The heart swelled with pride as the eyes swept over the immaculate sports ground. An early morning mist filtered the sun, letting pale golden beams of light dance on the field. The tracks seeming to race round the field, inviting and patiently waiting for the children to join them. It must be the cold morning breeze which make the eyes moist. Can't be anything else, can it?!!

Radhika Tulpule Kanitkar, Ex-Indian women's champion in tennis was our chief guest taking the salute. Radhika is the recepient of the Shiv Chhatrapati award in 1999-2000. This apart, she has won the Pune International Marathon Trust's best sportswoman award for 2000, ''Pune Ki Asha'' award in 1998 and the ''Tulja Bhavani'' award in 2001.

Sharad Kulkarni, Chhatrapati Award winner for Basketball, was our guest of honour.

Both our guests had to earn their status once again, giving away innumerable prizes!!! Thank you for being with us. You are the heroes that we wish our children to emulate.

Special mention must be made of the following students for achievements in sports (each in their own category and age-group):

• Arpita Joshi for representing Pune district in volleyball.
• Ananya Panigrahi for representing Maharashtra in swimming.
• Ameya Katara for being selected to represent Maharashtra in roller-skating.
• Anish Salelkar for representing Maharashtra in Lawn Tennis.

• Shruti Bhatte-Patil for being silver medalist in All India Schools Rifle Shooting (where she represented Vidya Valley) and being selected for the nationals competition. She will now aim to represent the country in the Commonwealth Youth Games.

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