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HS24 Crowned the HuSSLe Champions
HuSSLe 2025 concluded on a high note, marking a memorable first edition of the department-wide championship. Bringing together the Prem Ranjan Cricket Tournament, Ultimate Frisbee Tournament, DoHSS Chess Tournament, and Intra-Department Badminton Tournament under one banner, HuSSLe celebrated competition, camaraderie, and community spirit throughout the year.
Batches HS21, HS22, HS24, HS25, and PhD displayed exceptional enthusiasm, resilience, and sportsmanship, with several tournaments going down to the wire. Through consistent performances, outstanding teamwork, and excellence across events, HS24 emerged as the inaugural HuSSLe champions. The championship trophy was presented to the batch during the farewell night by the HoD, making it a truly fitting and cherished moment.
Congratulations to everyone who participated and contributed to making the very first HuSSLe Championship a grand success. A special note of appreciation goes to the organising team for their commitment, meticulous planning, and tireless hard work in bringing this vision to life.
A Battle of Minds: DoHSS Chess Championship
– Akhil Rama
Chess tournament as a part of HuSSLe championship witnessed a masterclass in strategy and grit during the recent tournament held from February 9th to 13th. With 20 participants divided into four pools, the league stage struck a perfect balance of intensity and mentorship, pairing two to three seasoned masters with enthusiastic newcomers in each group. The atmosphere throughout the qualifiers was electric, seeing standout performances from Arun and Sanjana (Pool A), Santosh and Chenni (Pool B), Ram and Hiba (Pool C), and Roshini and Gaurav (Pool D), all of whom dominated their respective tables to secure quarterfinal berths.
The league stage was a showcase of distinct styles: Chenni built a reputation for relentless attacking, while Arun, Hiba, Gaurav, and Ram, Roshini impressed spectators with their mature, calculated play. Meanwhile, Santosh emerged as the dark horse, proving his underrated skills were a force to be reckoned with.
As the pressure mounted in the knockout rounds, the brilliance peaked. Chenni continued his aggressive dominance, and Ram dispatched his opponent with sheer tactical ingenuity. Santosh gave a clinic on the importance of patience, and Hiba maintained her “slaying” streak to reach the semifinals. After a series of high-stakes matches, the brackets narrowed down to a Chenni vs. Santosh and Hiba vs. Ram showdown, ultimately propelling Chenni and Ram into a much-anticipated final.
The championship match was nothing short of legendary—a gruelling one-hour battle defined by sharp attacking moves, miraculous recoveries, and deep-theory strategies. In the end, Ram emerged victorious, claiming the Gold Medal and the Rs.1,000 grand prize. Chenni took home the Silver Medal and Rs. 750 as the runner-up, while Hiba rounded out the podium in third place, securing the Bronze Medal and Rs. 500. It was a week that celebrated not just the winners but the enduring spirit of the game.
Badminton Tournament: A Fitting Finale to HuSSLe
– Neenu Elza
The HuSSLe league officially came to an end with a banger Badminton tournament, held from 31 March 2026 to 1 April 2026 at SAC Indoor Court. The last event of the series carried the same enthusiasm and energy as the opening cricket tournament, reflecting the deep-rooted passion for sports and games within the department. The two-day tournament witnessed strong participation in various categories, including Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.
The Men’s Singles Category had more than fifteen participants, and the court saw several intense encounters from the very first match. Each team brought its exceptional players, and all fought with determination and competitive spirit to secure their seats in the next rounds. HS22 had Pranay, Santhosh, Alfid, and Akhil, while HS21 had Joseph and Sapan. Arun, Manvendra, Arka, Sanjay, and Govinda represented HS24, and Adithya, Mukul, and Sivam participated from HS25. Ram and Akash Yadav were representatives of the PhD batch, adding more competitiveness to the category. The semi-finals witnessed some of the most exciting moments of the tournament. Sanjay faced Manvendra in a high-voltage Grand Finale that kept the audience engaged until the very end. Manvendra won the category, while Sanjay and Govinda secured second and third place, respectively. All three medal winners belonged to the HS24 batch, reflecting the batch’s dominance throughout the tournament.
Surabhi and Yashasvi from HS25, along with Priyasha from HS22, participated in the Women’s Singles category. Surabhi and Yashasvi advanced to the grand finale, while Priyasha secured the third position. In the final match, Surabhi and Yashasvi put on an energetic, competitive display, with Surabhi emerging as the category winner.
The Mixed Doubles Category stood out for the demonstration of remarkable coordination and teamwork among the partners. The Mixed Doubles category featured the pairs Gaurav/Neenu, Sayanth/Asha, Govind/Surabhi, Sanjay/Gayathri, Prabhanjana/Alfid, Arun/Akanksha, Sapan/Deva, and Santosh/Shania. The grand finale match between Prabhanjana/Alfid and Gaurav/Neenu was an absolutely thrilling experience, which kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Alfid and Prabhanjana eventually claimed the title after an intense contest, and Sanjay/Gayathri secured third place in the category.
Pradeep/Ram, Govinda/Manvendra, Akash/Melvin, and Gaurav/Ritik participated in the Men’s doubles category, demonstrating strong sportsmanship and a passion for the game. In this category, Ram/Pradeep from the PhD batch demonstrated commendable coordination and communication throughout the match. They secured the title after a remarkable win against Gaurav/Ritik, while Govinda and Manvendra secured third place after a convincing win.
The Women’s Doubles category featured competitive matches, with teams including Ananya/Akanksha (HS24), Punnya/Asha (HS21), Devika/Eva (HS21), Tamanna/Sruthi (HS25), Gayathri/Neenu (HS24), and Yashasvi/Varsha (HS25). All the pairs demonstrated strong resilience to the very last point. Yashasvi/Varsha won the title, while Gayathri/Neenu and Ananya/Akanksha secured the silver and bronze, respectively.
The tournament was highly successful thanks to the support of spectators, who gave their time and energy to make the event truly memorable. Their cheers and loud applause changed the mood of the game and the energy level of all participants. It was also interesting to see the audience also playing during the breaks, adding to the lively atmosphere and reflecting the department’s shared enthusiasm.
The tournament ended on a high note, contributing 15 points to HS24’s point pool, significantly strengthening their position in the HuSSLe League points table. Overall, HS25 secured 8 points, while HS22 and the PhD batch earned 4 and 3 points, respectively.
Editor: Alphin Tom
Photos: Department Photography Club and Personal Albums
Article 19 