Report on the 27th Ryan MiniThon 2026
Essence International School Students Shine at the 27th Ryan MiniThon 2026
Report By: Kalpesh Paunikar
The 27th Ryan Minithon 2026, organised by St. Xavier’s High School, MIDC, Nagpur, was successfully conducted on Sunday, 30 August 2026. The event witnessed an overwhelming response, with more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants representing 26 schools from across Nagpur city. The MiniThon provided young athletes with an excellent platform to showcase their talent, determination, discipline and sporting spirit.
Among the participating schools, 67 students from Essence International School took part in this prestigious city-level running event. Their enthusiastic participation reflected the school’s commitment to promoting physical fitness, sportsmanship and the holistic development of its students. The young runners displayed remarkable enthusiasm, confidence and determination throughout the event and brought pride to the school through their commendable performances. The students were accompanied and guided by the school’s dedicated Physical Education teachers, Mr. Kalpesh Paunikar, Mr. Kunal Evanate and Ms. Nisha Tarare & Sports HOD Mr. Sadashiv Boldhan who played an important role in motivating and encouraging the young participants. Their guidance, constant support and encouragement helped the students remain confident and enthusiastic throughout the MiniThon. The teachers’ efforts in preparing, accompanying and motivating the students contributed greatly to making their participation a memorable and successful experience.
The event began with great excitement and anticipation among the participants, teachers, parents and officials. The race was ceremonially flagged off by Mr. Omprakash Pandey, Sub-Fire Officer, MIDC, and Lt. Dr. Yogesh More, Associate, Maharashtra Battalion NCC. Their presence added significance to the occasion and inspired the young participants to give their best. The flag-off marked the beginning of a spirited competition in which children from different schools competed with enthusiasm while upholding the true values of sportsmanship and fair play.
The MiniThon was not merely a race but a celebration of fitness, perseverance and healthy competition. The sight of thousands of young runners participating with energy and determination created an inspiring atmosphere. The event encouraged students to understand the importance of physical activity, stamina, discipline and a healthy lifestyle. It also gave them an opportunity to interact with students from different schools and experience the excitement of participating in a large-scale sporting event.
The students of Essence International School delivered a noteworthy performance in their respective categories. Their achievements demonstrated the hard work, dedication and determination that they put into their preparation.
In the Under-12 Girls category, Aadhya Ajmere secured an impressive Gold Medal, bringing great honour to Essence International School. Another talented young runner from the school, Navenya Pendam, secured an excellent 8th position in the Under-12 Girls category.
In the Under-14 Boys category, Laksh Kalambe put up a strong performance and secured an impressive 4th position.
The achievements of Aadhya Ajmere, Navenya Pendam and Laksh Kalambe brought immense pride to their school, teachers, parents and fellow students. Their performances also served as an inspiration to other students of Essence International School to participate actively in sports and strive for excellence. The excitement reached another high when Essence International School proudly secured 3rd place in the Team Championship!
The event concluded with an inspiring and dignified closing ceremony attended by several distinguished personalities. The ceremony was graced by Squadron Leader P. K. Ingle, Aeronautical Engineer; Col. Ajit Handa; Dr. Kevin Agrawal, Physiotherapist; and Mr. Abhishek Thaware, International Archer Player.
The presence of such accomplished personalities added tremendous value to the closing ceremony. Their achievements and experiences served as an inspiration to the young participants, reminding them that success is achieved through discipline, consistent effort, determination and a positive attitude.
The remarkable participation and achievements of the students were warmly appreciated by the school leadership. Hon. Director Mr. Vijay Menon, and Dr. Hema Menon, along with the Respected Principal, Mrs. Beena Menon, and the Esteemed Quality Coordinator, Mrs. Jayshri Sastri, congratulated the students for their outstanding performance and enthusiastic participation in the 27th Ryan MiniThon 2026. They acknowledged the dedication, perseverance and sporting spirit demonstrated by all the participants and appreciated the achievements. The school leadership praised the students for bringing laurels to Essence International School and encouraged them to continue pursuing excellence in sports and other co-curricular activities. They also appreciated the sincere efforts of the Physical Education teachers, Mr. Kalpesh Paunikar, Mr. Kunal Evanate, Ms. Nisha Tarare & Sports HOD Sadashiv Boldhan for accompanying, guiding and motivating the students throughout the event.
