The sporting spirit of Lucknow's youth was on full display as the inaugural edition of the Lucknow School Games 2025 was officially launched on Tuesday. The week-long tournament, a pioneering initiative by the Pragatisheel Bharati Foundation, saw a vibrant inauguration ceremony featuring a march past at the historic Chowk stadium.
A Platform for Grassroots Talent
The event has been conceived with a clear social objective. Inaugurating the games, Akhilesh Kumar, Kshetriya Pracharak of the RSS, emphasized the tournament's role as a crucial platform. He stated that it is specifically designed for children who lack the financial means to access expensive coaching academies and for those from smaller government schools who rarely get the opportunity to compete in major sporting arenas. The tournament aims to bridge this exposure gap.
Echoing this sentiment, Anuj Tiwari, Director of Pragatisheel Bharati Foundation, highlighted another contemporary challenge: excessive screen time. He explained that the initiative is a deliberate effort to divert children's attention away from mobile phones and engage them in meaningful physical activity. To ensure full participation, the foundation has made comprehensive arrangements, including providing breakfast and lunch for all participants at the sports fields.
Massive Participation and Day One Action
The scale of the event is impressive, with approximately 1,200 students from 60 schools across Lucknow taking part. The participants have been systematically divided into three age categories: under 14 years, 14-17 years, and 17-19 years. The sporting action is unfolding simultaneously at two premier venues: the KD Singh Babu Stadium and the Sai Sports Centre.
The first day was packed with energy and competition. Over 400 students from 20 different schools immediately dove into the fray, contesting matches in football, badminton, and the traditional Indian sport of kho-kho. The excitement was palpable among the children, who were dressed in colourful team jerseys.
Young athletes shared their enthusiasm. Aditya Vikram Singh (9), a football player from St Francis' College, said he was thrilled to represent his school and had already made new friends on the field. Deepanshi Soni, a kho-kho player from Gandhi Vidyalaya Inter College, reflected a healthy sporting attitude, stating her motive was not just to win but to thoroughly enjoy the valuable opportunity.
Early Medals and Finals Lineup
The competition yielded its first champions on the opening day itself. In the badminton under-14 category, Preesha Srivastava from Study Hall clinched the gold medal. Riddhima Singh secured the silver, while Namya Srivastava took home the bronze.
In the team events, the kho-kho competition in the 14-17 years category saw two schools advance to the finals. Lucknow Public School and Central Public School will battle for the top honour after strong performances in the initial rounds.
With six more days of competition ahead, the Lucknow School Games 2025 promises to be a significant catalyst for promoting sports at the school level in the city, focusing on inclusion, health, and the pure joy of athletic endeavour.
