AU's 'Kayakalp' Sports Fest Promotes Wellness and Inter-Faculty Spirit

Prayagraj : The University of Allahabad (AU) is buzzing with renewed energy, marking a significant milestone in its holistic development journey with the successful culmination of a vibrant sports festival. Organized by the Sports Board, under the encouraging guidance of the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, the event celebrated the ongoing "Kayakalp" program and five years of transformative growth at the institution.

The highlight of the festival, held on Thursday, was a grand cricket tournament and a highly-anticipated bicycle race, witnessing enthusiastic participation from students, teaching, and non-teaching staff alike. The events underscore the University’s commitment to the FIT India movement and its revitalized focus on community wellness, a trend spearheaded by the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor and executed through the proactive initiatives of the Director Sports Board, Dr. Sarvsureshth Dhammi.

This year’s sports calendar introduced a major structural reform: the formation of three competitive University Houses—Red House (Science Faculty), Blue House (Arts Faculty), and Yellow House (Law, Economics & Commerce). This new inter-house system aims to foster a greater sense of healthy rivalry and engagement across various faculties. The inaugural cricket tournament saw the Red House (Science Faculty), led by Captain Dr. Rajan Walia, claim the top spot, followed by the Yellow and Blue Houses. Swatantra Kumar Tiwari from the Science Faculty was deservedly named the Man of the Tournament.

In a pioneering move to safeguard its athletes, AU announced a significant collaboration with the Department of Orthopaedics, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow. This partnership will ensure specialized training and priority medical support for students under the Sports Board, emphasizing the University's commitment to athlete health and injury management. Furthermore, the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor has approved monetary incentives for athletes securing national positions in inter-university tournaments, a decision expected to significantly boost competitive morale and performance.

The cycling race winners across all categories showcased the depth of talent and participation: Deepak Kumar (B.Tech) and Kriti (MP.Ed I) topped the student categories, while Vineet Kumar Rathore and Dr. R.P. Singh led the non-teaching and teaching staff categories, respectively. The success of the festival firmly establishes sports as a cornerstone of AU’s rejuvenated educational and community life.

(Report by Zainul Abdin)