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Zest’20, is the annual, national-level sports extravaganza conducted by the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). COEP was established in 1854 and is the third oldest college in Asia. Being the top engineering college in India, it is one of the most happening institute.

Started in 2002, Zest has grown exponentially. Hosting 21 different sports through 88 challenging events spread across 3 grounds in Pune, Zest is truly a coliseum for all sports.

Being a completely student organized fest, the event nurtures the idea, “For the students, by the students”, thereby trying to incorporate the best of ideas with every consecutive year.

Zest is ranked 5th biggest sports fest in all over India, however, the event not only gives a stage to foster talents, but also believes in expanding the team’s aim in doing good to the society.

Their last year’s initiative called, “Transcending Boundaries” aimed to promote Paralympic sports. The Zest team were proud to have esteemed guests such as Sandeep Singh, Lalita Babar, Tejaswini Sawant, Rahi Sarobat to grace the inaugural ceremony, where they encouraged the youth of our nation to take up sports as a viable career and that no barrier should hold you down.

For their current edition, their initiative will be called “Edify the Core”. With much being said about how sports can act as a viable career and that no barrier should hold you back, they are trying to incorporate that sports shouldn’t just be an option, but a necessity for one’s life.

The event’s intention is to promote both physical and mental health through the idea that sports is human life in microcosm. In this world of competitions, the team realized that everybody is missing out on the most crucial aspect of life; life itself.

Life doesn’t only revolve around ‘what to do next?’ but self care and improvement from within in terms of wellness plays an important part too. If we want a change in the society, we must strive to be the change. 

ZEST’20 conducted 5 Women Self Defense Workshops- ‘Abhedya’, successfully in 5 cities across Maharashtra including Amravati, Sangli, Nashik, Aurangabad and Mumbai under the patronage of Maharashtra State Commission for Women, in the month of January, garnering a participation of 110, 232, 292, 402 and 276 women respectively. The series will conclude with the workshop scheduled in Pune.

After successfully conducting the workshops, the 18th edition of ZEST started with it’s flagship event Cyclothon on 12th January, focusing on promoting cycling culture with a participation of 347 cyclists.

The third edition of ‘Marathon’, an event under COEP’s sports festival Zest’20 kicked off well. The event went off well under the aegis of ‘ZTCC’, an organisation which promotes organ donation, along with the conjunction of  ‘Swachcha Sarvekshan’, ‘PMC’ and ‘College of Engineering, Pune’. 

‘Marathon’ witnessed participation of cycling enthusiasts from different age groups and diverse walks of life. Right from children of 8 years of age to oldies of 65 years of age, all took to the streets in jillion.

The overall winner for 21KM Half Marathon was Vinit Malik while Chandrakant Manwadkar and Sanjay Kambad secured 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

’Run for vitality’ is the tag line for the event which aims towards creating awareness about organ donation and promoting a healthy lifestyle which helps create a healthy environment is the main objective of the event. 

The event saw the gracious presence of the Director of COEP, Dr. B.B. Ahuja sir, Dean of student affairs, Dr. Dhamangaonkar Sir, Gymkhana Vice President Dr. Bhavikatti madam and the representative of the ZTCC.

The event was graced with the presence of world’s youngest ultra Marathon runner, Saieshwar Guntuk. The main attraction of the event was Mr. Prasad Jawade, a well known actor from Marathi and Hindi film industry, who graced the prize distribution ceremony of the Marathon.

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