The Ascend U19 football team proudly represented the school for the second time at the ABWA Fiesta Tournament, hosted by Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA) at Cooperage Grounds. As the reigning champions, the team had high expectations to repeat last year’s result. Participating in this competition meant facing strong opponents from across Mumbai in a spirited display of teamwork and determination.
Ascend was placed in a group alongside ABWA B-team, Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS), and Singapore International School (SIS). Each game tested the team’s focus and resilience.
The first match, played against ABWA B Team at 8:15 AM, ended in a 2–1 victory for Ascend. Ascend’s striker, Arjun Shah, drew first blood, giving Ascend a quick lead in the first half. However, a penalty was conceded which gave ABWA B a chance to equalize. Fortunately, before full time, Arjun had the chance to dribble forward and secure the victory.
The second match at 10:45 AM saw Ascend face DAIS, a tough opponent. Despite a strong effort, Ascend narrowly lost 2–1. While the first half was well fought and showed strength from both sides, the second half had many more reckless errors. Even though they were 2–0 down, captain Vir Desai was able to score a penalty before the game ended.
With qualification still possible, the final group match against Singapore International School at 12:45 PM was a must-win. Ascend delivered under pressure, securing a 1–0 win. Arjun managed to score with a simple finish after an excellent cross from winger Manthan Rana. For the rest of the game, the midfield and defense controlled the game and kept Ascend in complete control. With a convincing win, Ascend had secured their place in the semi-finals.
This advancement meant that Ascend was set to face the winners of Group A, BD Somani. Despite a valiant effort, Ascend lost this game 2 goals to none. Yet again, the first half was competitive and looked promising for Ascend. However, in the second half, the team had lost energy and struggled to keep up. Then, in the final 10 minutes, BD Somani managed to score two goals without much resistance from Ascend. With the referee’s final whistle, it was confirmed that Ascend would not go on to the finals or get the chance to win the trophy once again.
Overall, it was a strong showing from the Ascend U19s, who reached the semi-finals after a series of intense matches. While the end result was not as promising as they had hoped, the tournament taught the team about areas for improvement and technical skills which needed to be refined in practice. Now, Ascend is looking forward to playing BD Liga on the 29th and 30th of November. With the improvements that have been made to the team, Ascend has the chance to win the tournament and justify its place as one of the top schools in Mumbai.
