How easily the world can turn around! The first Asian gold medallist from north Bengal, Swapna Barman, who was felicitated along with a host of other sportspersons of the region by the Baghajatin Athletic Club during the prize distribution ceremony of its cross-country race last year, will inaugurate the 34th edition of the race on October 8 in Siliguri this year.
The former general secretary of the club, Shivnath Ganguly, said Miss Barman, who has made north Bengal and India proud by winning India’s first heptathlon gold in the Asian Games, will flag off both the All-India Open Half Marathon and the 6-km-long Fraternity Race.
“It gives us immense pleasure to invite Swapna to flag off the races. Last year, we invited her on the stage during the prize distribution ceremony of the races along with some other talented players of our region and honoured her. I distinctly remember when she sat beside our inaugurator, the Indian women’s T20 cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur along with the other sportspersons on the eve of the twin races last year, nobody paid attention to her and no media persons asked a single question to her. Now that she has made us all proud by becoming a legend, everybody is keen to help and support her. Indeed, nothing succeeds like success,” Mr Ganguly said.
The ace sports organizer, who strongly believes that many other players from the region would put up sterling performances by 2022, said their club would soon start a programme to extend different kinds of aid and assistance to talented and aspiring sportpersons of the region.
The club president, Utpal Banerjee, said Miss Barman would flag off the half marathon and the 6-km-long race at 6.30 am and 7.00 am from Sukna and Matigara respectively. The two races would culminate at the club enclosures, he added. Club secretary Kuntal Roy said over 700 athletes from all over India were expected to take part in the races.
“Last year, a total of 130 and 450 athletes took part in the half marathon and the 6-km-long race respectively. This year the total prize money is Rs 3 lakh. We expect a better response,” he said