RIYADH, 16 November — The hosts International Indian School, Riyadh (IISR) emerged triumphant winning overall championship in the prestigious annual inter-school sports event — “Cluster Meet 2001”.
More than 120 students representing four international Indian schools of the Kingdom vied with each other to win positions and prizes in the event, which was inaugurated by Afzal Ali Jagirdar, IISR managing committee member, here recently.
The final sports events were witnessed by IISR Managing Committee Chairman Wasi Haider Rizvi and members of the managing committee. Manzar Jamal Siddiqui, IISR principal, told Arab News that the IISR won the first place in table tennis tournament under-14 for girls whereas IIS Jubail emerged winner under-16 for girls. IIS Jeddah won the teble tennis for girls under-19, whereas IIS Jubail emerged victorious in badminton championship under 16-for girls.
He also said that all guest students from Jeddah, Dammam and Jubail schools were accommodated in the well-furnished Khalidiah Apartment, which offered round-the-clock service with all basic amenities and security. He further said that only those sports events were organized, which have been permitted by the CBSE. The CBSE Manual of Sports, he clarified, does not include quiz and poster-making competitions to be organized on the occasion of the Cluster Meet.
Referring to the prizes bagged by the students, Siddiqui said that Mary Ann Jacob of IISR won the individual championship for table tennis for girls under-14. He said that Samseera of IISD won individual championship for table tennis under-19. Bhala of Jubail school with her untiring enthusiasm and stamina defeated Amtul Habeeb of Jeddah school in table tennis for girls under-16. Bhala also defeated Anjali Muralidharan of IISR in badminton for girls under-16.
He said that the IISD badminton team won the trophy under-14 for boys whereas the IISR emerged victorious under-16. The IISR also won the team championship for bandminton under-19 with IISR’s Samraj Bakshi capturing the individual championship for boys under-16 and IISD’s Kiran S. Babu bagging the championship for boys under-14. This was in addition to another award won by the IISR in table tennis doubles for boys under-14.
On the performance of IISD boys, Siddiqui said that IISD won table tennis doubles for boys under-16 and IISR won under-19. IISR, he said, showed excellent performance in the individual and group bandminton championships. He added that Mudassir of IISR won the individual championship in table tennis for boys under-14 and Abdul Rehman of IISD captured the individual championship in table tennis for boys under-16.
Rezmi of IISR won the individual championship for table tennis under-19. This was in addition to IISR winning the team championship also in the table tennis for boys under 14 and IISD capturing the team championship for boys under-16. IISR also won TT doubles for boys under-14 and it also won the team championship in TT for boys under-19. Sanjay Kiran of IISR captured the individual championship in badminton for boys under 16.
Referring to the debate competitions organized within the framework of the Cluster Meet, Principal Siddiqui said that a total of eight students from the four schools participated in the junior category debate competition. The topic of the debate was “Westernization is a must for development”. In senior category, there were six participants, who spoke eloquently on “Journalistic freedom in India is a farce”.
The debate session was chaired by John Lewis Grand, governor of Toastmasters Club, and the jury included prominent Riyadhites like Dr P. Trivedi, resident economist at World Bank; Dr Sarwar Hussain, professor at King Saud University; and Madam Omer, vice principal of Girls Minarat School, Riyadh. In the junior category, IISD emerged as the winner whereas in senior category IISJ got the first place.
Amtul Habib from IISJ was declared best speaker in the debate among the junior students whereas Thomas James of IISR was named the best speaker among senior category students. All sports and cultural events organized on the occasion of the Cluster Meet was supervised by a group of senior teachers including Malini Shetty, J. C. Reddy, N. G. Varghese and Nayyara Shaukat.
