KV Sangathan’s five-day sports meet commences

The 53rd National Sports Meet of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) commenced with a grand opening ceremony at Lovely Professional University (LPU) today. The event brings together 1,114 athletes — 460 boys and 654 girls — from 25 KVS regions across the country.

The inauguration was graced by former IPS officer and Hockey Olympian Surendra Singh Sodhi, who served as the chief guest. Special guests included Dr Saurabh Lakhanpal, Senior Dean of the Student Welfare Division at LPU and Preeti Saxena, Deputy Commissioner of KVS Regional Office, Chandigarh.

The ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the lamp and flag hoisting, followed by a march past by the 25 contingents of participating regions. Chief guest Sodhi took the salute and later addressed the students, emphasising the crucial role sports play in a student’s life. He lauded the KVS for its commitment to fostering sports and highlighted LPU’s exceptional facilities as a catalyst for encouraging widespread participation in sports nationwide.

The event also featured cultural performances by schoolchildren that captivated the audience. The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by PC Tewari, Assistant Commissioner of KVS Regional Office, Chandigarh, followed by the national anthem.

Over the next five days, the sports meet will feature intense competitions in kho-kho, badminton and shooting, showcasing the energy and enthusiasm of young athletes from across the country.