KARIMNAGAR, JULY 25, 2025: The grounds of Vivekananda Residential School (VRS), Karimnagar, came alive with colour, energy, and the thundering spirit of sportsmanship as the CBSE Inter-School Cluster-VII Kabaddi Championship 2025 was inaugurated in a grand ceremony. Over the next three days, the school will witness intense competition, camaraderie, and talent, with 52 CBSE schools from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana participating in the tournament across Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 categories.
The inaugural ceremony began with the warm invitation of dignitaries onto the dais, followed by the presentation of saplings—a gesture symbolising growth, sustainability, and new beginnings. A serene prayer and ceremonial lighting of the lamp marked the spiritual start of the event. The VRS Sports Flag was proudly hoisted amidst applause and a ceremonial salute by student leaders, followed by a powerful welcome address by Dr. T. Lalitha Kumari, Director of Academics, who extended greetings to all guests and participants, reflecting on the school’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence.
A motivational sports song ignited the energy of the gathering, setting the tone for the rest of the program. This was followed by an oath-taking ceremony led by Head Boy J. Archit, who pledged to uphold the values of sportsmanship and integrity. A graceful welcome dance celebrated Indian tradition and the spirit of unity.
The event was graced by several distinguished dignitaries, including Chief Guest Velchala Rajendra Rao, Chairman of the District Kabaddi Association, Dr. Ch. Amit Kumar, President of the Telangana Kabaddi Association, Ch. Sampath Rao, Vice President of the Telangana State Kabaddi Association, B. Mallesh Goud, Secretary of the District Kabaddi Association, Lakshmi Narayana, Chairman of the Referee Board, and L. Venkata Ramana, CBSE Observer and faculty at Navy Children School, Visakhapatnam.
Each of the dignitaries addressed the gathering, motivating students to take pride in India’s traditional sport, kabaddi, and emphasising the importance of sports in developing leadership, discipline, and national spirit. Chief Guest Velchala Rajendra Rao, in his address, highlighted the rising recognition of kabaddi at the district, state, national, and international levels. He also announced a total cash prize of ₹28,000 to be awarded across categories—₹10,000 for winners, ₹8,000 for runners-up, and ₹5,000 each for two third-place teams. The announcement was met with great enthusiasm and cheers from the young athletes and spectators.
The messages of inspiration and support from the school’s founder, Shri Velchala Kondal Rao, and Chairman, Dr. Sudhakar Rao Polsani, were acknowledged with gratitude. Their dedication to holistic education and sports excellence continues to guide the school in every achievement.
The formal ceremony concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Principal Mrs. Renuka Balivada. She expressed sincere gratitude to all the dignitaries, participants, referees, and supporting staff for making the day a resounding success. She especially thanked the CBSE Observer for his presence and support, and appreciated the tireless efforts of the VRS team for their flawless execution of the event. She also acknowledged the role of the school’s leadership in providing the platform for such a prestigious event.
The program concluded with the declaration of the games open by the Chief Guest, followed by the thrilling inaugural match.
The first match of U14 of VRS was with Sister Nivedita, Hyderabad, and it was won by VRS. Many more matches to play.
The school now looks forward to three exciting days of kabaddi matches filled with skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship from July 25 to 27, 2025.
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