Ranchi, Dec. 24: Monali Sarkhel of Class IX was declared the best athlete of the year during the annual athletics meet of DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shayamli today.
The sports event was celebrated with great pomp and show amid the colourful cultural show at MECON SAIL stadium.
Monali is also the vice-captain of the school. She said, ?I have been selected twice for sub-junior national badminton championship held at Chandigarh (2004) and the junior national badminton championship held at Goa (2004) and also for the all-India CBSE national badminton championship held at Chennai (2004). I also became Jharkhand state badminton champion in 2004.?
She idolises national badminton champion Prakash Padukone and wants to take training under his guidance after completing her studies.
The platoons of boys and girls marched in synchronisation with with the school band, which was presented for the first time in school history.
They were also accompanied by the 21 Bihar regiment.
Secretary of human resource department chief guest A.K. Singh said the biggest challenge, which the students were facing, is the crisis of character.
Apart from academics, virtues should be inculcated in the students.
Each one has to develop excellence in life and he urged the students to plant trees.
He also asked the school management to start a new branch for the poor section of society.
School principal D.R. Singh expressed pride in the success of ex-student and cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has been included in the Indian cricket team.
He congratulated the students for their excellent performance in the various fields of activities. The colourful cultural programme kicked off with programme titled, ?Sparkling delight? presented by pre-primary students.
Tiny tots, held colourful pompoms and hooplas. Students of upper primary section showcased Rajasthani Navrang.
Boys in white pyjama kurta with bandhej dupatta and girls in multicoloured chuniri print lehanga choli depicted the joy during the arrival of rain, which is rare sight in Rajasthan.
The students of class VI showcased drill praying for an orderly world.
There was also a set of freehand exercises, which culminated in a surya namaskar that was performed at the backdrop of shlaka chant.
