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The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) inaugurated the 2nd edition of the “PSPB Summer Camp 2025”, an initiative aimed at promoting sports among the employees’ children of Member Companies and fostering a robust sporting culture within the Oil & Gas sector.
This year, coaching is being offered in five disciplines—Cricket, Badminton, Basketball, Table Tennis, and for the first time, Chess has been introduced to the camp lineup.
The camp is being conducted across three venues:
- Cricket Coaching Ground, Vasant Kunj
- Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC)
- Noida Indoor Stadium, Sector 21
The inauguration ceremonies at each location were graced by Ms. Sabeena Chowdhary (Member Secretary, PSPB), Shri Sandeep Sarkaria (Joint Secretary, PSPB), and Shri Lalit Watts (Advisor, PSPB).
The occasion also served as a platform to commemorate World Environment Day, where the PSPB team encouraged young participants to take part in tree plantation drives and adopt environmentally responsible practices to keep their surroundings clean and green.
During the ceremony, Ms. Sabeena Chowdhary emphasized the importance of punctuality and discipline, encouraging participants to make the most of the camp. She extended her best wishes to all the young athletes, motivating them to strive for excellence and contribute to India’s growing stature as a sporting nation.
Shri Lalit Watts, Advisor PSPB, and Shri Sandeep Sarkaria, Joint Secretary also emphasized the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance as key attributes for success in sports.
Joint Secretary PSPB Shri Sarkaria, a distinguished former athlete himself, engaged directly with the young players, sharing personal insights on handling pressure and overcoming challenges, inspiring them to stay committed to their goals.
For the first time, Chess has been introduced in the PSPB Summer Camp 2025. Given the rich chess legacy shared by India and Russia, the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC) served as the ideal venue perfectly symbolizing the spirit of the game.
The inauguration ceremony of Chess at RCSC was also graced by Dr. Elena Remizova, Director of RCSC. She extended a warm welcome to all participants and wished them a bright and successful sporting future. She also expressed her delight at the impressive turnout and assured her full support towards the success of the coaching camp.
Expressing gratitude, Ms. Sabeena Chowdhary thanked Dr. Remizova and RCSC for offering such a meaningful and iconic venue “a place where the mind truly meets.”
The 10-day Chess camp will culminate on 15th June 2025 with a closing ceremony, where medals and certificates will be awarded to the young participants in recognition of their dedication and enthusiasm.