FIFTH ARMY INTERNATIONAL SCOUT MASTERS COMPETITION COMMENCES AT JAISALMER

Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), August 5, 2019 : Jaisalmer Military Station is hosting the fifth Army International Scout Masters Competition as part of the Army International Games. The competition commenced with a Grand Opening Ceremony concurrently with Opening Ceremony at Moscow on 05 August 2019.

Lieutenant General DS Ahuja, AtiVishishtSeva Medal, Chief of Staff Southern Command was the Chief Guest for the Opening Ceremony. The ceremony was also witnessed by Lieutenant General VS Sreenivas, VishishtSeva Medal and Bar, General Officer Commanding KonarkCoprs, Lieutenant General Yunus –BekEvkurov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Russian Federation and other military and civil dignitaries.

International Scout Masters Competition is being held in India for the first time. Konark Corps, on behalf of the Southern Command, is organising the competition. The competition will be conducted for over a period of 09 days from 06 August to 14 August 2019 at Jaisalmer and its neighbouring areas. The previous Army Scout Masters Competition was held in Novosibirsk, Russia. The Russian Team were winners of the previous event. Army Scout Master teams from seven countries viz Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Sudan  are participating for the coveted Army Scout Masters Competition, besides India.

Lieutenant General DS Ahuja, Chief of Staff Southern Command welcomed the participants and said that it was a matter of great pride and honour for India to host such a prestigious competition and conveyed his best wishes to all the participating teams and wished them an enriching experience in the Golden city of Jaisalmer. The fifth Army International Scout Masters Competition was thereafter declared open by the Chief Guest.

The inaugural function included a ceremonial Marching In by the participating contingents and oath taking by all the teams. To give a cultural flavour to the Opening Ceremony, there was a show of skills and cultural activities by the Indian Army which included, breath taking martial arts display ‘Kalarippayattu” by Madras Regiment Troops. The participating teams were entertained by the scintillating and vigorous ‘Bhangra” by Sikh Light Infantry Regiment Troops and “Khukri Dance’ by the Gorkha Regiment Troops. The Russian contingent also showcased their cultural performance. The kaleidoscope of cultural activities kept the spectators enthralled and awed during the entire opening ceremony.