Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 16: Manipal School, Mangaluru hosted the annual sports meet, Kaushalya Utsav, on November 30th at the Marena Sports Complex, Attavar. The event was conducted in two shifts, with displays and sports activities for grade IV to grade XII in the morning and nursery to grade III students in the evening.
The opening ceremony of the morning event commenced with the guard of honor by school band and cabinet members escorting the chief guest Pradeep Kumar Acharya, a gold medalist at the commonwealth powerlifting championship 2024 and the general manager of Kasharp Fitness, Mangaluru, to the dais. The event was also graced by Dr Dilip G Naik, pro-vice chancellor, MAHE, Mangaluru campus, Dr Vishwas Saralaya, associate professor and sports cordinator, KMC Mangaluru; principal Srilatha S Alva, vice principal Shilpa Moger, headmistress Sapna Shetty, PTA president Sachin K J, vice-president Sunita Furtado and Rajeev Mallinje, director of Physical Education, KMC, Mangaluru.
The day started off with the melodious rendition of the school anthem by the choir, filling the atmosphere with pride and enthusiasm. The lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the dispelling of ignorance and the ushering in of knowledge, was carried out with great respect. The school captain Ruhan D Kotian delivered the welcome address. This was followed by safety guidelines by the health safety and child protection captain, Maanya L. The inter-house march past, a highly competitive event where the four houses- Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Topaz marched with pride led by their respective house captains was next. Then the Sport meet was officially declared open by hoisting the school flag and introducing the mascot of the event - Cheetah, which symbolizes speed, strength, and determination. The athletes took an oath to follow true sportsmanship and abide by the game rules led by the sports captain Samanya Vinu Kannan. Another highlight of the opening ceremony was the torch relay led by School Captain Ruhaan who passed on the torch to house captains, athletes who have won medals and accolades in various sports events and finally to the sports captain Samanya who handed over the torch to the chief guest.
This was followed by the presentation of the annual school report by the principal Srilatha Alva highlighting the various achievements and events in the current academic session and sharing of school experience by Nakshatra, a student of Grade 10.
In her introduction of the chief guest, the vice-principal Shilpa Moger recounted the various achievements of Pradeep Kumar Acharya in the field of athletics.
In his inspiring speech, the chief guest Pradeep Kumar Acharya emphasized that the courage to participate holds greater value than merely winning. He highlighted that children have two paths to success: excelling in academics or pursuing their passion in skills, and either should be encouraged wholeheartedly. The chief guest also stressed that nurturing a passion for sports not only fosters discipline and teamwork but also helps children steer away from excessive use of electronic devices, promoting a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
The guest of honour, Dr Dilip G Naik, the pro vice-chancellor of MAHE, Mangaluru campus, then addressed the gathering. He emphasized the importance of holistic development through sports, blending physical fitness with academic growth. He appreciated the unique approach of Manipal School, where every student is encouraged to participate in Sports Day activities. He concluded by affirming that each participant is a winner, celebrating their efforts and spirit of participation.
Next, the audience witnessed various displays like Yoga, Dumbbells, Hoops, Dandiya stick dance, Ribbons, Zumba and Flag display which then made way for the highly awaited athletic events where competitiveness among the students soared high. The closing ceremony began with the prize distribution of various events. The overall house trophy was bagged by the Ruby House and individual championship trophies were conferred upon Samanya (Grade 10), Rouhan (Grade 10), Zubeen (Grade 11) and Sheza (Grade 12). The morning event concluded with a vote of thanks by the sports captain, Samanya Vinu Kannan.
The chief guest for the evening show of Kaushalya Utsav was Dr Ramandeep Kaur, professor and head of the department, speech pathology at Father Muller College of Speech and Hearing, and director of Speranza Inspiring Communication, Mangaluru. She was escorted with a guard of honour by the school cabinet and the school band. The school choir invoked the blessings of Lord Almighty with the soulful prayer song followed by the lighting of the traditional lamp. Mivaan of grade 3 delivered a welcome speech, setting the tone for the day. The chief guest was then introduced to the audience by the headmistress, Sapna S Shetty. This was followed by the presentation of annual school report by the principal, Srilatha Alva. Daksh P Jain of Grade 10 paid tribute to the school with his emotional speech, following which the chief guest Dr Ramandeep Kaur addressed the gathering. She captivated the audience with an inspiring story of a frog that, through determination and focus, steadily reached the top of a pit, teaching the lesson of persistence and resilience. She emphasized that children are natural imitators, and hence it is crucial to provide them with perfect role models. Quoting 'Jab jago tabhi savera', she reminded everyone that it is never too late to make positive changes in life.
Display of rhythmic drills performed by students of nursery to grade 2 enthralled the audience. A unique Karate display by the students of Grade 3 captivated the audience, showcasing a perfect blend of energetic rhythm and stamina of students. Parents were thrilled to see their tiny tots perform to power-packed music in their vibrant costumes and props.
This was followed by prize distribution for the various sports events conducted throughout the month of November where the prize winners were accoladed with medals and certificates. The official event wrapped up with a vote of thanks proposed by Diya Ashok Kumar of grade 3.
The parent feedback session by Raksha Nair, parent of Rishit S Nair and Divyant Nayak, parent of Reyansh Nayak offered valuable insights into the event’s organization and school culture.
Thanvi Amin and Bilal Mohammed of grade 12 compered the morning session, while Marwan and Dhriti L of grade 3 took the stage for the evening session ensuring the smooth transition between events.
Overall Manipal School’s annual sports day - Kaushalya Utsav was an event filled with sportsmanship, enthusiasm and memories to cherish. It was an evidence to the school’s commitment to holistic education, emphasizing the importance of physical fitness, teamwork, and perseverance.