A few days after Makara Sankranthi, a festive mood still lingered at the Nizam College Grounds though for a different reason: it was to host the first-ever sports meet for foreign students studying in and around Hyderabad, organised by the Sports Coaching Foundation (SCB), Masab Tank.
Conceived and conceptualised by K. Sai Baba, general secretary of SCF, the whole idea was to not only let the foreign students showcase their skills,(most of them are regular footballers at the floodlit SCF) but also to gently remind city students of the need to engage in some sport.
Not surprisingly, foreign students latched on to the opportunity and enjoyed the ambience.
With S. Rajesh Kumar of Athletics Association, and V. Satyanarayana, Director of Physical Education, OU, taking care of the technical conduct of the meet, there were little hiccups.
It was an onerous task for the organisers as about 1500 students participated in the three-day sports meet which was marked fby the camaraderie and true sportsman spirit during competitions in cricket, basketball, volleyball, football and some select events in athletics.
Iraq and Afghanistan
Teams from Iraq dominated team events like basketball, football and volleyball while students from the war-hit Afghanistan showed great spirit to clinch key events in athletics.
In individual events, Ruby Babak of Afghanistan cornered glory with a 'double' winning the women's 100 m and the 200 m events in style.
S. Venkata Chalam, vice-chairman of Telangana State Council for Higher Education, gave away the prizes at the valedictory function where well-known broadcaster G. K. Marar, an alumnus of Nizam College which was celebrating 150th year of its inception was also felicitated.
Important results
Track & field: 100 m: Women: 1. Ruby Babak (Afghanistan) 19.5 sec, 2. Nizala (Afghanistan), 3. Arjoo (Iraq).
200 m: 1. Ruby Babak (Afghanistan) 45.60 sec, 2. Nizala (Iran), 3.Khalida (Iran).
Team events
Men : Iraq beat Nigeria 21-19.
Volleyball : Iraq beat South Sudan 2-1.
Football : Iraq beat South Sudan 2-1.
Cricket : Afghanistan beat Rest of Africa.
