CHENNAI: The opening ceremony of CBSE South Zone Swimming Championship was held at The Pupil Saveetha Eco School’s Aquatique Centre, Poonamallee, on September 11.
Around 1,000 students from CBSE schools of the South Zone, which includes Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala, were registered under different categories — Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 age groups.
The ceremony commenced with a prayer by the school choir followed by the welcome address of director Saveetha. The presidential address was delivered by N M Veeraiyan, a trailblazer and the architect of the Saveetha empire. He urged the participants to take success and failure in their stride and to move forward with diligence and a sportsman spirit. Chief guest D T Sudarshan Rao, Regional Officer, CBSE Regional office, urged the budding swimmers to achieve their ambitions by competing against themselves. He quoted great leaders like Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi and emphasised the importance of discipline.
J Agnishwar, an international medallist and the CEO of the Agni Educational Xpeditions urged the participants to focus on themselves, free their minds of all worries and to enjoy the sport to reach greater heights. He advised the parents to let the children follow their own aspirations rather than to fulfill their parent’s desire.
The first event was flagged off by chief guest Rao. Various events will continue till September 14, 2014.