Annual sports gala of IELL gets underway at SU

An annual two-day Sports Gala of the Institute of English Language & Literature (IELL), University of Sindh began here on Tuesday.

Hundreds of students turned up to witness different sports activities held at the Hyder Bux Pavilion. The participants showed zeal at the inaugural ceremony.

SU Vice-Chancellor Professor (Meritorious) Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro was the chief guest on the occasion, while Dean Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr Muhammad Khan Sangi, Director IELL Prof. Dr Abdul Fattah Soomro, Prof. Dr Farida Yasmeen Panhwar, Prof. Dr Tarique Hassan Umrani, Prof. Dr Ghulam Ali Buriro, Dr Sanaullah Ansari, Dr Abdul Hameed Panhwar and other faculty members as well as hundreds of students were in attendance.

The sports meet evoked a tremendous response, with over 200 participants in various events such as marathon race, cricket, table tennis, badminton, chess and tug of war etc.

Addressing the students, VC Dr Kalhoro said games performed a key role in the elevation of a society and were vital to balance, equilibrium and sensibility in daily life. He said games were also important for the physical and mental health of the students.

He emphasized on the importance of maintaining physical fitness to gain a competitive edge over others.

“This event is not just about sports but also about encouraging students to pursue their passion for sports and gain valuable insights into the industry”, he said and added that he was proud to be part of this initiative.

Dr Kalhoro said the youth bulge was the chief strength of Pakistan and the university was giving importance to the problems pertaining to the students enrolled on the campus. These students were future leaders, he said.

He advised the students to take part in sports activities so they could gain physical fitness and perform well academically.

He urged teachers to instill a sense of faith, discipline, respect and unity among the students so they could grow into useful citizens of the society.

“I ask the students to play a role in creating coordination among their parents and teachers. I urge you to prevail upon your parents to coordinate with your teachers,” the VC said.

Director IELL Dr Abdul Fattah Soomro said that a sound mind was important for a healthy body and for the very fact; IELL had been holding sports activities to enable the students to get education and serve the nation well.

 “Sports activities are extremely important for students as they require physical exercise to stay fit mentally and get education for the development of the country,” he said.

He said only academic development of students wasn’t an answer to the problems facing the country, but there was a dire need to engage them in extracurricular activities. “This is what we are doing”, the director said and added that sports inculcated enthusiasm, spirit and discipline among the students.

“During the sports gala, we have organized cricket, table tennis, badminton and other games to create sportsmanship among the students.”

Later, the athletes showed their performance in sprint competition and tug-of-war. Afterwards, the different cricket teams of male and female students played separate matches. The sports activities will also continue today (Wednesday) followed by the concluding ceremony in the evening. The winning teams and individuals in various competitions will be awarded prizes at a grand ceremony.