The Young Women’s Christian’s Association (YWCA), which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in India, organised their annual sports day at Jhula Maidan, Agripada, on Sunday morning.
The event, organised by the The Women’s Development Unit of the YWCA of Bombay, had around 200 participants. The events included a limited-overs cricket and kho-kho tournament with eight teams, a marble and spoon race, three-legged race and other competitions.
The chief guest, Amul Raj, senior secretary, YMCA, opened the meet. While addressing the athletes, he appreciated their enthusiasm and sporting spirit and described the impact that sports can have in their lives. Athletes heard the message of self-love and development, belief in themselves, prayer, taking responsibility, service, using opportunities, and talents.
Rohidas Lokhande, speaker at the event, encouraged the participants to compete in true sporting spirit. He appreciated YWCA, mentioning that it is creditable that in the age of technology while children are glued to their cellphones, the organisation is going all out to bring them to the playground and encourage them through sporting activities. “Sport involves the coordination of body, mind and spirit and encourages an individual to be a sport and to play fair in true team spirit,” he said.
The event concluded with the prize distribution. The 2nd runner-up was the Nursing and Cookery, Bakery, and Confectionery group, the 1st runner-up was the Chembur group, and the winner was the Geeta Nagar group. Medals were also awarded to the winners of other competitions.
YWCA was established in the United Kingdom in the mid-1800s by women to help other women and children when Britain was undergoing economic and social change. In 1855, two separate organisations both known as YWCA amalgamated to form the YWCA. Missionaries Henrietta Butt and Eliza McRitchie, Mary Vitters and Mary Sorabji established the first branch in Bombay in 1875.
YWCA, a membership-based non-sectarian group responds through service to the changing needs of the community. In Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the organisation runs four hostels for working women and students, shelter homes for women, day care centres, and skill-training centres that offer government-recognised vocational courses. The services are run by volunteers with the help of around 150 staff members.
