09 January,2016 11:12 AM IST | | Karthik Nair
Chembur school team ends up playing four handball matches and a football tie squeezed in across an eight-hour span
The Ryan International (Chembur) U-10 handball team had a very busy day in inter-school sports yesterday. The Chembur lads played four Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school handball matches at Azad Maidan, and in between the handball fixtures, some of their players travelled to the neighbouring Goan Sports Association ground for an inter-school football encounter. However, it turned out to be a strenuous, but satisfying day nonetheless.
Block work: Ryan international players (in blue) block a Vibgyor attacker during their boys U-10 MSSA inter-school handball match at Azad Maidan yesterday. The match ended 5-5. Pic/Atul Kamble
The Chembur boys began with an 8am handball fixture against Gokuldham (Goregaon), which they won 5-1. Around 9:30am, they played their second match, against Lakshdham (Goregaon). They won this one too, 6-0. Next up, they faced Pawar Public School (Kandivli) at 11:45 am, losing 0-1. Three of the Ryan International handball team's members, Vivaan Gogri (captain of the football team), Nishq Patwari and Ayaan Ansari, then headed to the GSA Ground at Cross Maidan for a 1:30pm U-10 football encounter against Balmohan Vidya Mandir (Dadar). Ryan International won this one 2-1, but their day wasn't quite over yet. The trio had to return to Azad Maidan for one final handball match. A 2:30pm fixture against Vibgyor (Malad) was postponed to 3:30pm to give the handball players some much-needed rest, but for the trio of Vivaan, Nishq and Ayaan, it turned out to be a day of non-stop action.
The fourth handball encounter was a keenly contested one and ended 5-5. Admirably, the Chembur boys hardly showed any signs of fatigue. In fact, Vivaan and Ayaan were among the goals too, with the former netting twice and latter scoring one in the drawn encounter.
"The players were tired but still fought hard in the last match. This is our first MSSA U-10 handball appearance and the commitment the kids have shown is tremendous," said Ryan International coach Ashok Pal.
An exhausted yet excited Vivaan said it was a fun day overall. "It was a very tiring day, but I liked the challenge. I just went and played my heart out throughout the day irrespective of the end result."
