St Joseph Vaz College and St Joseph Vaz Institute of Education recently hosted their annual sports event, Invictus 2.0, bringing together the students of B. Sc. and D. El. Ed programs for a day filled with competition, camaraderie, and celebration. The much-awaited sports day was graced by Captain Dr. Sam Joseph Braganza, College Director of Physical Education and Sports at SSA Govt. College, Pernem, as the chief guest.

The day began with a guard of honor presented by the sports secretaries, house captains, and class representatives to the chief guest and other dignitaries. Following the guard of honor, a prayer service was conducted, and the athletes participated in a march past led by Petty Officer Minika Gurav, a student from the F.Y. B.Sc. program. The ceremonial lighting of the torch was a special moment, with the chief guest lighting the torch and passing it on to the sports secretary, Shubham Gauns, who then kicked off the torch relay. The relay included students who represented Goa and Goa University and those who had achieved success in inter-college competitions.

The relay runners included notable athletes such as Shubham Naik, Shreya Mulik, Umesh Gani, Aachal Naik, Jade Pereira, Amit Naik, Suaraj Yadav, and Dishant Kankonkar. Following the torch relay, an athlete’s oath was taken by Shubham Gauns, while the athlete’s prayer was recited by Shreya Mulik. Rev. Prof. Simao Diniz, the Administrator of St Joseph Vaz College, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the importance of sports in life. He highlighted how engaging in sports fosters discipline, focus, and determination and encouraged the students to excel both in sports and other aspects of life.

In his speech, the chief guest, Dr. Sam Joseph Braganza, emphasized the valuable life skills that sports instills in individuals. He spoke about the achievements of St Joseph Vaz College and its students in various sports disciplines, lauding their commitment and performance. He particularly appreciated the student’s “never give up” attitude and the core values of discipline, resilience, and perseverance that the college instills in them, which go far beyond the sports arena.

The chief guest officially declared the sports day open, and the events began with a dazzling cycle drill and pyramid display by B. Sc. students. The D. El. Ed students followed with an exciting Zumba performance, adding energy and spirit to the event. The day continued with a series of inter-house and inter-class competitions, including the Langadi race, tyre race, skipping race, 100m run, 200m run, tug of war, relay, and mixed relay, all showcasing the student’s enthusiasm and athleticism.

The event culminated with an energetic aerobics performance by the B. Sc. students, leaving everyone thoroughly impressed. The prize distribution ceremony honored students for their outstanding achievements in sports. The Best Sportswoman of D. El. Ed was awarded to Ms. Larisa Oliviera, while several awards were presented to the B. Sc. students, including Best Sports Performer (Female) to Ms. Jade Pereira, Best Sports Performer (Male) to Mr. Dishant Kankonkar, Best Athlete to Mr. Amit Naik, Best Sportswoman to Ms. Shreya Mulik, and Best Sportsman to Mr. Shubham Gauns. The overall winners of Invictus 2.0 were Team Hydrophytes, who scored 1675 points, while Team Electrons emerged as runners-up with 1650 points.

The significance of Invictus 2.0 extended beyond just athleticism. The objective of the sports day was to promote team spirit, camaraderie, and a healthy lifestyle among the students. It aimed to instill in them the values of discipline, resilience, and cooperation, emphasizing the importance of physical fitness in maintaining a balanced and successful life.

The Acting Principal of St Joseph Vaz College, Ms. Angela Serrao, proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the chief guest, participants, and all those who contributed to making Invictus 2.0 a memorable and successful event.