In the recent 4th Kalyan Sports Festival, organized by the Sports Care Foundation to honor Yashwantrao Ombase, Holy Angels of Dombivli secured the football tournament title by defeating Kalyan Schocker 2-1 in the Under 14 category. The inauguration, graced by BJP Yuva Morcha Kalyan District President Vaibhav Gaikwad, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 290 players from Thane district across 27 teams.
The festival, inaugurated with football, showcased a diverse range of competitions, including tennis ball cricket, skating, taekwondo, chess, yoga, and more. In the under 14 girls category, Ulhasnagar claimed the Golden Soccer, while Kalyan Soccer secured the runner-up position.
Meridian School, Titwala, clinched the under-12 title, and St. Lawrence School, Kalyan, emerged as runners-up. Nerva Football Academy of Ulhasnagar emerged victorious in the under-10 age group, with St. Thomas School of Kalyan East as the runner-up. St. Thomas School secured the under-8 title, while Nerva Football Academy claimed the runner-up spot.
Dedicated efforts from organizers and contributors, including Raju Ghule, Mitesh Jain, Ram Nimbalkar, and others, fueled the success of the football tournament. The Kalyan Sports Festival continues to provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents across various sports disciplines.
While Holy Angels’ victory at the Kalyan Sports Festival is celebrated, skeptics argue the tournament’s structure may not be fostering genuine competition, potentially overshadowing grassroots talent and inclusivity.