BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER -- 4 ::

COONOOR GIRL TO PLAY FOR INDIA AT RUSSIA

BY P S SUNDAR

J Mariam Agnish (14), student of St Joseph's Girls' Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, will fly to Russia on Sep 30 to represent India at World Snooker under 18 championship to be conducted by International Billiards and Snooker Federation. 

Detailed articles on her achievements appear in this blog and, in particular, reference is drawn to her selection for this championship reachable by clicking ::  http://educationandsportthinktank.blogspot.in/2015/07/blog-post.html.

Mariam has become the first sportsperson from The Nilgiris to represent an international official snooker tourney  -- from the district where the rules of the Snooker game were posted at The Ootacamund Club way back in 1882. 

Article in The New Indian Express -- Sep 23, 2015::

(response can also be sent to: pssudnar.coonoor@gmail.com)

SCHOOL SPORTS -- 5:

CRESCENT HOCKEY TEAM – TO NATIONALS

BY P S SUNDAR

The Junior Boys hockey team of Crescent Castle Public School, Ooty, have done the Nilgiris and their school proud by getting selected to represent Tamil Nadu at the National Meet of Association of Schools of Indian School Certificate (ASISC).

“This follows our winning at the ASISC Tamil Nadu Sports Meet held at Coimbatore.   Our Juniors will vie for the Nationals title in Jalandhar of Punjab next month”, Crescent Correspondent  G Umar Farouk said after complimenting the players and the coach.

“We are imparting necessary higher level training to our players to hone up their skills to bag the Nationals title”, he added. 

Crescent has the credit of motivating its students with legends from various fields.  That way, Dhanraj Pillai had motivated hockey players of the school sharing his experiences. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).

AWARD -- 5 ::

NILGIRI EDUCATIONIST GETS ‘WOMEN EMPOWERMENT’ AWARD

BY P S SUNDAR

The venue is the same where Swami Vivekananda delivered his world famous address at ‘World Religious Conference’ in Chicago in 1893.   The date is also the same – September 11.  Once again, the elite of the world have congregated.  The occasion now is ‘Replica of 1893 conference to carry the vision forward’, an international conference organised by ‘Integrating Spirituality and Organisational Leadership Foundation’ (ISOL).

The conference was conducted after US President Barrack Obama acknowledged the impact of Swami Vivekananda’s contribution for global awakening. 

The Nilgiris received an international acclaim at the conference when Vasukie, Chairperson, Gurukulam Matriculation School in Agalar village in the Nilgiris, was honoured with the prestigious award for ‘2015 Women Empowerment’.

“Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was scheduled to present the award but following his demise, Chicago Mayor Thulasi Gabbard presented it”, Gurukulam Correspondent N Arjjunan told me.

The citation said that the award was presented to Vasukie in recognition of her ‘incredible contribution towards empowering under-privileged children with education through unique curriculum where traditional knowledge is enriched with ancient wisdom’. 

Sharing her experience at the conference, Vasukie said that besides all affiliation legally required in India, Gurukulam School is affiliated to World Institute for Scientific Experience (WISE), a wing of the world-famous Harvard University of USA.   Based on its guidance, the school has been imparting lessons on Indian traditional systems including Ayurveda, Yoga, Carnatic Music and runs a ‘Mooligai Kudil (Herbal Hut) where children are given orientation to growing and using hundreds of herbs, Vasukie detailed.

During the 150^th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, 367 students of Gurukulam School presented themselves in the attire of the Swamiji which helped the school gain an entry for the event in the Book of India Records and Limca Book of Records

The school located amidst natural beauty in a rural ambiance holds ISO certification as well.   Its ‘One Student One Tree’ and ‘Save Serve and Earth’ concepts are leaving lasting impressions in the minds of children to live in consonance with nature. 

These are in addition to posting excellent academic record in public exams.

Vasukie is rightfully happy that she addressed the gathering at the same venue where Swami Vivekananda spoke.   “I dedicate this honour to every individual and every impressive incident which inspired me and had been a driving force to this highest state”, an excited Vasukie told the Assembly.

 (response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).

SCHOOL SPORTS -- 4 ::

ST JOSEPH’S EMERGE CHAMPIONS

BY P S SUNDAR

St Joseph’s Boys’ Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, which had excelled many years in the inter-school Athletic competitions, has emerged champion in the 66^th Athletic Meet conducted by Association of English Speaking Schools.

Our path to overall championship was created by our winning championship in inter, junior and sub-junior divisions”, Principal Bro Ramesh Amalanathan said after complimenting athletes, Superior Bro Gubendiran, Physical Director Sagayanathan and Physical Education Teachers Prakasan and Vijayanand. 

“Our athlete N Sanjay created new record in long jump sub-junior covering 4.18 metres and winning individual championship.  Our seniors and inter relay team set new record in 4 x 400 metres race”, Sports Secretary Bro Anup Kiro added. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)