FLEXING MUSCLES ON SPORTS DAY

Pathways School Noida had its annual athletics meet, a day that’s looked forward to by one and all and not just because there are no classes! While the Day always belongs to those blessed with athletic grace and fitness, this year began a little differently or should one say more inclusively. Class 4 children opened the event - after the walk-past and the unfurling of the school flag – with a display of yoga asana, reminding us that physical dexterity is also about mental wholeness -Yoga, of course, the ancient Indian tradition that combines both.  These little yogis and yoginis were poised, flexible and very cute to say the least. This was followed by a dazzling display of gymnastics and zumba by the agile students of Grade 6 & 7.

Our special guest this year was none other than Mohammed Azharuddin, a cricketing great, best known for his ‘wristy action’. He began his career in 1984 with a century, going on to play ninety-nine more tests that wowed people at home and abroad. We also had two other guests – Martin Uzorma Ndukwe, the technical head of IOT Arsenal in the Delhi, NCR and Danny Walson, the technical head of IOT Arsenal Soccer School.

And finally it was time for the real stars, those taking part in the races, high jump, shot put and other forms of athletics. Of course they had all been training intensely up to the event and on this day had a chance to showcase their prowess, beat others’ and sometimes their own records.  Cheered on lustily (the fans too had been training their vocal chords) by their Houses, the athletes gave us a most exciting, last minute pipped to the post type dramas that all good verities of life are filled with.

      The best athlete awards in each category were as follows:

1.  Prabhir Bal                        Form 3 Boys Advance
2.       Noura Bhatia                    Form 3 Girls Advance
3.       Euihyun Peak                    Form 3 Boys Intermediate
4.       Gauuri Singh                     Form 3 Girls Intermediate
5.       Vivaan Sen                        Form 4 Boys Advance
6.       Arya Varma                       Form 4 Girls Advance
7.       Hardit Bal                         Form 4 Boys Intermediate
8.       Kimaya Bahri                    Form 4 Girls Intermediate
9.       David Abraham                  Form 5 Boys Advance
10. Suhani Goyal                    Form 5 Girls Advance
11.   Avish Khandelwal              Form 5 Boys Intermediate
12.   Bhavya Balaji                    Form 5 Girls Intermediate
13.   Madhav Gupta                   Form 6 Boys
14.   Iha Jha                              Form 6 Girls
15.   Devmay Dewan                 Form 7 Boys
16.   Aadi Singh                        Form 7 Boys
17.   Varsha Pandanda               Form 7 Girls
18.   Paarth Kohli                      Form 8 Boys
19.   Arti Khurana                     Form 8 Girls
20.   Vedant Chauhan                Form 9 & 10 Boys
21.   Sarah Khungar                  Form 9 & 10 Girls
22.   Tanishq Mathur                 Form 11 & 12 Boys
23.   Zahra Khan                       Form 11 & 12 Girls

Also worth special celebration was Mirza Yusuf Beg who set a new school record for high jump.

And the fiercely competed for Champion House trophy went to FIRE HOUSE

But of course no great event can be one without the contribution of teachers and parents. The hundred-meter parents and teachers race was so popular that they had to have several rounds to accommodate everyone. Let’s not mention the fact that both before and after, the lines at the Dunkin’ Donut and Dominoes counters were long, despite the Pathways caterers having taken the edge off things with copious supplies of tea, coffee and snacks.

The weather was perfect, the day great, because there was so much to cheer about!!