A 14-year-old caused ripples in the audience, and later in the neighbourhood, by winning both the open-to-all singles and doubles categories in the first-ever intra BF-CF Block table tennis tournament. There were other surprises too, with an octogenarian securing the second spot jointly in doubles.
BF and CF blocks have been organising their annual sports together since 1983 but the table tennis meet started this year. "During the meeting for annual sports, we received a proposal of a pilot project for a table tennis tournament in the two blocks. Given the fact that both the blocks have quite a few table tennis enthusiasts, we agreed to take it up with the aim of making it bigger and escalating it to the ward-level next year," said Gora Roy, secretary, Salt Lake CF Block Residents Association.
The tournament started early in the evening at the CF Block community centre as the matches were categorised under two main segments. One was for players aged above 60 years, and the other was open to all under 60. Both had singles and doubles sub categories.
Senior power
The first champions of the day came from the above-60 doubles tournament as it only had three teams participating. Anindya Chakraborty and Suvendu Sarkar, both from CF Block, took home the trophy. "It feels great to have won the tournament but the primary happiness comes from the ambience that has been created. The essence of competitiveness mixed with the friendliness of our neighbourhood is what makes this special for me," the 61-year-old Chakraborty said.
Sarkar echoed the thought. "Playing in such a spirited atmosphere itself is a pleasure. Who wins and who doesn't is secondary. The fact that years after our college days ended we could again play the game here with our near and dear ones makes me the happiest," added the 62-year-old, who was also the runner-up in the singles, losing only to the champion, Debasis Chakrabarti of BF Block, in the final.
Singles champion in the above 60 years category Debasis Chakrabarti receiving the trophy and the certificate
The above-60 doubles also showcased the skills of the senior-most player, Pralay Kumar Mitra, a CF Block resident aged 82, who, alongside Shyamal Kumar Mitra, 72, secured the second spot. Such was Pralay's agility even at his age that Anindya Chakraborty lauded him as the "fittest" of the lot.
Sneha Sinha, a 14-year-old of BF Block secured the first place in the open-to-all doubles leg, along with Saurabh Basu from the same block, and later also won the singles crown. The runners-up spot in doubles went to Santanu Mitra, joint secretary of the BF Block residents' body, and Chakrabarti. Mitra also secured the third place in singles following the second-placed Chakrabarti.
Bright prospect
Sourabh Mondal, a state-level medalist who has also played all India tournaments, and currently runs a table tennis coaching centre in BF Block, was the tournament referee. "The kids whom I coach and the ones whom I have seen taking part in this tournament, I must say, have a bright future ahead if they pursue table tennis as a career. Their passion for the sport is praiseworthy but most of them won't get to play much longer due to their academic obligations. Hence, it is very important to balance academics and sports," he said after the tournament.
Sudipto Ghosh, secretary of the BF Block committee, stressed on the purpose of the competition. "Through this tournament, and more like this, we aim to use sports as a means of strengthening the bond between residents of the two blocks."
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