PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS IS ESSENTIAL

PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS IS ESSENTIAL

19-DEC-ENG 22

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Without education, our lives are meaningless today. In the truest sense, the word 'education' itself is the deepest and most important. Through education, people gain immense joy, enthusiasm, enterprise, zeal, passion, and more. Education is not limited to studying textbooks alone. That is why Swami Vivekananda said: 'We need an education that builds character, increases mental strength, expands intellect, and enables people to stand on their own feet.'

If you observe carefully, you will find that since ancient times, sports have been considered a medium of the teaching process. In the ancient education system, various subjects were taught through games under the supervision of gurus. The proficiency of the disciples in subjects like swimming and boating was assessed through these games.

At the school level, sports are divided into two categories: indoor games and outdoor games. Indoor games are those played inside a building or on an open stage, and outdoor games are those played on a field.

Nowadays, sports are becoming increasingly integrated with education. If you develop an interest in sports from a young age, you can showcase your talent and make a name for yourself through sports.

For athletes, participating in the Olympics, the world's greatest sporting competition, often referred to as "The Greatest Show on Earth," is a unique achievement, and winning a medal is a big dream. Many athletes have been seen giving their best performance in their careers while competing with powerful countries in the world of sports, striving to etch their country's name and their own name in golden letters.

In the history of India, many athletes have achieved success in the Olympics and brought glory to the country. However, our state's educational institutions are not consistently encouraging students to participate in sports by incorporating them into the academic year. Sports are and should be an important subject for maintaining people's physical and mental health. Playing sports activates the body's immune system and improves blood circulation. Sports can relieve mental fatigue and keep the mind cheerful.

Qualities such as discipline, tolerance, mutual understanding, and altruism can be acquired through sports. Therefore, a school should have adequate facilities for sports and games along with academics. Parents or guardians also need to be aware of this. Children should be given one or two hours every day to play or spend time with them on the playground. Teachers and parents should pay attention to these things. Only by participating in sports from childhood can you become a good player later in life. One of the major factors harming the mental health of students these days is the excessive academic burden imposed by schools. Furthermore, we all need to understand that the system of taking children from home to school at five in the morning and dropping them back home at four in the evening has harmed children physically and mentally. Nowadays, education has become a race for marks. The objective of the education system has now been reduced to mere achievement of results. The mark-oriented education system has put immense pressure on students' minds. It is secretly destroying the hidden talents of the students. It has distanced students from real life and sports, and has caused them mental anguish. Children come to school carrying a heavy burden of books on their backs and go home with the added burden of homework during holidays. A healthy, well-rounded citizen cannot be created through this system. Therefore, all stakeholders in the education system need to consider this issue deeply.