PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 24: The two-day International Olympic Day celebrations organised by the sports department of Tata Steel concluded on Thursday evening.
A basketball tournament was organised on the occasion which saw the participation of a total of 27 teams. Out of the 17 teams in the boys’ category, Dayanand Public School emerged winners whereas KPS Kadma were the runners-up.
The girls’ category saw the participation of 10 teams of which KPS Burmamines emerged as winners and KPS Kadma were the runners-up.
Khel Ratna and Padma Shri Awardee, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, graced the occasion as the chief guest and felicitated the winners.
She praised Tata Steel’s efforts toward the development of sports in the country and motivated the participants with her words. She also interacted with the Tata Steel coaches, cadets and trainees of the academies and training centres.
She spoke about her early days, challenges and the support she received from the Government of India during the tournaments. She encouraged the participants to work hard towards their goals irrespective of what people around them may say.
The sports division also organised an interactive session for the Tata Steel coaches, cadets and trainees of the academies and training centres with Hockey Legend, Floris Jan Bovelander.
He has represented his country (Netherlands) in three Olympics and three World Cups. While talking about what it takes to be a champion, he urged the participants to never be satisfied with the small wins, instead always go for the big wins. He also mentioned that it is important for an athlete to take a break from their primary sport and try other sports disciplines to help improve their performance and focus.
To commemorate World Handball Day, Tata Steel Sports Department organised an Intra-Training Centres and Academies handball tournament.
In the Girls’ category, Basketball Training Centre emerged the winner whereas Roller-Skate Training Centre were the runners-up. In the Boys’ category, Athletics Training Centre emerged winners whereas Roller-Skate Training Centre were the runners-up.
India’s participation in the Olympics was made possible by Sir Dorabji Tata, an athlete, expert rower, and a fine horseman himself. He financed the national contingent for the Antwerp Olympics in 1920 and bore part of the expenses incurred on India’s participation in the Paris Olympics held in 1924.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was formed in 1927 with Sir Dorab as its first President. The IOA selected the Indian team for the 1928 Olympics held in Amsterdam, where India won the gold medal in hockey.
Ever since the senior leadership of Tata Steel has worked towards the fruition of the Founder’s vision of sports being an integral part of Tata Steel’s corporate philosophy.
The company has endeavoured to promote and develop an array of sports and has set up state-of-the-art sports infrastructure not only in and around its areas of operations but beyond.
Today, very few cities in the country can boast of the kind of sports infrastructure that exists in Jamshedpur.
