Thalassery Amrita Vidyalayam was bestowed with the honor of hosting this year’s C.B.S.E South Zone Judo Championship. The school played the perfect hosts and the event was conducted with clockwise precision. Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Shiny Wilson, both well known and renowned athletes, graced the occasion with their presence.
The South Zone consists of 1200 schools from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Students from schools in these areas actively participated in the championship. The height and weight of each student was observed and recorded for later categorization into groups.
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| Do I weigh enough? |
Apart from being a platform for the students to exhibit their talents, the event also was an opportunity for them to interact and get acquainted with students from other states and observe their culture. It was a heartening sight indeed to see students from varied backgrounds discussing and interacting in harmony with each other, be it in practice sessions or during the breaks.
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| New friends, new places….a peek into the bigger world! |
The guests were ushered into the venue preceded by the school band. The ceremony commenced with the lighting of the lamp and was followed by the school representatives taking the pledge of sporting participation. What followed was a gripping demonstration of the student’s martial skills which kept everyone enthralled.
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| Awaiting the Dignitaries…. |
Mr. Wilson took the guard of honor as the participants from all the schools marched past the hoisted flag. Next followed a closely matched competition between the schools. The duels were conducted between equally matched students, categorized according to the weight.
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| The much anticipated moment. |
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Lets begin with the prayer. |
By the time the championship started, the children had bonded up well with each other and the atmosphere was set for a show of martial art skills from the best students of the art in each region. The children took up the challenges in good spirits without any hint of hostility or rivalry, but fought nevertheless with the keenest and intense desire to win.
The school premises was filled with spectators from the general public, parents, school mates and coaches. The atmosphere was charged with the contestant’s team shouting their voice hoarse with words of encouragement for the ones battling it out. The games of both girls and boys were followed eagerly by the crowd.
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| Preparation for combat! |
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The Action…. |
At the closing ceremony, cultural programs were organized for the participants to relax after the intense competition. Each and every small facility or convenience that may crop up suddenly was foreseen and arranged by the school, ranging from first aid personnel to changing rooms.
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The two days left a unique imprint upon the children’s and staff’s mind alike, opening them to new vistas and culture. Young students in the competitive mood, yet in an ambiance of sportsmanship, dueled their best to prove their mettle. It was an event, from where the lessons learnt would see them through many such contests through their life under the sky. |
| A display of the art. |
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