A Sporting Story

(A speech that was given in Hostel, by me when there was a function in the Hostel after the Sports and Cultural meet, which is an annual affair.)

It was near you-in the hurried trotting of footsteps. It was in the corridor- in the haphazard rhythm of the ball bouncing on the floor. It was in the shouts- of ecstasy in a point won, of agony when a muscle strained and of one of the senior most hostel teacher urging us to be punctual measuring time itself by snapping his fingers. It was in the murmurs- of strategies evolved and strengths analyzed. It was in the mind- fervent prayers coupled with self belief. All these were signs. Unmistakable signs. The final confirmation was in the air around last week, in the stench that wafted out of the footwear.
“Sporting Days were here again.”

It is a season where academics allow itself to be overtaken, classes by excuses and the child in everyone peeps out. The season of THE ANNUAL SPORTS AND CULTURAL MEET – a phrase whose only meaning is exhilarating entertainment blended with plentiful pleasure. This season saw a wonderful clash between the two houses in UG. House ‘C’ led by the might of Sonti and the guile of Vamsee managed to pull above House ‘D’ led by dextrous SSA and chivalrous Shravan. It was quite a neck to neck finish in the PG arena as well where House ‘B’ led by versatile Vipin and crafty Kaivalya edged out fierce competition from House ‘A’ led by Herculean Giddi and athletic Arun.

All the tremendous skill that hovers around this place culminated in a performance that would make even the non-connoisseur’s eye watch without batting the lid on Jan 11th. The display could cater to all sorts of tastes. May it be the expectation of outstanding acrobatics and athleticism or musical and balletic aestheticism. All were left enthralled and awestruck at the end of the day. We stood in sincere prayer at the end thanking Him for helping us meet all the challenges that we had to overcome during this season and make a majestic presentation.

We must have gained so much from those challenges and learnt lessons that could be taught in no other form. Challenges brings the best out of Man for one poet said
“The brook would lose its song if God removed the rocks.”