New Delhi, 17 October (H.S.): The 21st Sports Festival was held with great enthusiasm at the Dwarka campus of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). The three-day sporting event witnessed the participation of more than 80 teams from the university and its affiliated institutions, with over 10,000 participants taking part in various activities.

The festival was inaugurated by Major General Deep Ahlawat, Vice-Chancellor of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University, Meerut. Addressing the gathering, he said that universities were not merely centres of teaching and training but also institutions that prepared future leaders. He observed that sports impart valuable life lessons, inspiring individuals to remain determined to succeed even after setbacks and to strive continuously for self-improvement. He also emphasised the need to promote the latest research in sports education.

Dr. Sunil Dabas, former coach of the Indian women’s kabaddi team, attended the event as a distinguished guest. She said that sports teach individuals to endure pain and that those who learn to withstand hardship never give up in life. She also stressed that, alongside the excitement of competition, accountability was essential in sports. Players, she said, should remain committed to their goals, provided they gave their absolute best to achieve them.

IPU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mahesh Verma said that sports teach people how to navigate difficult circumstances in life. He noted that victory and defeat were two inseparable aspects of life and should be accepted with a positive outlook.

On the occasion, the latest edition of the university’s in-house magazine, ‘U-Focus’, was also released.

The march past was one of the major highlights of the festival. The Army School of Education secured first place, followed by St. Stephen’s Institute of Nursing in second place and the Institute of Technology (IT) in third place.

Professor Meenu Kapoor, Director of the Directorate of Student Welfare at the university, said that the three-day event had brought together more than 80 teams from the university and its affiliated institutions, with participation exceeding 10,000.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar