BANGALORE:
The 3rd edition of Umang, IIIT-Bangalore’s annual intercollege sports fest, has come to a resounding close. From November 3rd to November 5th, Umang 2023 played host to more than 850 students representing 25 different colleges, competing across a spectrum of over 10 exhilarating sporting events. The event was marked by fierce competition, unwavering dedication, and a celebration of the spirit of sports.
Umang 2023 officially kicked off on November 3rd with a captivating opening ceremony. The ceremony was a blend of tradition and excitement, featuring the hoisting of the IIIT-B flag and a mesmerizing performance by the college’s music club, Symphony. The event was declared open by the esteemed Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, who served as the Chief Guest. He remarked, “Umang is a reflection of talent, commitment, and unity that thrive among students from diverse backgrounds. It’s truly heartening to witness Umang grow each year, and I’m proud to see such enthusiasm from all participants.”
Throughout the three-day event, the participants displayed exceptional sportsmanship, passion, and determination in a variety of sports, including Football, Volleyball, Throwball, Basketball, Badminton (men’s, women’s, and mixed), Chess, Table Tennis (men’s and women’s), and Powerlifting (men’s).
Day 2 continued with the same energy and enthusiasm, with numerous matches and a substantial presence of home team (IIIT-B) supporters. Despite a brief spell of rain in the evening, the matches continued without significant disruption, highlighting the resilience of the participants.
The final day of Umang 2023 saw nail-biting matches that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. IIIT-B secured first place in chess and powerlifting and secured second place in men’s Table Tennis and powerlifting, further demonstrating their prowess and dedication to the sporting spirit.
The event concluded with a grand closing ceremony at the sports complex, attended by IIIT-Bangalore’s Director and Special Chief Guest, Trupti Murgunde. Ms. Murgunde, a distinguished badminton player, Dhyan Chand awardee, and South Asian and Commonwealth Games Medal Winner expressed her admiration for the athletes, saying, “Umang 2023 has exemplified the unifying power of sports. The commitment and dedication displayed by the participants are truly inspiring. I firmly believe that events like Umang play a pivotal role in nurturing future champions.”
Umang 2023 showcased diverse sporting talent. Winners included New Horizon in Football, Shiva DS, Haneef Bilal, Ahijith Melath, Vidhu, and Yeshwanth Kumar in Powerlifting, PES RR in Badminton Men’s Singles, Surbhi Mittal in Badminton Women’s Singles, Bits Goa in Table Tennis Men’s Singles, IIIT-B in Chess, Surana in Volleyball, SJU in Basketball Women’s 3v3, MSRIT in Basketball Men’s 3v3, Alliance University in Basketball Men’s 5v5, PES RR in Badminton Mixed Doubles, and SJU in Throwball.
