The privilege to organize the prestigious CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education, India) Swimming Cluster Contests in Kuwait was vested with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Indian Educational School, Kuwait) this year by the Kuwait Chapter of the CBSE. The onus of organizing the event was merrily shouldered by the Physical Education Department of Bhavans much to the content of the apex organization, CBSE Kuwait Chapter. The venue for this year's contest was Kazma Sports Club, Kuwait and the event was held from 17th to 20th April 2017.
The team headed by the Head of the Department, Physical Education, Bhavans, Mr. Murugaiyan made sure that no stone was left unturned in their pursuit of perfectly and professionally organizing an event of great magnitude. On the 17th and the 18th, it was the girls who took to the pool after a formal inauguration of the event by Mr. T. Premkumar, principal, Bhavans Kuwait as well as the Convener of CBSE Kuwait Chapter. In his address, he welcomed all the ace swimmers of the Indian Schools in Kuwait and the officials drawn from the various CBSE schools in the country and urged them to enjoy participating without worrying about the outcome of the competition. He also mentioned that swimming is one of the best forms of physical training to be fit as a fiddle. He requested the officials to adhere to the rules of the event and work as a team so that everyone is satisfied with the event organized by Bhavans Kuwait.
On the 19th and the 20th April, the boys entered the pool to compete for dominance in swimming. Many swimmers were gathered at the Kazma Sports Club to watch the fiery fight in water. The fierce battle for supremacy was waged between FAIPS Kuwait and Bhavans Kuwait. A few outstanding swimmers from FAIPS, Bhavans, and ICSK stole the show and the medley relay saw the best swimmers in the country fight for the first position and it was indeed a battle to behold.
The closing ceremony was attended by Mr. T. Premkumar, the principal, Bhavans, and Kuwait Chapter Convener along with Mr. Mahesh Iyer, the principal, Smart Indian School, Kuwait. Mr. T. Premkumar in his closing speech congratulated all the swimmers who took part in the event with such enthusiasm, and their coaches for the training given to them. He thanked the CBSE observer Mr. Jacob Vaidyan, a very senior PET from The United Indian School for his invaluable support and advice. He also placed on records the support given by all the PETs who made the event a memorable one. Mr. Mahesh Iyer distributed the letters of appreciation from Bhavans Kuwait and ‘thank you cards’ to all the 15 officials who made sure that the events were held as planned in the most professional manner.
The individual champions of the competition are as follows.
Under 11 Girls: Caren Maria Joby (Bhavans Kuwait)
Under 14 Girls: Disha G Shenoy (ICSK) and Irene Susan Jose (Bhavans Kuwait)
Under 17 Girls: Kammalikka Mahendran (Bhavans Kuwait)
Under 14 Boys: Yousef Mohamed (FAIPS,Kuwait)
Under 17 Boys: Aaron Mathew Sherry (Bhavans Kuwait)
Under 19 Boys: Karthik Sivakumar (Bhavans Kuwait)
Bhavans Kuwait maintained its supremacy in the swimming contests in the country by winning the overall championship trophies in the boys’ and the girls’ categories with 109 and 96 points respectively relegating the teams of FAIPS Kuwait. The boys’ and the girls’ teams from FAIPS scored 90 and 78 points respectively to be the overall runners-up of the event.
Mr. T. Premkumar, the principal, IES also thanked the coaches of Bhavans Kuwait, Mr. Osama and Ms. Bhagya who made sure that the school bagged the championship trophies in the boys’ and the girls’ categories. The Physical Education Department of IES under the leadership of Mr. Murugaiyan received thunderous applause from all the swimmers, coaches, and teachers who were present at the venue for their wonderful planning, execution, and sportsman spirit.