Students do the jig at the annual sports meet of Sachidanand Gyan Bharati Model School in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Dec. 28: Spirits ran high and the competition was fierce as students vied with each other in several track events during the annual sports day celebration at Sachidanand Gyan Bharati Model School today. The fun quotient was no less.

The chief guest on the occasion was Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, while the guest of honour was G.N.S Munda, member, technical, Jharkhand State Electricity Board.

While addressing the huge gathering of teachers and students, Sahay said it did not matter if one lost or won. “Participation is the main thing. So, we should not lose heart if we are unable to win medals,” he said.

A colourful programme by the tiny tots was the main draw of the sports meet.

Nursery students presented a dance item, Barbie doll, while the students of Class I to III sang a song from Taare Zameen Par.

“We were inspired by the movie so much that we decided that our children should present an item from it. The aim was to spread message among the parents, urging them to treat the special children with more care and affection,” said principal of the school, Monica Srivastava.

While the juniors clearly stole the show, the seniors earned a lot of appreciation, too, through the presentation of a drill dance.

“The display of rainbow colours at the backdrop of music was the best part of the show. It took me back to my childhood days,” said Menu Singh, a parent.

The other events were biscuit race, flat race, shoelace race, maths race, flat race, walking race, relay race, sack race, balance race, frog race and three-legged race.

Priyanka Kumari, who bagged the first prize in 100m walking race in the senior girls’ category, said she had been participating in sports since a tender age.

“The most enjoyable track event is the walking race, which keeps both body and mind fit,” she said.

Rahul, who won the 50m sack race in senior category, picked the frog race as his favourite event.

“It’s a lot of fun as we have to leap like a frog.”