“It doesn’t matter whether a gold medal is around your neck or have you qualified for any big sports event, at the end of the day you need to sleep honestly knowing that you gave your best in the field”, said, Rehan Poncha, Arjuna Awardee & Indian Olympic Swmmier and the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony of the MIT World Peace University’s 12th National level Inter Engineering Sports Summit. Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), Pune has organized a National Level Inter-Engineering Sports Meet, “MIT SUMMIT” with 15 different sports, 36 individual trophies and prizes worth 15 lacs starting from 14th September.
Also present at the ceremony were Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, Founder President, MAEER’s MIT, Pune, Ganpatrao Mane, Kabaddi Player, Devidas Jadhav, Volleyball Coach, Sunil Kakde, Indian Rower, Prof. Rahul Karad, Executive President, MIT World Peace University, Dr. Mangesh T. Karad, Secretary & Trustee, MAEER’s Group of Institutions, Prof. L. K. Kshirsagar, Principal, MIT, Dr. R. V. Pujeri, Director, MIT WPU, Prof.S.S.Darade-Patil, Dean, MIT and Prof. P. G. Dhanave.
The Krida Maharashi Puraskar was awarded to Shri. Ganpatrao Mane for his outstanding contribution in the field of Kabaddi. The Krida Acharya Puraskar was given to Shri. Devidas Jadhav for his outstanding contribution in the field of Volleyball and to Shri. Sunil Kakde for his outstanding contribution in the field of Rowing. Megha Agarwal was given the Sports Star of the Year Award at the hands of Mr. Rehan Poncha.
Rehan Poncha further said, “I decided to pursue a comparatively simpler course so that I can achieve my dream of representing India at the Olympics, the biggest sporting stage for any sportsman. I worked day in and day out to achieve my dream. But, I failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympic games. But I didn’t gave up, as I had my goal fixed firmly in my mind. In the next Olympic qualifications, 15 minutes before my qualifying swim, I was tensed, if I would had failed, that would had been my last shot at Olympics. All I did was think of the efforts taken by my coaches, my parents and all the toil I had taken to reach there. I qualified and the most proud moment of my life was to be one of the 62 members from a country of 1.2 billion people walking at the opening ceremony of Olympics with the Indian flag rightly waving in front of us.”
Ganpatrao Mane said, “The sports culture has not yet reached the rural parts of India. We lack sports infrastructure in the rural parts. The government has to give a keen attention to sports culture and infrastructure in rural areas.”
Devidas Jadhav said, “I have visited many countries in the world, participating in many tournaments, but I have not found any institute as passionate as MIT World Peace University when it comes to commitment towards sports. I hope tomorrow’s sports leadership should walk from the soil of Maharashtra.”
Prof. Dr. Vishwanath karad said, “Rehan Poncha has shown us that with a sense of discipline and character, one can lead a successful life. Be it engineering, management or medical students do not find time for sports from their heavy study syllabus. But MIT is an institution which understands the importance of sports in any student’s life. I appeal to all of you to create a platform and help in whatever possible way you can for the field of sports. It our responsibility to build a huge platform when it comes to sports.”
Prof. Rahul Karad said, “We want to create a sports culture in the whole country. We want MIT World Peace University to become a model for it. Sports bring the whole nation together. I wish lick to all the participants participating in the MIT WPU Summit 2017.
Dr. Mangesh Karad said, “It is the 12th year of the Summit. We started it in 2005 with participation of hardly 300-350 students. Today we have nearly 5000 students from all over India participating in this prestigious inter engineering tournament. It is a wonderful and path showing event happening in the sports environment of Pune. Universities have a huge task of Nation Building. What other than sports can contribute effectively to a building of a great nation.”
