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Uttar Pradesh Pratham Welfare Association (UPPWA), an associate organisation of the ICBF under the aegis of the Indian embassy in Qatar, successfully hosted its inaugural ceremony on January 16 at Kanjani Hall, IICC, Al Thumama, Doha.The event marked the formal launch of the association as an associate organisation under ICBF and witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Indian community.Eish Singhal, first secretary (labour and community welfare), embassy of India in Qatar, graced the occasion as chief guest.During the ceremony, Ziauddin Ahmad, president of UPPWA, presented the association's mission and vision, highlighting its continued efforts since 2015 to promote the welfare and upliftment of people from Uttar Pradesh. Asif Khan, vice president of the association, presented a memento to the chief guest as a token of appreciation.In his address, Eish Singhal assured the Indian embassy's full support for UPPWA's initiatives to assist underprivileged members of the UP community.Deepak Shetty, general secretary of ICBF, also reiterated ICBF’s commitment to supporting all benevolent and community-oriented activities undertaken by the association.Adding a cultural touch to the evening, noted poetess Salini Verma spoke about her latest book focused on sports in Qatar. A short video showcasing UPPWA’s past welfare activities received special appreciation and was a key highlight of the programme.The event was compered by Nazia, while Junaid Khan, general secretary of UPPWA, delivered the vote of thanks.Several prominent dignitaries and community leaders were present, including Rasheed Ahamed (VP, ICBF), Satendra Pathak, Obaid Tahir, Nilanshu Dey, RJ Sarwar, RJ Gaurav, Zaid Ahmad, Qamar Alam, Shahid Khan, R K Singh, Nagma, and others. 

The Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) organised the prize distribution ceremony of the 11th Hajikka Memorial Essay Writing Competition for Indian school students in Doha.The competition, conducted annually by ICBF since 2015 on socially relevant themes, this year witnessed a total of 245 students from 13 Indian schools participating.The programme commenced with a welcome address by Repatriation and Youth Affairs head Irfan Ansari, followed by a briefing on the competition by general secretary Deepak Shetty.**media[395148]**In his presidential address, ICBF president Shanavas Bava highlighted the importance of encouraging young minds to engage with values of service and social responsibility.ICBF coordinating officer and Indian embassy first secretary Eish Singhal was the chief guest and Bhavan's Public School vice principal Dharamraj Kumar the guest of honour.The evaluators, Padmaja Oruganti and Jayashree Sridhar, shared their feedback and appreciated the quality of the essays, the relevance of the topic, and ICBF’s continued efforts to promote the noble ideals and legacy of Hajikka, the Indian expatriate renowned for his social work.The ceremony was attended by family members of Hajikka, ICBF advisory council chairman K S Prasad, programme committee chairman K V Boban, former president Davis Edakalathur, office bearers of associated organisations, community leaders, teachers, students, and parents.**media[395149]**Trophies and certificates were distributed to the winners, participants, and invigilators.The event was coordinated by vice president Rasheed Ahamed, along with managing committee members Mani Bharathi, Shankar Goud, Neelambari, Mini Siby, and Amar Veer Singh, and advisory council member Satheesh V.The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by secretary Jafer Thayyil. 

Horwitz Bishop Rapid Chess Tournament was held on October 3rd at the Integrated Indian Community Centre (ICBF), Al Thumama, attracting nearly 150 young chess players across two categories: Under-15 and Under-10. A total of 20 prizes were awarded, recognising both overall champions and top performers in specific age groups.In the U-15 section, played over 6 rounds, Kishore Arunagiri was crowned champion, while Prince Lieven secured the first runner-up position. In the Under-10 category, conducted over 7 rounds, Edwin Idiculla Sanju took the championship title, with Daya Vasanthakumar finishing as the first runner-up.The tournament also honoured standout young talents with special category prizes for: Best Boy & Best Girl in U-12, U-11, U-9, U-8 and U-7 categories.Games were played with a 20-minute time control plus a 5-minute sudden death, creating a fast-paced and competitive environment. The event was organized under the leadership of Tournament Director Jaise Joseph, with Chief Arbiter Rayan Joseph Jaise and Deputy Chief Arbiter Ismath Nahan MP ensuring fair and smooth conduct throughout the day. The prize distribution was conducted by Srikanth L Kanakakumar and Aswani Ashok, Physical Education teachers from Birla Public School, Qatar.