Churning out star sportsmen

Most schools would consider themselves lucky if they could count a notable celebrity among their alumni. St Joseph's Boys High School, however, has a history of churning out class sportsmen who have brought laurels to the country.
Principal Fr Celestine Sera says the reason for this success is the school's dedication to practice. The school does everything possible to provide infrastructure."We recently renovated our swimming pool and there are practice nets for cricket. Hockey, golf, tennis, badminton and basketball are encouraged as well. We have a well-equipped indoor club for snooker, etc," he says.
In the sporting calendar, the Centenary Shield and the Fr Eric Vaz Trophy are eagerly awaited events by hockey teams in ICSE schools in the city.
"We ensure our boys take part in sporting events or tournaments in the city to help them gain exposure. It's also a way to help students gauge where they stand with respect to others," says Charles Noronha, former sports secretary and current vice-principal of the school.
"We encourage students to participate in events by giving them certain concessions regarding marks and attendance. But, no matter what the school provides, these boys go ahead on their own steam. One cannot put a figure to the hard work they put in; they practise in the mornings, attend school and then practise again in the evenings," he says.
H Shivprakash, sports secretary, credits the values the school imparts for its success. "We teach our children that the exams of life are important and that each one has to work with what has been given them. We stress on dedication and teamwork. The motto of the school - Faith & Toil - are our hallmark. Our students work tirelessly," he says.
According to him, the school policy of balancing academics and sports is tremendous encouragement to children interested in sports. The involvement of parents and the school's tradition of excellence has helped foster an nurturing environment.
Shivprakash, who has been with physical education department since 1984, feels the sportsmanship inculcated in students plays a big role in its success. "We encourage our children to do their best. They may not all be stars, but they can all play well," he says.
Among its glittering alumni are, among others, Olympian swimmers Rehan Poncha and Hakimuddin SH, cricketers Rahul Dravid and Robin Uthappa and badminton player Anup Sridhar. Currently, two brothers Arvind N and Avinash N, who represented Karnataka at the national level in swimming, are the school's hopefuls.
Teachers are supportive
We get the best of coaching in school. Our school sends us for all the competitions that are held. When we miss school, our teachers update us on whatever has been done and if we have any doubts, we're free to ask them for help. They attend to us during the break, or their free periods.
Avinash M, national level swimmer, St Joseph's High School
The school played an important role in my career. They were very accommodating when it came to taking a day off to play or even during tournaments. My teachers, too, were always helpful and would take extra classes when we needed help. I'm a proud Josephite.
Anup Sridhar, international badminton player