Rourkela, Nov 9: The three-day annual sports festival of NIT Rourkela, ‘VRIDDHI’, commenced today. The sports extravaganza includes Football, Cricket, Badminton, Chess, Kabaddi, Volleyball, Basketball, Kho-Kho and Table Tennis tournaments.

According to sources, around 700 students from 11 colleges of Odisha and Jharkhand are participating in this event organized by the Games and Sports Society under the Student Activity Centre, NIT Rourkela.
‘Vriddhi 2023’ has received an overwhelming response from women participants with around 150 women players registering this year.

Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, (Director, NIT Rourkela) extended his warm welcome to the participants and said, “This sports festival is intended to recognise our strengths and understand our weaknesses against our competitors. Participants should keep a positive outlook upholding sportsmanship with team spirit and unity."

"An outstanding performance given by Indian Para-archer Sheetal Devi is a recent example for all of us to inspire. She won gold medals at the Para Asian Games using her legs to perform the functions of the hands and became the first female armless archer to do so. This exemplifies that if one has the perseverance and determination to use the opportunity, anything is possible," he added.

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Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Siddharth S Jena (Dean Student Welfare) said, "VRIDDHI 2023 stands as a testament to our dedication to promote sports at the university level encouraging students to unleash their potential and aim to ignite passion, and sportsmanship among budding athletes."

"Rourkela City is welcoming winters and so benefitting the players with the favourable climate to give their 100% during their performance on the ground. I hope that our student guests experience many enjoyable moments at NIT Rourkela during their stay. Let us all create and witness a spectacle of talent, passion, and sheer determination throughout the event," he added.

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Apart from NIT Rourkela, students of KIIT University, Sri Sri University, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology (IGIT), Ranchi University, Government College of Engineering Kalahandi (GCEK), Trident Academy of Technology, VSSUT, GIET University, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), CV Raman Global University are participating in this annual event, sources said.

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