JEDDAH — Mahd Al Uloom Int’l School organizes a wide spectrum of co-curricular activities every year for the holistic development of the students. MIS always gives a special emphasis for sports and conducts a spectacular annual sports meet to keep its students to stay healthy.

This year too the students of MIS had a gala time at 10th Annual Sports Meet dubbed Athleo’18 at Xtep stadium, Jeddah. The entire stadium was a picturesque sight filled with jubilant children in complete sports attire.

A well-coordinated march past by the contingents of four houses — Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Topaz led by their captains — exhibiting their grit to complete in the highest spirit of games. The exhilarating meet commenced with a rendition of a few verses from Holy Qur’an by Sinan.

Dr. Firoz Mullah, principal of the school, welcomed the honored guests and students. The sports meet was declared open by the chief guest Abdurrabb, director of the school, by lighting of torch-beacon for the games. A flying start was given to the sports meet by the torch bearers taking up a lap of the ground with torch and lighting the cauldron.

Operations Manager Yahya Khaleel Noorani, presided over the function and spoke on the occasion. He extolled the students’ participation in the events and urged them to keep balance sports and academics. Director AbduRauf hoisted the school flag and released the pigeons as symbol of the peace. School’s Assistant Sports captain Naswif administered the oath, promising to adhere to the spirit of sportsmanship.

An impressive Human Pyramid formation and flower display enthralled the gathering. Sports secretary Mansoor CK proposed the vote of thanks and briefed the students about the importance of physical training and sports.

Thereafter, a bevy of the events for the day included 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m races, invitational relays, high jump, and long jump, relay etc and apart from athletics items, games like football, tug of war, kabbadi and fun-filled items like potato gathering, balloon breaking, and sack race were also conducted.

Athletic events like running race, relays added to the excitement and thrill not only among the students but also among the onlookers. Chess and badminton competitions created a new verve among the students. All drew hearty applause from the crowd, a fitting appreciation for weeks of hard work. The students participated with great excitement in track and field events.

Topaz House was declared as winners, scoring with maximum points and Emerald House was declared as the runners-up. The ground echoed the triumphant yells of the winners. Nihad Noushad and Naswif Noushad won individual championship in the junior and senior categories respectively.

The medals and trophies for the winners were given away at a glittering retreating ceremony by the special guests of the ceremony, Abdu Raheem, Mujeeb Rahman and Abdurrabb, directors of the school. The memorable event came to a close with national anthems. In the closure ceremony, School Sports Captain and Vice Captain lowered the flag, folded it and presented it to Mansoor CK, head of the sports department who, in return handed it over to the principal.

Athleo’18 was also held at the Girls’ section of MIS with the same pomp and vigor. The program commenced with the recitation of verses from Holy Qur’an and proceeded to the welcome speech by sports captain Hiba Thasneem. Principal Ahlam Al Harbi and Academic and Administrative supervisor Ayesha Ruksana hoisted sports flag and took salute of the impressive march past of the students with stirring band music. Ruksana lighted the torch and declared 10th annual sports meet open .

The students entered into the spirit of the occasion in a grand way with the oath being administered by the sports captain. Energizing and colorful displays and drills from different sections set the tone for the rest of the events. Once the races began, the air was filled with cheering and tons of encouragement for the young athletes.

Students of classes KG to 10 competed in events including bunny race, frog jump, counting alphabets, relays, bursting balloons, sack race, and obstacle race Fun time with a staff race busting the balloons and a tug-of-war between the houses added to the enjoyment.

The Topaz House won the overall championship trophy with maximum points. Haleem Gul and Yang Yue won individual championship from grade 1 & 2 category. Talaa Ashraf, Kadija Sani and Hani Sidheeq won individual championship from junior, sub junior and senior categories respectively.

The event concluded by distributing medals and certificates to the winners along with a retreating ceremony by school council members. — SG