Team Calcutta South Club (CSC) bagged the Gold Plate at Inter Club Floodlit Tennis Tournament presented by CC&FC, in association with The Telegraph. “This is the first time I’m captaining CSC and we are excited to win the tournament. Full credit goes to the team as it was a total team effort,” said Ritesh Vimal (third from left; standing).

Held between July 12 and 14 at the Gurusaday Road club, there were nine teams from the various city clubs. Ishaque Eqbal (third from left; sitting) was the Best Player (Men), an award he was expecting to win. “You must be focused and maintain a good level of fitness,” said the Roger Federer fan who would love to turn out for the country in Davis Cup one day. Of course, he has Grand Slam dreams too.  

CC&FC A Team were the Gold Plate runners-up. “The overall experience was fantastic. It was lovely to have the cops come and play despite it being a busy day,” said Vivek Bhasin (centre, with the trophy) tennis captain, CC&FC who also captained the A Team. Raseena Chablani (third from left) was the Best Player (Women). “It was great to compete with state-level players. It feels amazing to be recognised and make a difference for the team,” said Raseena, who has been playing since the age of nine and idolises Rafael Nadal. Her mantra to be a good player? “Mental strength,” she smiled. 

Team Top Cops consisting of senior IPS officers, won the Silver Plate, beating CC&FC B Team. “It was difficult to take out time from our busy schedules but still we managed it,” said Siddh Nath Gupta (centre; in striped T-shirt) of Top Cops.

Team Top Cops which saw the likes of Jawed Shamim (eighth from left) turn out for them, with the CC&FC B Team. “I think the cops played really well. We will try our best next time, but it was really an awesome experience,” said Atul Chaturvedi (ninth from left), captain, 

CC&FC B Team. The club had the youngest participant amongst them. Mayand Tewary — a Class VI student of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School. “I saw my brother playing and was inspired to try it too,” smiled Mayand who looks up to Novak Djokovic and had an “amazing time” playing with the super cops.

Text: Nurul Hasan. Pictures: Koushik Saha