Former CPS Sohan Lal Thakur Inaugurated Grand Opening of District-Level Under-14 Boys Tournament at Sundernagar in Mandi.
Shimla:
Former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and senior Congress leader from Sundernagar, Sohan Lal Thakur, congratulated the organizers, participating schools, teachers and young athletes on the grand inauguration of the District-Level Under-14 Boys Sports Tournament (District Mandi U-14 Boys Tournament) at PM SHRI Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sundernagar (CBSE) in Mandi district today.
Thakur said the tournament had begun with an atmosphere of enthusiasm, energy and true sporting spirit. He described the opening ceremony as a grand beginning to an important district-level sporting event that brings together young players from different schools across Mandi district.
The inaugural ceremony was formally commenced with ceremonial lamp lighting and flag hoisting in the presence of the chief guest Sohan Lal Thakur and other distinguished guests. The participating teams also took part in an impressive march past, showcasing discipline, confidence, unity and sportsmanship.
Thakur highlighted the importance of sports in the overall development of students, stating that sporting activities are a powerful means of promoting discipline, hard work, teamwork and character building. He said that competitions at the district level provide young players with an opportunity to demonstrate their talent, gain valuable competitive experience and develop a spirit of healthy competition.
He also extended his best wishes to all the young participants and encouraged them to participate in the tournament with dedication, discipline and a positive sporting attitude. He emphasized that winning and losing are part of competitive sport, while maintaining sportsmanship, mutual respect and fair play should remain central to every competition.
The inaugural function was attended by several prominent education and sports personalities, including Principal Om Prakash, ADPO District Mandi Shyam Lal, State Observer Vijay Kumar (PET), State Media In-charge Chanchal Kumar and others.
The stage proceedings were conducted by Satish Kumar, who efficiently handled the programme and contributed to the smooth conduct of the inaugural ceremony.
Thakur appreciated the efforts of the organizing committee, participating schools, physical education teachers, guiding staff and officials for facilitating the tournament. He also congratulated the young players for their participation and wished them success in their forthcoming matches.
He said that such sporting events play an important role in encouraging students to remain physically active while simultaneously developing qualities such as perseverance, discipline, leadership and teamwork.
The district-level tournament is expected to provide a competitive platform for Under-14 boys from schools across Mandi district to showcase their sporting abilities and interact with fellow young athletes.
Concluding his statement, Sohan Lal Thakur conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the organizers, teachers and all participating players and expressed hope that the tournament would be conducted successfully in the spirit of fair play, discipline and sportsmanship.
