-Headmistress of St Lawrence English Medium High School, Sr Irene Viegas-Headmistress of Church Aided Higher Primary School and Valerian Crasta-Secretary of District School Athletics Organizing Committee.
Prior to the beginning of the formal inaugural function, athletes from five zones- Byndoor, Kundapur, Brahmavar, Udupi and Karkala assembled in the ground and conducted the march past. Wilson Rodrigues received the salute from the athletes during the march past.
Soon after the march past, Dinakara Babu hoisted the Udupi District Athletics meet flag. Thereafter the sports flame was brought to the ground and was taken to the stage where the guests raised it and handed it over to Shreya Acharya Moodubelle, an old student of the institution who is a national level volleyball player. On arriving at the flame stand she handed over the flame to Mukunda Kamat, one of the chief donors who lit the stand with the flame.
The stage function began with the prayer song sung by the students of St Lawrence PU College. Thereafter, Shekar, Deputy Director of Public Education, Udupi District welcomed the gathering.
Madhukar S Udupi District Physical Education Officer in his introductory remarks said that in view of the advancing National School Athletics Meet from January 2018, the state-level and district-level school athletics meet had to be held in advance. Around 600 athletes from five zones of the district are participating in the District Level School Athletics Meet out of which 120 athletes will represent the district at the state-level competitions that will be held in Belagavi on 16 and 17 October 2017 for secondary level and at Bengaluru for the primary level. While secondary level athletes would participate in 17 track and field games, primary school athletes will compete in 10 events. The National Level School Athletics Championship will be held at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from 5 to 12 November 2017.
The District-level School Athletics Meet was formally inaugurated by the dignitaries by releasing the tricolour balloons which flew high in the sky to the amazement of all those who were present on the ground.
Atish Kumar, tenth standard student and athlete from St Lawrence Kannada Medium High School, Moodubelle took the aoth on behalf of all the athletes participating in the competition.
Chandrashekar Shetty Gujjadi took the oath on behalf of all the Physical Education teachers who will be supervising the competitions.
In his message, Dr Lawrence D’Souza, Secretary of CESU said that in this age of competition, sports is one field that brings out the best in the sportsmen and women. It is common knowledge that defeat is difficult to digest. However, sports should enable each and everyone to take victory and defeat in a sportsman spirit and promote human values.
Dinakara Babu, President of Udupi Zilla Panchayat in his address said that all those students who would qualify and win in the state and national level athletics meet will be felicitated by the Udupi Zilla Panchayat.
Sheela K Shetty, Vice President of Udupi Zilla Panchayat and Nalini Pradeep Rao, President of Udupi Taluk Panchayat encouraged the athletes to perform well in the competitions.
After honouring the donors who had contributed more than Rs 50,000 towards the expenses of the athletics meet, Fr Clement Mascarenhas expressed gratitude to all those who had helped in organizing the District Level School Athletics Meet under the auspices of St Lawrence Educational Institutions, especially the education department, heads of the institutions and their staff members and generous donors.
On the occasion, Vinay Kumar Sorake felicitated Acharya Moodubelle, the National-level volleyball player for her achievements.
In his presidential address, Vinaya Kumar Sorake complimented Fr Clement Mascarenhas and all the staff members and donors for hosting the athletics meet. He further said that Udupi District has been known in the country as one of the leading districts in education, especially for the SSLC and PUC results. Our country has been known for religious and cultural diversities. However, sports is such a field where all these differences melt and everyone strives towards performing his or her best and bring honour to his or her district, state and country.
Three zones which were judged as per their performance during the march past were honoured by presenting trophies by the dignitaries. They were: Baindoor-Third Place, Brahmavar-Second Place and Udupi-First Place.
Leena D’Sa, Headmistress of St Lawrence Kannada Medium High School delivered the vote of thanks.
Satischandra Shetty, Physical Education Teacher of Chitrapadi School, Saligrama, Maxim D’Sa-President of Old Students Association and Edward Larsen D’Souza-Lecturer of Political Science of St. Lawrence PU College compeered the programme.