K. ARUMUGAM
School Games National Championships are popular events among school kids and among aspiring players of various age groups. In fact, its a first step in their sporting career. Various age group category events are being organized by an central body, called School Games Federation of India, abbreviated to popular tag SGFI, every year.
The SGFI Nationals, as they are popularly known, are thus much awaited annual events. The 67th School Games National Championships for hockey were conducted in various cities in the last month of 2023 and in the first fortnight of new year.
The selection trials were conducted over a week in two Training Centres in Delhi (Subhas Nagar & Jilmil) where OTHL schools were encouraged to take part. By and large about 120 of our stakeholders took part, one third being girls. Delhi State’s representative teams were selected for three age groups – Under-14, Under 17 & Under 19.
We had a tremendous success in terms of successful selectees.
OTHL kids sweep selection for National School Games 2023
Over all 18 of our kids got selected, which is a record. So far, hardly 4 or 5 used to get selected mostly because of academic exams season clashing with these events, and lack of interest from school authorities.
However, with the addition of girls in our fold we encouraged every eligible boy and girl to take part in it. We were motivated to do this especially because one of our OTHL Schools have won the State Games (formerly known as Inter-Zone) and our chances of getting selected because of that was bright.
It did happen as expected.
We got our kids in numbers in the Core Group, normally 30 students in each age category. They were put through a month long training. Our stake holders had to go through the camp and we supported them for travel and nutrition.
OTHL girls in the School Games Nationals; over all eight girls were successful in knocking the Delhi doors.
Eight boys made it to the Undr-19 team while 3 girls each in Under-19 and Under-17 age group teams while two boys were in the U-14 team.
Over all 16 of us in the Delhi State teams! This is an OTHL record. We have never crossed single digit so far.
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi gave each selected players sports kit worth Rs.12,000 (A pair of track suit, Jersey, high-end shoes, trolley bag, composite stick etc)
We are happy to list the selected ones.
Under-19
Pankaj Rajak, Himanshu Kumar (GK), Lalit, Priyanshu, Abhishek, Himanshu S/o Dinesh, Pushkar Saini.
Under – 19
Moslima Khatoon
Nasmina Talukdar
Laxmi Kumari
Under-17
Karishma
Sanjana
Rashmi
Satyan and Pigarsh from Rampura school are in the U-14 category
Under-17
Abhishek (Dwarka)
Anil (Ghitorni)
Under-14
Satyam Kumar Sah (Rampura)
Pigarsh Singh (Rampura)
It is worthwhile to note that half of them is being groomed under our flagship KDHPS scholarships, conceived and promoted by our prime volunteer Surjo Dutt.
We wish all the boys good luck in their National Games.
Stay focused, you all have much more to achieve
We thank all Principals, Physical Training Instructors of all these schools and KDHPS and its mentor Surjo Dutt for the feat. And of course, well wishes from volunteers are always our motivation behind every step, every moment.