‘Sports Forge the Leaders of Tomorrow’

PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD: In a vibrant ceremony that blended civic pride with sporting spirit, Mayor Ravi Landge on Saturday formally inaugurated the MLA Cup District-Level Volleyball Championship 2026 at Dnyanprabodhini Navnagar Vidyalaya, Nigdi — underscoring the city administration’s firm belief that athletics and academics must grow side by side.

The championship, jointly organised by the Rural Athlete Development Project and MLA Uma Khapre’s office, drew scores of young volleyball players from across the district, many of them from rural pockets of Pimpri-Chinchwad, all eager to prove their mettle on the court.

A Platform for Rural Talent

Mayor Landge stressed that in today’s fiercely competitive world, holistic development — physical fitness, team spirit, and discipline — is just as critical as academic achievement. “Competitive tournaments like this are precisely the crucibles in which future state and national-level champions are forged,” he said, drawing sustained applause from the young athletes present.

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He further urged students to participate regularly in diverse sporting competitions and to carry the spirit of sportsmanship — fair play, grace in defeat, and humility in victory — at all times.

Dignitaries Present at the Inauguration

The ceremony was attended by MLA Uma Khapre (Maharashtra Legislative Council Member), Deputy Mayor Sharmila Babar, Kailas Kute (Chairman, Arts, Sports, Literature & Culture Committee, PCMC), Corporator Amit Gawde, Dr. Manoj Devlekar (Principal, Dnyanprabodhini Nigdi Centre), and Jaydeep Khapre, along with teachers, students, and sports enthusiasts in large numbers.

Why This Tournament Matters

MLA Uma Khapre reiterated that grassroots tournaments of this scale are indispensable for talent discovery. The championship provides a district-wide platform — often the first of its kind for many participants — offering young athletes from rural and semi-urban areas the visibility they seldom receive through school sports alone.

Athletes and Spectators Electrified

The atmosphere inside the school grounds was electric from the moment the inaugural whistle blew. Players and spectators alike expressed their enthusiasm openly, with many athletes noting that tournaments of this stature give rural youth a rare chance to showcase abilities that might otherwise go unnoticed. The general sentiment was clear — events like the MLA Cup will not only sharpen competitive instincts but also deepen Pimpri-Chinchwad’s sporting culture in the years ahead.

Organisers confirmed that matches will continue over the coming days, with the eventual champions earning recognition at the district level and a pathway towards state-level competitions.

“Sports are not a luxury for students — they are the laboratory where leadership, decision-making and unshakeable self-confidence are built. Every student must step onto the field, not just the classroom.”

— Mayor Ravi Landge