Pilani: The All India IPSC Under-17 Boys Football tournament 2026 got underway at the Vidya Niketan Birla Public School (BPS), Pilani on Saturday. The prestigious national-level tourney has brought together football teams from 24 leading schools, who are members of the Indian Public Schools’ Conference (IPSC).International freestyle wrestler Pooja Sihag was the chief guest. Pooja Sihag is a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and a multiple Asian Championship medallist, and has represented India on numerous occasions. The guest of honour was Major General SS Nair (Retd), AVSM, Director, Birla Education Trust (BET).The five-day competition will provide young footballers with an opportunity to showcase their sporting talent, discipline and team spirit.
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The opening match was played between Vidya Niketan Birla Public School, Pilani and Genesis Global School, Noida. A total of 43 exciting matches will be played during the five-day meet, which is being held from July 25 to 29.The competition commenced with great enthusiasm and grandeur at BPS, Pilani.
Both the teams of the inaugural match of the All India IPSC Under-17 Boys’ Football Tournament 2026 pose together with the guests and officials in Pilani on Saturday
The host school principal Kajal Marwah, welcomed the chief guest and the guest of honour by presenting them with floral bouquets, along with the distinguished guests, coaches and players. The tournament was formally inaugurated with the hoisting of the IPSC flag. Ishan Chaudhary, a student of the school, introduced the chief guest.During the inaugural ceremony, the chief guest inspected the impressive march-past of the participating teams. Addressing the players, Pooja Sihag said that sports teach discipline, teamwork and perseverance. She encouraged the young athletes to compete with dedication and uphold the true spirit of sportsmanship, showcasing the rich sporting tradition of Birla Public School.Major General SS Nair (Retd), AVSM, Director, Birla Education Trust, encouraged the players and remarked that sports are a powerful medium for nation-building and character development. He said that such events strengthen the spirit of healthy competition.Among those present were Arun Kumar Khandelia, former president, Vinoba; Sumit Kumar, current president, Vinoba; Virendra Kumar Dahiya, IPSC observer and football coach; Achala Verma, principal, Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, Pilani; Pawan Vashistha, principal, Birla Shishu Vihar, Pilani; Sushant Kumar Baral, headmaster, Birla Public School, Pilani; Mahesh Chand Pandey, Bursar; Sadanand Tyagi, DOPC; and Manoranjan Kumar, academic coordinator, along with members of the teaching fraternity, students and several distinguished guests.The vote of thanks was proposed by Utpal Raj, cultural captain. The ceremony concluded with the national anthem. The school fraternity extended a warm welcome to all participating teams and wished them a successful tournament and outstanding performances.The tournament coordinators, Vijay Singh Rathore and Anand Singh Rathore, head of the sports department, Birla Public School, Pilani, informed that 24 IPSC member schools, along with more than 460 players and officials, are participating in the national championship. The participating schools are as follows:Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok (Sikkim); Delhi Public School, RK Puram (New Delhi); BK Birla Centre for Education, Pune; Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Mohali; The Lawrence School, Sanawar.Modern School, Barakhamba Road (New Delhi); Pinegrove School; Rashtriya Military School (RMS), Ajmer; The Daly College, Indore; LKSEC, Gotan.Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet; The Sanskaar Valley School, Bhopal; Sainik School, Goalpara (Assam); Welham Boys’ School, Dehradun; The Scindia School, Gwalior.Vidya Niketan Birla Public School, Pilani; Rashtriya Military School (RMS), Dholpur; Punjab Public School (PPS), Nabha; Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Patiala; Genesis Global School, Noida.Spectators will also be able to follow the live scores of all matches through the Sofascore mobile application.
