Sports and adventure activities

Despite the mounting evidence of the benefits of Sports, Physical Activities and Adventure, there continues to be a general under-appreciation of the importance of sports and adventure activity - both to individuals and the wider society. Whenever the importance of these things are discussed, the discussion always tends to get narrowed down to a range of issues, such as obesity and coronary heart disease. Physical health is important, undoubtedly, but it is not more than a fraction of what is supposed to be the full benefit of sports and adventurous activities. Since the positive outcomes of sports and adventure activity are not autonomous and disconnected - they reinforce each other - the true value of sports and/or activity can only be properly appreciated from a very broad holistic perspective.

Sport and adventure are embodied in the ability to take part in sporting and other physical activities, and that these activities produce value that are realized through increased well-being, educational achievement and, ultimately, economic value. This is not to suggest that the importance of sports and physical activity is overlooked by policymakers or the wider society. Indeed, there is increasing acceptance that regular sports and physical activities form an important and necessary feature of healthy living and development precisely because of the consequences of inactivity.

Sports, Physical and adventure activities and NCC go hand in hand, these are a substantial part of NCC that usually get overshadowed by normal people but NCC knowing the significance of it, never ignores it and always encourages cadets in doing so. These being a crucial part of a cadet’s life for their mental and physical growth, NCC emphasises on cadets having regular drills related to these to maintain their confidence and exercise.

NCC facilitates access to high potential sports like Football, Hockey and Shooting to talented cadets so as to embrace their team and sports skills. Emphasising on sports, various sports competitions are organised in smaller NCC units & on a bigger level NCC teams regularly participate and excel in National level events like Subroto Cup Football, Nehru Cup Hockey and National Shooting. NCC Cadets from all NCC Directorates actively participate in various sports activities at the National level as follows:- ● NCC National Games. NCC National Games were started in 2013, giving opportunity to the youth from NCC for exposure to competition and selection at the national level. ● All GV Mavlankar Shooting Competition. Firing being one of the important training activities of NCC, shooting discipline enjoys a special place in NCC sporting activities. NCC conducts Inter State Directorate Shooting competition to select the NCC team to participate in the National Rifle Association of Indian (NRAI) events like All India GV Mavlankar Shooting Championship Competition and National Shooting Championship Competition every year. ● Jawaharlal Nehru Cup Hockey Tournament. Four NCC teams in junior boys, sub junior boys and junior girls categories participate in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament every year.

Adventure being the blood of youth, NCC provides constant Adventure training. Adventure training in the NCC provides knowledge to cadets of the topography as well as experience of different weather conditions and adventurous living under camp conditions. The whole aim is to inculcate a spirit of adventure, explorative inquisitiveness, develop stamina, endurance, discipline, courage, determination, comradeship, leadership leading to development of self-confidence, team spirit and spirit-de-corps amongst NCC cadets. NCC cadets are given the opportunity to participate in a host of adventure activities including Mountain Treks and Expeditions, Trekking, Parasailing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Camel safari etc. Adventure based activities enable cadets to hone leadership skills and enhance their character qualities. Cadets with potential are given opportunities to participate in expeditions requiring higher degree of expertise and proficiency. ● Mountaineering Expeditions. NCC conducts two mountaineering expeditions every year, one each for the girl and boy cadets. ● All India Trekking Expedition. 29 Trekking Expeditions are conducted annually with participation of 14500 Cadets from all State NCC Directorates. ● Parasailing. Parasailing is conducted by the NCC Directorates giving cadets the thrill and experience of this adventure activity. Another example of encouraging normal people to remain healthy by engaging in Physical Activities is the Fit India Movement launched on 29 August, 2019 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Stadium in New . The campaign has a "Fitness Pledge" that reads, I promise to myself that I will devote time for physical activity and sports every day and I will encourage my family members and neighbours to be physically fit and make India a fit nation

As it is said:- “Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” Despite caring about one’s age, one should mandatorily do Physical Activities to ensure the fitness of the body as well as of the mind. Even a small unit of Physical Activity as a walk is proven to do miracles. - Krish Poptani CH19SDA311504