The two-day annual sports event has started at Shanti Niketan School at Parsyang, Pokhara.

The program was inaugurated by Tej Bahadur Gurung, the central vice-president of the Nepal Olympic Committee, who signed the banner and handed over a ball to event coordinator Suraj Adhikari.

Chief Guest Gurung emphasized the importance of engaging students in sports alongside their academic studies, pointing out that parents should motivate their children in this regard.

He stated, “Sports are not just about winning; participation itself is crucial. Rather than focusing only on loosing others, the essence of sports is to struggle to improve oneself, become disciplined, stay healthy and learn cooperation.” He added, “Parents should encourage their children to play. It’s not just about how many marks we get at the end of the year.”

Gurung also mentioned that sports teach resilience, helping individuals to face life’s challenges and emotional ups and downs. He emphasized that sports do not discriminate based on caste, religion, or class, and foster a sense of equality. He advised against comparing children with others, as such comparisons might make them feel inferior and lose self-confidence.

“I used to enjoy sports as a child too. I never thought I would represent my country as a national athlete. It was platforms like this that helped me become a handball team captain. Since then, I have remained active in sports organizations, serving as the central president of the Handball Association and vice-president of the South Asian Handball Federation, as well as vice-president of the Olympic Committee,” Gurung recalled about his sports journey.

The Founder Principal of the school, Dr. Maheshwar Parajuli, emphasized that a healthy body and mind are crucial for gaining knowledge, and thus, the school has always given equal importance to sports alongside academics.

“As long as students are not mentally and physically healthy, their lives will not be healthy either. To excel in both education and sports, children should be dedicated from a young age. This is why, we regularly organize such events,” Dr. Parajuli said.

He also highlighted the achievements of Shanti Niketan students at national levels, such as Sangharsh Chapain, who won a silver medal in judo karate representing Nepal in Japan, and Selina Gurung, who also won a silver medal in archery at a competition in Taiwan.

Dr. Parajuli expressed confidence that students of Shanti Niketan will continue to bring honor to the school through their excellent performance, not just in academics but also in extracurricular and sports activities.

School Advisor Somnath Bhurtyal expressed his happiness over the school’s progress, especially from the parents’ perspective.

Krishna Mani Bhurtyal, Chairman of the School Management Committee, shared that the entire school community—management, teachers, parents, and students—was proud of the school’s outstanding achievements.

Journalist Kamal Paudel Athak emphasized that along with academic knowledge, students need additional skills and experiences. He explained that events like these, which include sports, singing, dancing, and arts, help in unlocking their hidden talents.

The event was also attended by vice-principal Yadubilas Bhurtyal, exam co-ordinator Hem Subedi and others.

The two-day sports competition includes volleyball, football, table tennis, chess, shot put, and other events. A total of 290 medals will be awarded. The competition is being held in various categories: Senior (grades 6-9), Primary Senior (grades 3-5), Primary Junior (grades 1-2), Pre-Primary Junior (Nursery-UKG), and Pre-Nursery.

At the opening ceremony, a fun spoon race was organized for the parents, with the winners being recognized: Riku Devkota took first place, Sunita Bhandari came second, and Durga Subedi claimed third.