Auckland House School for Boys (AHSB) is celebrating a major sporting milestone as six basketball players and an athlete have qualified for the CISCE National Championships after delivering stellar performances at the regional level.
Representing Himachal Pradesh, the AHSB basketball team stormed to the CISCE Regional title with dominant victories over Muktsar Sahib (49-22), Delhi NCR (45-30) in the semi-finals, and Gurdaspur (47-24) in the final. The triumph earned Arhan Shah, Antriksh, Naman, Varanya, Viraj and Sannat places in the national championship.
Adding to the school’s success, Class IX student Rudra Dogra booked his ticket to the CISCE National Athletics Championship by finishing runner-up in the Under-17 400 metres.
For basketball captain Arhan Shah, discipline proved to be the team’s biggest strength. A Class XII student and former national-level player, Arhan hopes to study at the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior, before realising his dream of representing India.
“One of the best decisions by our Principal, Reuben T. John, was keeping us away from mobile phones during the tournament. It helped us stay focused, build stronger team spirit and play for one another. That unity made the difference,” he said.
Rudra, meanwhile, sees his national qualification as the beginning of a bigger journey. “I’ve discovered that speed is my greatest strength. Every race teaches me something, and my goal is to represent India one day,” he said.
Despite competing in different sports, both athletes share the same belief: criticism should be embraced as motivation to improve. They credit the school’s motto, Altiora Peto—”I seek higher things”—for inspiring them to aim higher every day.
The achievements also reflect the dedicated guidance of coaches Navneet Thakur and Vijesh Verma, whose mentorship has helped shape AHSB’s sporting success.
Congratulating the students, Principal Reuben T. John said, “These achievements embody the spirit of Altiora Peto. Discipline, humility and perseverance have taken our students to the national stage, where they will proudly represent both the school and Himachal Pradesh. We wish them every success.”
As the young athletes prepare for the national championships, AHSB has every reason to believe that its latest success story is only the beginning.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
