Kasauli, November 15: Kasauli International Public School (KIPS), Sanwara, hosted a two-day state-level Woodball Tournament and selection trials on November 14 and 15 to identify players for the Himachal Pradesh team for the upcoming National Woodball Championship at Rupnagar (Ropar) in Punjab.
Organised by the Himachal Pradesh Woodball Association, the tournament witnessed participation from male and female players, who competed to secure a place in the state squad. The trials provided an opportunity for emerging players to demonstrate their skills and compete for selection at the national level.
Rajesh Dalal, Chairman of Hindustan Scouts and Guides, Himachal Pradesh, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Addressing the participants, he said sports played a significant role in building discipline, leadership, confidence and team spirit among young people. He stressed the need to promote emerging sports such as Woodball in rural and urban areas to expand opportunities for young athletes.
Dr Sanjeev Mainra, CEO of KIPS and organising secretary of the tournament, said the school was proud to host the state-level event. He described sports as an integral part of education and said such competitions helped in the overall development of students while providing a platform to identify promising talent.
Hira Thakur, Managing Director, and Poonam Thakur, Principal of KIPS, congratulated the winners and wished the selected Himachal Pradesh contingent success at the national championship.
Lalit Kumar, General Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Woodball Association, said the association was working to expand the sport’s reach across the state and encourage greater participation. He said the selection trials were part of efforts to identify talented players and provide them with opportunities to compete at national and international levels.
Nancy Handa, Joint Commissioner (Guides), Hindustan Scouts and Guides, Himachal Pradesh, thanked the school management, organisers, sports officials, referees, coaches and participants for their cooperation.
Outstanding players were felicitated at the closing ceremony. The two-day event concluded with a focus on promoting Woodball and strengthening the sporting culture in Himachal Pradesh.
