by Vimal Deverkiya and Sophiya Bhabor for BIS Mumbai

The state-level Table Tennis tournament was held in the Datiya district of Madhya Pradesh from September 20 to 24, 2024. Two students from Don Bosco Academy, Alirajpur who consistently won all the qualifying matches, have made the school and the district proud by getting a gold medal each at the state tournament.  With fierce competition and remarkable skills on display, the dedication and passion of the participants was seen. It is really a very proud moment for the school since both of these students won the Gold medal in their respective age groups. 

In the under-14 girls’ tournament, Avika Gupta- student of 9th std brought home the gold. Her agility and strategic play impressed both the audience and the judges, leading her to a well-deserved victory in the final. Her hard work and determination have set a high standard for aspiring young players. In the under-17 girls’ tournament, Himani Rathod, a student of 9th std put on a splendid performance to win the gold medal. Her powerful strokes and quick reflexes allowed her to dominate her opponents throughout the tournament. Her victory in the final match was a testament to her skill and perseverance, making her a role model for other young athletes.

A big word of congratulations to Sir Amjad Shaikh, the head of the sports department at Don Bosco Alirajpur for motivating, encouraging the students to get better every year. The long hours of post school practices in the evening have borne fruit. Mr Ayush Thepadiya, the Table-Tennis coach of the school, a former state champion player, was instrumental in getting home the gold medal. Ms Ralee Kalesh accompanied the girls and was their strength right through this victorious journey.

Congratulations to Avika Gupta and Himani Rathod for their outstanding performances and for bringing pride to their families, to Don Bosco Academy and to the entire district. May this achievement be the starting point for many more golds to be achieved in the future.