By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 25 May: In a celebration of spiritual strength, youthful energy, and national unity, St Joseph’s Academy hosted the Closing Ceremony of the CISCE National Pre-Yoga Olympiad 2025 here, today, bidding farewell to this prestigious national event. The campus, resplendent with festive décor and an air of warmth, transformed into a vibrant confluence of young yogis, mentors, and dignitaries from across the country, all gathered to mark the grand culmination of this unique Olympiad.
Rekha Arya, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Women and Child Development, and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Also in attendance were key figures from the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), New Delhi, Arijit Basu, Deputy Secretary (Finance) and In-Charge of Sports and Games, and Arnav Kumar Shaw, Manager, Games and Sports; Michelle A Gardner, Joint Regional Sports Coordinator, Uttarakhand Region, and Anuj Singh, Principal, Prakriti Valley School. The event also saw the participation of Brother Joseph M Joseph, Principal, St Joseph’s Academy, Brother JC Carroll, Principals, and educators from CISCE-affiliated schools across Uttarakhand, Coordinators, Staff Members and students of SJA.
The ceremony began with a solemn prayer, followed by the formal introduction of the Chief Guest. Principal Brother Joseph M Joseph warmly welcomed the guests, expressing pride in hosting an event that honours tradition, discipline, and youthful excellence through the practice of yoga. Adding fervour to the morning was a rousing contemporary dance performance set to the anthem “Aarambh Hai Prachand”, which embodied the spirit of determination, discipline, and dynamism; the core values of yoga and the essence of the Olympiad.
A total of 150 young athletes from 15 CISCE regions, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand showcased their talents across four categories: Under-14 Boys, Under-14 Girls, Under-17 Boys, and Under-17 Girls. The top four winners in both the Boys’ and Girls’ categories were honoured during a lively prize distribution ceremony that celebrated their achievement, perseverance, and sportsmanship.
Category 1A: (Girls Under 14 years)
First Position: Aditri De, Heritage School, West Bengal; Anaanya Sengupta, Heritage School, West Bengal.
Second Position: Savera; St Stephen’s School.
Third Position: Devanshi Naresh Shinde, Tree House High School, Maharashtra.
Category 1B: (Boys Under 14 years)
First Position: Himoghna Nath, Liona Calcutta (Greater) Vidyamandir, West Bengal.
Second Position: Himanshu Kumar Shaw, Agrasain Boys School, West Bengal.
Third Position: Dipanshu Mandal, Krishnanagar Academy, West Bengal.
Fourth Position: Gokarna Sharma, Wisdom World School, Maharashtra.
Category 2A: (Girls Under 17 years)
First Position: Naisha Sarkar, Sacred Heart Convent, Bihar & Jharkhand.
Second Position: Manya Sharma, St Stephen’s School.
Third Position: Namya Sharma, St Stephen’s School.
Fourth Position: Anisha Kadam, Wisdom World School, Wakad, Maharashtra.
Category 2B: (Boys Under 17 years)
First Position: Adi Karmakar, St Augustine’s Day School, West Bengal.
Second Position: Saunava Hazra, Calcutta Public School, West Bengal.
Third Position: Nihal, St Stephen’s School.
Fourth Position: Priyanshu Mandal, Holy Cross School, West Bengal.
Officials and Judges associated with the CISCE National Pre-Yoga Olympiad 2025 were also honoured for their mentorship and commitment to the cause.
In her address, Chief Guest Rekha Arya applauded the dedication and zeal of the young participants, stressing the timeless relevance of yoga in contemporary education and personal growth. She commended St Joseph’s Academy for its seamless organisation and gracious hospitality. The ceremony concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Arijit Basu, Deputy Secretary (Finance) and In-Charge of Sports and Games, CISCE, who acknowledged the contributions of the participants, organisers, and guests. The event concluded with a heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem.
In the words of the Principal, St Joseph’s Academy, Brother Joseph M. Joseph, the school has reaffirmed its role as a beacon of educational excellence and national unity. Hosting this prestigious event with great pride, the school successfully merged tradition with youthful energy, reflecting the essence of India’s timeless wisdom and forward-looking vision.
