Students of Delhi Public School at the inauguration of the sports meet in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

P.T. Usha, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal. These female sporting icons were held up by Governor Syed Ahmed on Sunday at the launch of a mega sporting event for girl students in Ranchi.

Around 600 students from across 48 branches of Delhi Public School (DPS) across India assembled at DPS Ranchi for the National Inter-DPS Multi Sports Meet for girls (Under-14), an event of this magnitude held at the capital cradle for the first time since its inception in 1989.

Governor Ahmed, who inaugurated the four-day meet on the school campus, spoke about the zeal to win. He also added: “Sports plays a pivotal role in promoting a child’s physical and mental growth. Since infancy, when a child starts moving his or her hands and feet, it is the beginning of physical exercise.”

The inaugural day saw a distinguished gathering. Present on the occasion were chairman of DPS society, New Delhi, Ashok Chandra, security advisor to the chief minister D.N. Gautam, SAIL executive director (safety organisation) M.K. Bhattacharya and the principal of the host school, J. Mohanty.

Students participating in the sporting events have been divided into groups of 16-20. On Day One, various track and field events were held at Veer Budhu Bhagat Aquatic Stadium at Hotwar. Participants took part in high jump, hurdles, and butterfly race.

Before the games, however, came the fun and the frolic. Participants showcased a variety of cultural programmes at the inauguration.

As many as 200 students in traditional costumes performed a theme dance depicting unity in diversity.

This was followed by dances that took the audience to a pan-Indian journey, as they enjoyed Northeast beats from Nagaland as well as graceful Mohiniyattam moves from Kerala.

Chhau dancers in red and yellow costumes and bright masks, a great hit with children, represented Jharkhand’s rich tradition.

The boys were no less elated at the girls-only event. Sushant Kumar, a student of Class X said they would play the band at the closing. “Our Salvation Army band will play both western and Indian tunes after the track and field events get over,” he beamed.

Lined up off the field are events such as quiz, dance, and mimicry.

The cradle is on a winning streak. Notably, chief minister Arjun Munda had presented the host cradle the trophy for best CBSE school in August.