The rich tradition of north Bengal's sporting excellence is likely to continue as the first day of the Adamas University Kolkata Presents The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence 2024 North Bengal bore its proof.

On Monday, as the award event commenced at Dinabanchu Mancha in Siliguri, 34 students were honoured and felicitated for their achievements in different sports fields.

“The region has bred sportspersons like Bhaichung Bhutia, Wriddhiman Saha, Richa Ghosh, Mantu Ghosh and Bharat Chhetri. Honouring budding sports talents will boost their confidence and help them excel further in their field,” said Jayanta Bhowmik, the coach of Wriddhiman Saha.

Ishita Das, a Class X student, used to travel to Calcutta from Siliguri once in three months to train in athletics at the campus of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Her father is a farmer and she is the second of four children.

“You can understand how tough it is for me to balance my career in sports and studies. Even then, I continued it for the past four years, participated in some national athletics meets and bagged 10 medals,” the student of Darjeeling Public School said after receiving The SiP Abacus Award for Outstanding Talent in Sports.

Anuj Tamang, Lions Citizens Public School, Siliguri, receives The SiP Abacus Award for Outstanding Talent in Sports on Monday.

Ishita was selected to the SAI campus two years ago, which has helped her get proper infrastructure for practice.

“There is no practice track in Siliguri, which is a major hurdle to athletes like me here in Siliguri. On the SAI campus in Calcutta, my practice is from 4am to 7am and again from 3pm to 7pm. As I got full support from my school, I am managing it,” she added.

Anuj Tamang, a Class X student of Amarpati Lions Citizens Public School, Siliguri, travels almost 15km every day after school to practise boxing.

“My school doesn't have any infrastructure for boxing. As I want to pursue my career in boxing, I have joined an academy,” Tamang said.

His inspiration is Mike Tyson, which makes him go to the academy after school by travelling 15km from his house located at Chhota Fapri, a remote forest hamlet.

“I would like to build my career in the field of boxing,” Tamang said.

R. Subba, the sports director of the Gyanoday Niketan in Darjeeling, who was present at the event, feels that there are talents in sports who are now trying to build their career beyond cricket and soccer.

“Currently, at least three coaching centres for badminton have come up in Darjeeling, where many emerging shuttlers are practising. Players from grassroots are now preferring other sports, other than football and cricket,” said Subba.

Kriten Bhutia from his institution received the award for his sporting excellence.

Also, Chumman Tamang, a student of Rockvale Academy in Kalimpong who joined boxing early this year, spoke about the lack of infrastructure.

“But at the end of the day, it is all about dedication, practice and passion for boxing that drives you. We have a routine that we have to follow every day for practice. Our school is very supportive of that,” she said after receiving the award.