‘Stay humble even in the face of victory.’
Held on the 7th, 8th and 9th of August, Ultimate Kho-Kho was an event that took DLRC by storm! Unlike the Fiery Shuttles Badminton tournament hosted in late July, Ultimate Kho-Kho was an interclass tournament.
This meant that the competitiveness was all internally bred for an intense clash amongst the students of DLRC. The tournament — spanning across three days – had four different categories. These were:
● Primary: Grade 2 vs Grade 3 (This is one of the most heated rivalries in DLRC history.)
● Middle: From 4th grade to 6th grade, this was a bracket with fast paced matches where speed was the deciding factor.
● Junior High: From 7th grade to 9th grade, this section of the event hosted an experienced demographic that displayed technique, agility and exceptionally clever thinking.
● Senior High: The ferocious battle between the eldest of DLRC was nothing short of a spectacle. Every single match between the fierce competitors of Grades 10, 11 and 12 exuded an intensity that the other age groups found difficult to match.
Kho-Kho is a game of agility, cunning and stamina. Naturally, the competition was filled with enthusiasm and anxiety. Although the senior grades in each bracket mostly dominated, the juniors put up a great fight. In fact, Grade 10 pulled off a major upset, beating both Grades 11 and 12 by a narrow margin. The other winners were Grade 3, Grade 6 and Grade 9, for the Primary, Middle and Junior High age groups respectively.
The atmosphere was as lively as it gets with students, parents and teachers cheering on their teams. DLRC facilitator Pradeep Chakraborty Sir was the pick of the bunch!
‘I was nervous during our match against Grade 8, but at the same time, I knew that we had it in us to win.’
- Pal Gandhi, Grade 9 captain.
Junior High School winners
During our interview with her, Pal commented on how close this match was. As the referees put an end to the heated clash between the rivals, there was a mere one-point gap between the defeated and the victorious. Pal appreciated the referees for their impartiality as well as the clear-cut establishment of rules and regulations during the matches.
‘I do think that the referees were fair. Apart from a few calls that I disagreed with, they made quick, decisive and ultimately rational decisions that allowed us to enjoy our Kho-Kho tournament to its fullest.’
- Pal Gandhi.
Grade 10 vs Grade 12 crucial referee decision
Amidst the excitement and drama of the tournament, there were valuable lessons to be learned. One such learning is the importance of keeping a level head during tense situations. The match between Grades 8 and 9 had begun with terror for the eventual winners. Grade 9’s vanguard had fallen within what felt like a matter of seconds, leaving the rest of the battalion exposed, sooner than expected, to the unrelenting pace of the opposition.
Even with their worry at an all-time high, they held out, patiently and calmly whittling down the clock. And once the time on the clock ran out, it left Grade 9 with a reasonable target, a target which they approached with a vicious tenacity that resulted in a close, yet momentous victory.
Ultimate Kho-Kho was more of a festival than a sports event, one that consisted of moments and memories like this that truly made this tournament special.
By Zidane Patil and Rishi Nigavekar (G9)
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