The first-ever Senior Citizens‘ Sports Summit in Kolkata was held at Manipal Hospitals. Along with distinguished physicians from Manipal Hospitals Kolkata, former Indian cricketer Arun Lal served as the chief guest at the program’s traditional opening lamp-lighting ceremony.

More than 100 senior adults enthusiastically participated in the summit, playing a range of games like spelling bee, chess, carrom, marble and spoon race, musical chairs, brainteasers, and many more. The program was designed to improve seniors’ mental clarity, physical health, and agility while promoting happiness and social engagement.

An interesting panel discussion on the significance of holistic wellbeing for senior citizens was held as part of the summit. The panel featured esteemed experts from Manipal Hospitals, including Dr. Jayanta Roy (Director & Head – Neurology, Manipal Hospitals, Kolkata), Dr. Kunal Sarkar (Director – Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur Cluster), Dr. Debraj Jash (Consultant – Pulmonology, Manipal Hospitals, Broadway), Dr. Subhasis Roy Choudhury (Consultant – Cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Broadway), Dr. Binayak Sinha (Consultant – Diabetes & Endocrinology, Manipal Hospitals, Broadway) and Dr. Debasis Chakravarty (Consultant – Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospitals, Mukundapur).

The prize distribution ceremony was graced by senior specialists across clusters like Dr. Vikash Kapoor (Director – Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur Cluster), Dr. Arindam Pande (Consultant – Interventional Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass), Dr. Sujoy Das Thakur (Consultant – Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur), Dr. Chandrasish Chakraborty (Consultant – Interventional Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur), Dr. Paramita Kanjilal (Consultant – Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake), Dr. Smita Maitra (Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake), Dr. Jayanta Das (Consultant – Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake), Dr. Debraj Jash (Consultant – Pulmonology, Manipal Hospitals, Broadway), Dr. Subhasis Roy Choudhury (Consultant – Cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Broadway), Dr. Binayak Sinha (Consultant – Diabetes & Endocrinology, Manipal Hospitals, Broadway) and Dr. Debasish Chakraborty (Consultant – Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospitals, Mukundapur).

Being the first of its type in Kolkata, the Senior Sports Summit reaffirmed the value of active aging and demonstrated that becoming older does not equate to losing enjoyment, health, or fitness. It was a celebration of healthy living, friendship, and happy memories rather than just a competition.

Priyanka Dutta