From Alma Mater to Chief Guest: DSP Geetanjali Thakur Inspires Auckland House Sports Day

SHIMLA, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: The Senior Section of Auckland House School, Shimla, witnessed a vibrant celebration of athleticism, discipline and sportsmanship as the school organised its much-awaited Senior Section Sports Day on September 3, 2026.

The occasion was made particularly special with the presence of distinguished alumna Ms. Geetanjali Thakur, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Staff Officer to the IGP, Southern Range, Himachal Pradesh Police, who graced the event as the Chief Guest.

Returning to her alma mater, Ms. Thakur was warmly welcomed by the Director Principal, Ms. Smaraki Samantaroy, and the Principal of Auckland House School for Boys, Mr. Reuben John. The Chief Guest was accorded a formal welcome and a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the students.

One of the major highlights of the day was an impressive March Past, during which the four Houses—Matthew, Durrant, Lefroy and French—marched in perfect unison, displaying remarkable discipline and coordination. The students matched their steps with precision to the stirring tunes of “Scotland the Brave” and “Saare Jahan Se Achha,” performed by the school Pipe Band. The impressive procession was followed by the NCC contingent, adding further pride and grandeur to the occasion.

The Sports Day then moved on to a series of colourful and energetic physical fitness displays. Students demonstrated their strength, flexibility, coordination and discipline through a PT Display featuring dumbbells, laziums and sticks adorned with ribbons. The audience was also treated to impressive performances in Gymnastics, Yoga, Aerobics and Karate, showcasing the school’s emphasis on holistic physical development.

The sporting events included several exciting competitions and relays such as the Obstacle Race and Skipping Relay for Group A, along with the Baton Relay and Ball Relay for Groups B and C. The programme also featured special races and competitions for parents and guests, including the Special Ladies and Gentlemen races.

In the Parents’ Race – Special (Ladies) category, Ms. Swati Chauhan Datta secured the first position. Ms. Poonam Birta finished second, while Ms. Kusum Sharma secured the third position.

In the Special Gentlemen’s Race, Mr. Hemant Mehta emerged victorious, followed by Mr. Janesh Gupta in second place and Mr. Amit Kumar in third place.

The day also featured the highly anticipated Students vs. Teachers competition, which was won by the Students, generating much enthusiasm among the spectators.

Among the individual award winners, Riyana Negi was declared Best Gymnast for Group A, while Shabdita Chauhan and Madhavi Sharma received the Best Gymnast awards for Groups B and C, respectively.

Other special recognitions included Ruhin Chauhan for the Pipe Band, Vaishnavi Shandil for NCC and Angel Ratan for Yoga.

The Ankur Chauhan Memorial Trophy for Best Athlete was jointly awarded to Alvina Harish and Aradhna Thakur, recognising their exceptional sporting achievements.

Shabdita Chauhan was declared the Victor Ludorum of the meet.

The inter-house competitions also witnessed intense and spirited participation. Matthew House emerged victorious in both the Senior and Junior Basketball competitions. Durrant House won the Senior Table Tennis competition, while French House secured the Junior Table Tennis title as well as both the Senior and Junior Badminton competitions.

Matthew House also won the Major General & Mrs. I. P. Singh Award for Excellence in Football and emerged victorious in the Volleyball Cup. Lefroy House won the Chess competition.

In the Tug of War, Matthew House secured the first position with 6 points, followed by Durrant House with 4 points and Lefroy House with 2 points.

The overall results of the Sports Day reflected a closely contested competition among the four Houses. Matthew House secured the first position with 103 points, followed by Lefroy House with 83 points. Durrant House finished third with 69 points, while French House secured the fourth position with 35 points.

With an outstanding overall performance throughout the sporting season, Matthew House bagged both the prestigious Sports Shield and the Proficiency Cup, emerging as the overall champion of the Auckland House School Senior Section Sports Day.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Ms. Geetanjali Thakur fondly reflected upon her days as a student at Auckland House School. She encouraged the students to imbibe the values of discipline, perseverance, determination and sportsmanship, emphasising that participation in sports plays an important role in shaping confidence, leadership and character.

The Chief Guest later distributed medals, trophies and other awards to the winners and outstanding performers.

The day concluded with a formal Vote of Thanks, bringing to a close an inspiring and memorable celebration of sporting excellence, teamwork and the enduring spirit of Auckland House School, Shimla.