Kashi Vidyapith Students Compete in Tug-of-War and Kho-Kho on Sports Day

VARANASI: Students at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith marked National Sports Day with tug-of-war, kho-kho and other team events organised by the sports council and Faculty of Humanities. The programme placed traditional, low-equipment games at the centre of the campus rather than treating the day as a speech-only commemoration.

Vice-Chancellor Professor A.K. Tyagi said sport contributes not only to physical health but also to discipline, confidence, patience, leadership and teamwork. Sports council vice-president Professor Brajesh Kumar Singh and secretary Dr Urjasvita Singh also addressed the participants and extended Sports Day greetings.

In tug-of-war, the women’s team from the Faculty of Social Sciences and the men’s team from the Faculty of Science emerged as winners, according to the published account. Kho-kho brought another form of team strategy, one built on quick direction changes, anticipation and communication rather than strength alone.

These games fit a university setting because they require limited infrastructure and can involve students who are not trained athletes. A marked field, basic equipment and responsible supervision are enough to create a real contest. That accessibility matters on a day intended to widen participation, not merely showcase an established varsity squad.

Sports days are most effective when they lead into a routine. A student who enjoys kho-kho once should know when the next practice is held. Teams need notice boards or online schedules, safe changing spaces and access that does not depend on already knowing a coach. Women’s participation also grows when timings, transport and facilities are planned with it in mind.

Team games offer a counterweight to academic life organised around individual marks. A tug-of-war side cannot succeed because one person pulls hardest; rhythm and shared timing decide the result. Kho-kho similarly rewards the ability to read teammates and make space for someone else’s move. Those lessons are easy to praise and difficult to learn from a lecture.

Kashi Vidyapith’s programme joined several Varanasi institutions observing Major Dhyan Chand’s anniversary through competition. The tribute becomes meaningful when students leave the field wanting to return. Medals and photographs record the day, but an active campus calendar—open, regular and well maintained—is what turns National Sports Day into a healthier university year.

Universities can also use these events to identify accessibility gaps. Students with disabilities should have adapted activities, usable routes to grounds and roles that go beyond watching from the side. Inclusion does not require every participant to play the same game; it requires the sports programme to offer meaningful ways for different bodies and abilities to compete.