Govt school students sans coaches shine in skating

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 16

Government school students have been taking part in ‘skating’, ‘swimming’and skipping rope, some newly introduced events in the district-level primary school games. The games are proving to be a big boost to the students. Also, the students do not even have coaches to train them. Still, they are taking part in the games. Also, most of the government schools did not have proper facilities for skating, but the students managed to mark their presence by participating and showcasing good performances.

The games are being held in Adampur where students from private and government schools from as many as 17 blocks are participating. The games that started on October 14 will end on October 16. Skating and swimming events are being held at a private school.

As per information, nearly 120 students from each block have been taking part in the games.

Officials said the teachers managed well in a short time.

“Private school students were trained, but the government school students will take time to learn properly as they don’t have a proper coach, thus they get trained by their teachers only,” an official said.

Sukhwinder Singh, head teacher of Government Primary School, Johal, who has been giving training to his students since last year, said first getting himself and then parents convinced to get the students ‘trained’ in skating was not easy.

“I always remained wary that no students suffer during the learning process. I started learning from YouTube to learn the basics of the game and then I also met other professional students and players and also talked to private coaches just to polish my own skills first,” the teacher said, adding that he started with only two students and then asked them to perform in front of other students so that they get motivated and gradually, the parents also showed involvement. “And since then, the journey has been continuing,” the teacher said.

Other games

Kho-kho, kabaddi, football, yoga, gymnastics, karate, skipping rope, badminton, athletics — 100m, 200m, 400m and 600m, discus throw and long jump are other games which are part of the district-level games.