Jalandhar September 12 (Jaswinder Singh Azad)- The NSS Wing and the Department of Physical Education of Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, organised the Major Dhyan Chand Tournament to commemorate National Sports Day and to pay tribute to the legendary hockey icon, Major Dhyan Chand.
Nearly 250 students from various departments of the college participated in the event with remarkable zeal and enthusiasm. The tournament sought to revive traditional games such as Kabaddi, Pittu, Kho-Kho, Stapu, Chaturanga, Chess, and Carrom—games that have long been an integral part of Indian culture but are gradually receding into the background.
Sharing her thoughts, Principal Dr. Neerja Dhingra stated, “The prime purpose of this tournament is to rekindle interest in the indigenous games which once formed the essence of our cultural fabric. Sports have always been an indispensable part of life. While they bring joy and recreation, they also ensure physical fitness and mental resilience. A sound body indeed shelters a sound mind, and physical well-being becomes a prerequisite for inner clarity. Sports, therefore, play a transformative role in the holistic growth of individuals.”
Inter-departmental teams were formed under the names of celebrated sports persons such as Abhinav Bindra, P.V. Sindhu, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Mary Kom, Neeraj Chopra, and Viswanathan Anand. Competitions were conducted across various games, and the results were as follows:
In Kabaddi, the Commerce Department team secured the first position, while the Humanities Department team attained the second. In Kho-Kho (Boys), the Commerce Department claimed the first place and the Computer Department stood second, whereas in Kho-Kho (Girls), the Commerce Department again achieved the first position followed by the Humanities Department in the second. In Pittu (Girls), the Design Department won the first place, while the Commerce Department secured the second.
Commerce Department outshone its rivals to earn the first position
In Tug of War (Boys), the Computer Department demonstrated strength to clinch the first position, leaving the Commerce Department in the second. In Tug of War (Girls), the Commerce Department outshone its rivals to earn the first position, with the Humanities Department following in the second.
In Carrom (Boys), Shaksham attained the first position, Ankit stood second, and Manthan claimed the third. Among the girls, Kanishka excelled to secure the first position, Mahi stood second, and Mannat was placed third. In Chess, Aditya Malhotra displayed excellent skill to earn the top spot, followed by Kashik Marwaha in the second and Vaibhav Taneja in the third. In Stapu, Parul claimed the first position, while Navya Arora and Aashna bagged the second and third respectively.
The victorious students were honoured with medals. The Commerce Department team emerged as the overall winner of the tournament and was conferred the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Overall Championship Trophy.
Dr. Dhingra also extended her appreciation to Dr. Simkee Dev, Dean of NSS, and Mr. Sahil Mahay, faculty of Physical Education, for their committed efforts in successfully organising the event and expressed confidence that such endeavours will continue to enrich the student community in the future.