SAI International hosted a gala event, on November 5, 2022, to warmly welcome the Indian Men’s Hockey Team. The SAIoneers rejoiced at the advent of the stalwarts of the Indian Hockey Team as they adorned the school campus with their graceful presence.

Addressing the eclectic audience, Mr. Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Goalkeeper, Indian Men’s Hockey Team, engaged in an amiable banter with the students to motivate them to devote at least half an hour a day towards sports. The team praised the school's in-depth inclusion of sports in the curriculum which is highly essential for the growth and holistic development of children in today's times.

The team was delighted to see the welcoming response of the SAIoneers as they kept waving their flags with a strappling sense of pride. The team was gracious enough to indulge in sharing their expertise & skills with the students with some hands-on practice on the school field &  appreciated the state-of-the art sporting infrastructure of the school.

Senior Principal, SAI International School, Shri Nilakantha Panigrahi, humbly welcomed the legendary players and addressed the gathering. He said, “SAI International is honoured to host the distinguished Indian Hockey Team Players at SAI International, where games and sport-based activities are a dominant part of the curriculum with an interest in providing a meaningful and culturally situated sporting experience to students. Sport in education is among the most popularly implemented and researched pedagogical models worldwide. Hosting such acclaimed players in the school motivates the students and aligns them with the sporting fraternity, thereby providing an array of exposure.” 

Chairperson, SAI International Education Group, Dr. Silpi Sahoo expressed her appreciation towards the adroit team by saying,” I’m highly obliged that the Hockey players of  such skill & stature agreed to address our students, I’m sure our SAIoneers will benefit from their words of wisdom & their pertinent expertise in hockey”. Referring to the Founder- Chairman, Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, she continued, “Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo was an ardent lover of Sports & I’m elated to see his vision of  making a Better India through Education being attained with the holistic development of the body, mind and spirit through the amalgamation of sports and education.”