Muzaffarpur, DEC 18: The historic L.S. College Ground turned into a vibrant hub of athletic energy on Thursday as the third season of the Muzaffarpur Sports Festival was officially inaugurated. Organized by the Swami Vivekanand Krida evam Yoga Sansthan (SVKAYS), the four-day mega extravaganza has drawn over 4,000 young athletes from over 100 schools across the region to compete for 210 medals.

The inaugural session was chaired by Prof. Dinesh Chandra Rai, Vice Chancellor of B.R.A. Bihar University. Invoking the legacy of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of prestigious BHU, Prof. Rai emphasized that sports and physical fitness are as fundamental as academic excellence. "Sports build character and community," he stated, expressing pride in having attended all three seasons of the maga sports festival. He further commended SVKAYS mentor Dr. Sanjay Sinha for institutionalizing such a grand platform for mass sports awareness. Prof. Rai further said that by collaborating with district officials to ensure high participation from government schools, the event has successfully created a professional stage where grassroots skill and determination take center stage.
Chief Guest Sri Shishir Sinha (Retd. IAS), the first VC of Bihar Sports University, Rajgir, urged participants to view sports as a viable professional career, highlighting the state's growing infrastructure.
Outlining the vision, festival patron Dr. Sanjay Sinha (Retd. IAS) presented a blueprint featuring 70 events across eight disciplines, including Athletics, Kabaddi, and Football. With a focus on India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics, Dr. Sinha noted, "To excel globally, we must identify talent early. This festival serves more as a training ground than a mere competition, familiarizing school children with international rules and the true spirit of the game.
The festival having ONGC as lead sponsor, running until December 21, features categories from Under-10 to Under-16. The inaugural session was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Shartendu Shekhar, Dr. Shashibhushan Kumar, Dr. Ashok Sah, Dr. Navin Kumar, Mritunhay Kumar, Ram Pramod Ram, Anil Sinha, Mahendra Prasad, Sujit Kumar among others.