Bhubaneswar: SAI International on Saturday hosted a gala event to warmly welcome the Indian Men’s Hockey Team. The SAIoneers rejoiced at the advent of the stalwarts of the Indian Hockey Team as they adorned the school campus with their graceful presence.
The legendary players were welcomed by a dynamic dance performance put forth by the SAIoneers on the ‘Jai Ho’ song which conveys the message ‘Let the victory prevail’ in its true essence.
The robust team of skilled players comprising a group of proficient forwards, mid-fielders, defenders & goalkeepers like S Karthi, Nilakanta Sharma, Amit Rohit Das, Abhishek, Sreejesh PR, Sanjay, Pawan, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen and Yashdeep Siwach were accompanied by their manager Anshuman Mishra.
Addressing the eclectic audience, Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Goalkeeper, Indian Men’s Hockey Team, engaged in an amiable banter with the students to motivate them to devote at least half an hour a day towards sports.
He further interacted with them by saying how players are not superhumans; however, what makes them superb is the relentless practice & dedication they exhibit towards their sport.
The team praised the school’s in-depth inclusion of sports in the curriculum which is highly essential for the growth and holistic development of children in today’s times.
The team was delighted to see the welcoming response of the SAIoneers as they kept waving their flags with a strapping sense of pride. The team was gracious enough to indulge in sharing their expertise & skills with the students with some hands-on practice on the school field & appreciated the state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure of the school.
SAIoneers were thrilled to collect autographs & take snaps with the players. Apart from being extremely patient with the small kids, the immensely competent team did not shy away from joining the students for the ‘Ashayein’ song towards the end of the event.
Senior Principal, SAI International School, Nilakantha Panigrahi, humbly welcomed the legendary players and addressed the gathering.
He said, “SAI International is honoured to host the distinguished Indian Hockey Team Players at SAI International, where games and sport-based activities are a dominant part of the curriculum with an interest in providing a meaningful and culturally situated sporting experience to students. Sport in education is among the most popularly implemented and researched pedagogical models worldwide. Hosting such acclaimed players in the school motivates the students and aligns them with the sporting fraternity, thereby providing an array of exposure.”
Chairperson, SAI International Education Group, Dr Silpi Sahoo expressed her appreciation towards the adroit team by saying, “I’m highly obliged that the Hockey players of international fame agreed to address our students, I’m sure our SAIoneers will benefit from their words of wisdom & their pertinent expertise in hockey”.
Referring to the Founder- Chairman, Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, she continued, “Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo was an ardent lover of sports & I’m elated to see his vision of making a Better India through Education being attained with the holistic development of the body, mind, and spirit through the amalgamation of sports and education.”
Hockey and India have been indispensable for each other’s existence and glory. Even after decades, we bask in the glory of the invincible Dhyanchand & we shall forever treasure our crown Dilip Tirky who made it to the international level as the torch bearer of the national team, she said.
“We are indeed grateful to our Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik who has made abiding contributions towards the field of sports, especially hockey, thereby, raising the bar for future generations. SAI International is highly indebted to the Indian Hockey Team for taking the time to interact with the sports enthusiasts of the school & further encourage the youth to consider pursuing sports as a career by uplifting their spirits,” she added.
