Student Achievers: Medal-winning performances make a mark

Students of Apeejay School, Tanda Road, Jalandhar brought laurels to the institute with their outstanding performances at the District School Games 2025. In the swimming competition held on September 11, 2025, at Government College of Sports, Jalandhar, Gurshaan Singh Mann of Class VII secured a Gold medal in the 100m breaststroke and a Silver medal in the 50m breaststroke, while Devnoor Singh Dhaliwal won two Silver medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m breaststroke in the U-14 category. Both swimmers have also been selected for the forthcoming State School Games Swimming Championship.

Adding to the glory, Bhav Aggarwal of Class VII won a Silver medal in the 48kg U-17 category at the District School Games Wushu Competition 2025, organised from September 9-11, 2025, at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Nehru Garden, Jalandhar.

Speaking about his achievement, Gurshaan said, winning a Gold and a Silver medal was a very exciting moment for him, especially since it was his first time winning. “I initially began swimming just to learn, but over time it turned into my passion. I have been learning to swim for three years now. I prepared myself with extra drills, focused on breaststroke, and extended my practice by two to three hours daily, which helped me win Gold,” he said.

Balancing school and practice is not easy, but he manages by swimming from 4-8 pm and studying for two hours afterwards. “My routine also includes a simple diet of eggs and milk. My school supports me, and my parents encourage me by providing costumes, caps, and goggles,” he shared.

Devnoor, shared that winning two silver medals in swimming was not easy. “The competition was tough, but I gave it my best and managed to secure one in the 200m Individual Medley and another in the 100m Breaststroke. Achieving this meant a lot of hard work and discipline. I followed everything my coach advised, spent hours watching techniques online, worked on stamina, and practised exercises to build endurance,” he said.

The 200m IM was especially challenging because it required four rounds, each with a different stroke, but it felt rewarding to complete, he added. “Preparing for the state level now feels exciting and demanding. I know the competition will be stronger, so I must work harder on my stamina, strength, and power. My routine includes stretching, jumps, and full-body exercises,” he shared.

Bhav shared that taking part in the Wushu competition was a tough experience as it demanded both strength and technique, along with the ability to execute throws effectively. Winning the silver medal made him happy, yet he admitted feeling slightly disappointed at missing the gold by a single point, which he lost due to slow kicks that allowed his opponent an edge.

He has been training under his school coach for nearly three years, focusing on speed, skills, and throwing techniques, with the sidekick being his preferred move. Unlike Taekwondo, which highlights kicks, skills, and power, Wushu relies more on throwing techniques and complete body control.

He explained that what he values most about Taekwondo is its discipline, with strict rules against fouls. Training, he added, has made him more focused.