Bhagalpur: Two students from Mount Assisi School in Bhagalpur have been selected to represent Bihar at the national level in lawn tennis, marking a significant achievement for the district’s school sports community.
Paridhi Thakur, a Class 7 student, and Prayaansh Thakur, a Class 9 student, have secured places in the upcoming national championship organised by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). Their selection follows consistent performances in competitive tournaments, including participation at the national stage during the CISCE Games.
Paridhi has been chosen in the under-14 girls’ category and will compete at the championship scheduled to take place from April 16 to 20 at the Thyagaraj Stadium. Her inclusion in the state squad is seen as a milestone in her early sporting career, as she prepares to face top-ranked school players from across the country.
Prayaansh, meanwhile, has been named in the under-14 boys’ category as the additional sixth player in Bihar’s squad. Of the six selected players, five are from Patna, making Prayaansh the only representative from Bhagalpur in the boys’ team. School officials said his selection reflects both individual merit and growing tennis talent beyond the state capital.
The students’ parents, Dr Pammi Rai and Dr Pankaj Kumar, both medical practitioners in the city, said the achievement was the result of sustained effort, discipline and careful balance between academics and sport. According to school authorities, both students regularly score above 96% in examinations, underlining their ability to combine sporting ambition with academic excellence.
Father Kurian, principal of Mount Assisi School, described the selection as a moment of pride for the institution. Vice-principal Father Jospe also congratulated the students, adding that their accomplishment would inspire other young athletes in the district to pursue competitive sport alongside their studies.
