Report: Shazab Muneer
Outstanding performance by madrasa students; winning players honoured with trophies, medals and cash prizes; a joint initiative by Insaniyat Foundation, Umeed Education Welfare and Ibn Sina Academy
Aligarh: To step onto the sports field, one does not need to be associated with major institutions; what is required is courage, hard work and ability. Students from madrasas in Aligarh conveyed this message through their performance during a badminton tournament held at Danpur Compound, demonstrating that if they are also provided with proper opportunities, they can establish their identity in major competitions. Children belonging to madrasas of different schools of thought delivered an impressive performance on the court and earned appreciation from the audience. The tournament began after Zuhr prayers, and the matches continued until Isha. During this time, the enthusiasm and spirit of the players not only created an exciting sporting atmosphere but also strengthened their dreams of representing the country in global competitions such as the Olympics.
The tournament was inaugurated by former District Judge Badrudduja Naqvi. In the competition, Muhammad Aqdas Hussain of Madrasa Uloom Islamia delivered an excellent performance, secured first position and won the badminton cup. Umar Ayaz of Al-Bahir Academy finished second, while Affan of Faizul Makatib Academy secured third position and Zaid bin Umar of Madrasa Ashab-e-Safa finished fourth. All four successful players were awarded trophies, badminton rackets and shuttlecocks, and were presented with caps as a symbol of their achievement. In addition, both outstanding players in the final match were given cash prizes worth thousands of rupees to encourage them.
The organisers did not restrict the distribution of prizes to the first four positions. Players who performed well at different stages of the tournament were also appreciated. Eight players who reached the quarter-finals were awarded gold medals, while 18 players who won league matches received silver medals. Furthermore, 15 children were given cash prizes by the audience and organisers through a lucky draw. This arrangement also encouraged children who could not secure any of the first four positions but demonstrated their abilities by participating in the tournament.
In terms of participation by madrasa students, Madrasa Daira Uloom, Tan Tan Para, stood out, with the highest number of participants—17 children—taking part in the tournament from this institution. In recognition of this significant participation, the madrasa’s head, or muhtamim, was presented with two badminton rackets and shuttlecocks. The objective was to encourage the madrasa’s children to participate more actively in sporting activities and enable them to bring glory to the country through their performance in the future. Through this initiative, the organisers sought to promote an interest in sports in madrasas and provide students with better opportunities to progress.
To ensure that the matches were conducted in an organised manner, different individuals took responsibility for refereeing and scoring. Ghulam Rabbani and Afroz Alam performed the duties of referees, while Dr Zia ur Rahman, Engineer Fazal and Commandant Imran Khan were responsible for scoring. Commentary for the tournament was provided in a distinctive and impressive style by former District Judge Badrudduja Naqvi, who had travelled from Lucknow. He was also the programme’s first senior adviser. His commentary heightened the excitement during the matches and maintained the audience’s interest.
Professor Yusufuzzaman, Games Secretary of Aligarh Muslim University and an internationally renowned personality, accepted the invitation to attend the programme as the chief guest and added to the splendour of the event. Rashid Shaz, Rashida Naseem, who had travelled from Dubai, and Professor Maulana Tayyab Raza, former chairman of the Department of Shia Theology, were also present as guests of honour. These distinguished personalities encouraged the students and described sports as an important means of developing young people’s abilities, building their confidence and keeping them engaged in positive activities.
Engineer Rahat Sultan, secretary of the Insaniyat Foundation, played a prominent role in organising the tournament. Preparations carried out over a period of one month, continuous coordination with the organisers and efforts to bring children from different madrasas together on a common platform made a significant contribution to the success of the programme. The importance of his efforts also lies in the fact that he helped provide madrasa students with an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in an environment where their performance was appreciated and they were encouraged to progress further. Such initiatives develop self-confidence, discipline, hard work and the spirit of teamwork among children. By providing students from different schools of thought with an opportunity to play together, Engineer Rahat Sultan also paved the way for greater interaction and cooperation. His efforts demonstrate how useful and lasting activities can be promoted through continuous hard work, collective cooperation and encouragement for young people.
The entire team, including special hosts Padma Shri Hakim Zillur Rahman, renowned cancer specialist Dr Mohsin Raza, Dr Professor Izhar Balgrami, Mohammad Hamid, Anzar Sabri, Dr Zakir, Mohammad Adeeb Sultan and Mohammad Saleheen, played an important role in bringing the programme to fruition. The team worked continuously for a month to make the event possible. The proceedings were conducted by Muhammad Rahat Sultan Israeeli, secretary of the Insaniyat Foundation. Through the collective efforts of the organisers, the tournament became more than just a sporting competition; it also emerged as an important opportunity to encourage students, establish links between different madrasas and strengthen mutual cooperation.
Organised with the joint support of the Insaniyat Foundation, Umeed Education Welfare and Ibn Sina Academy, the tournament highlighted the opportunities available for madrasa students to advance in sports. The participation of children from madrasas representing different schools of thought on a common playing field conveyed the message that sports can serve as an effective means of strengthening mutual interaction and providing young people with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities. From distributing prizes during the tournament to encouraging the madrasa that brought the largest number of children, various initiatives motivated students to move forward. The organisers hope that such activities will increase interest in sports among madrasa students and encourage them to work harder in the future to establish their abilities at district, state, national and international levels. The aim of this initiative is to ensure that children have opportunities to fulfil their dreams and can bring glory to the country through their achievements on the sporting field as well.
