Sports have a paramount significance in the moulding of a student’s life. It develops his/her personality and keeps the body physically fit. It also rejuvenates the mind as it breaks the monotony of a study-filled day. And that is why, at our school Atmiya Vidya Mandir, sports are revered just as highly as academics.

For the reasons aforementioned, the founder of the school, His Divine Holiness Param Pujya Hariprasad Swamiji Maharaj has always emphasised including a variety of sports and games in the school activities.  So, a series of outdoor as well as indoor games are played by the students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Recently, the ‘Inter House Table Tennis Competition’ was hosted in the school — a contest among the four student houses, namely Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram and Suhradam.

The “Inter House Table Tennis Competition 2023-24” was held in the section adjoining the dining hall which is completely devoted to Table Tennis. The entire event was set up by Devang Sir, our school’s table tennis coach, with the assistance of his fellow sports teachers. The setup was magnificent with the coloured flags of all four houses and the figure of a sports person embedded between those colours at the backdrop of the huge table setups. Table Tennis, though not seemingly very physical, but this game helps AVM students in fostering focus and the coordination of mind and body. As in this game, the players try to chase a small ball to hit it accurately, they learn to be quick and thus the sport improves the quality of making correct on-the-spot decision-making. It also helps one of the values Param Pujya Swamishree wants AVM students to adopt – the art of controlling emotions.

The event kicked off on 7th August and ended on 10th August. The finals of all the age groups were fated to be visited by the honourable Sports In Charge and accomplished PE teacher Ritesh Sir and the Hostel In Charge for grades 7th to 12th, respected Ishwar Sir.

Suhradam House stood first in the Sub-Junior group – grades 4th to 6th. Captained by Darshan M. Parekh (Grade 6), its finals with Shivam house were quite intense. Each player had won an equal number of sets, 2 to 2, and when the deciders were going to take place, students from all the other sports started pouring in to watch as the match progressed. The “a little less noise” orders from the referee were muffled under their incessant cheering, the Sub-Juniors showered the most alacrity.

Shivam House bagged first place in the Junior group (grades 7 and 8), under the leadership of Bhaarat N. Bandhiya (grade 8), after vanquishing Sundaram House. Surprisingly, Shivam House’s second player was a 7th grader who played better than any other 8th grader! Satyam House won in the Senior group (grades 9th and 10th) led by Advait J. Patel (grade 10). During the deciders, the two contestants of the houses Satyam and Suhradam looked so fierce that their gaze could have sent a lion running away. As they neared the final points their concentration seemed to affect the audience as well and their “Let’s go Satyam/Suhradam” cheers grew fainter and fainter in anticipation.

Thus, the Inter House Table Tennis Competition finished with Satyam, Shivam and Suhradam house players with an equal overall score of 22 points which had begun with the whoops & cheers of the Sub-Juniors and ended in the tranquil, serene and silent admiration of the Seniors. For AVM students, just like any other inter-house competition, table tennis makes the feelings of oneness grow inside the students. The losing team doesn’t cry or stomp their feet or brood over their loss. Instead, they shake hands with the winning team.

Written by: Aatman Patel (Grade 10)