Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 16: The 145th Annual Sports Meet 2024, held at St Aloysius PU College on November 15, was marked by enthusiasm, vibrant energy, and a competitive spirit. The college, known for its commitment to physical education, provides ample opportunities for students to excel in athletics and foster physical fitness, discipline, and camaraderie.
The event began with a vibrant parade by students from 61 batches, accompanied by NCC army, navy, and air wing cadets. The creative placards highlighted themes such as UAP (Universal Apostolic Preferences), KPAP (Karnataka Province Apostolic Preferences), and messages promoting social concerns, environmental conservation, and harmony.
Alwyn Saldanha, the convenor of the sports meet, welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest. The chief guest, Manju Machettira, a national-level athlete and assistant administrative officer at LIC of India, Bantwal, received the salute of honour from the parade alongside Fr Melwin Pinto SJ, rector of St Aloysius Institutions.
The sporting festivities commenced with a symbolic torch run, symbolising unity and teamwork, followed by the chief guest declaring the meet open.
In his address, Machettira expressed pride in returning to his alma mater and praised the efforts of the participants, physical directors, and faculty in making the event a success. Rector Fr Melwin Pinto SJ highlighted the importance of nurturing talent that could represent the college and the nation on prestigious platforms.
Presiding over the function, Fr Melwin Pinto SJ praised the participants for their exceptional performance in the march past, calling it the finest he had ever witnessed. He urged students to inspire and support their peers during the events and encouraged them to emulate the achievements of the chief guest. He emphasised the importance of nurturing top-tier athletes who could represent the college and the nation at state, national, and international levels.
The sports secretary, Simone D’Souza, led the oath-taking ceremony, and the event proceeded with a series of athletic competitions where students demonstrated their skills, determination, and sportsmanship. The day concluded with a prize distribution ceremony recognizing winners of various events and the best-performing march past contingent.
Also present on dais were, finance officer, Fr Pradeep Sequeira SJ; campus minister, Fr Anthony Derrick SJ; vice-principals, Muralikrishna G M and Vilma Fernandes; dean of science, Kiran Shetty; physical directors, Naveen Kumar and Usha A J; and the sports secretaries, Simone D’Souza and Sandeep Antony. Niha Fahim compered the programme and delivered the vote of thanks.
In the I PU category, batch 24 secured the overall championship, with batch 27 as runners-up. In the II PU category, batch 24 again emerged victorious, followed by batch 23 in second place.
The principal, Fr Clifford Sequeira SJ, formally declared the annual sports meet closed during the closing ceremony.
In his address, he applauded the winners for their hard work and commitment, emphasizing that their achievements reflected resilience and perseverance. To the participants, he conveyed that true success lies not just in medals but in personal growth, collaboration, and the enduring values of sportsmanship and teamwork.
The 145th Annual Sports Meet 2024-25 was a testament to the athletic prowess and sportsmanship of St Aloysius PU College students, leaving an indelible mark of excellence.