Coach Karim Bencharifa thinks his team have to work much harder to be ready for the upcoming season, but Mohun Bagan’s pre-season form has been quite impressive.
On Friday, Bagan tortured Kalighat Club en route a 12-1 victory in a practice match at the Salt Lake Stadium. Okolie Odafe was the top-scorer with four goals. Interestingly, Abou Kone of Ivory Coast, who is on a trial, scored three. Bencharifa, however, hasn’t decided on Kone yet. He hasn’t been ruled out either.
The 63rd Patterson Memorial Table Tennis Championships (inter-school) will be held at the Bhawanipur Byam Sangha from August 26 to 30. The finals, however, will be held at the Bidya Bharati School for its bigger premises.
A total of 50 schools from 19 affiliated districts will take part. Asked why the meet was not being held at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, which arguably has the best facilities in the city for such a tournament, the organisers informed that they couldn’t afford its rent, which is about Rs 15,000 (plus taxes) for a day. The state sports ministry had offered a 50 per cent waiver, but it still beyond the organisers’ means.
The city will play host to the National Para-triathlon Championship on September 1. Para-triathlon has been included in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Thirty-two participants from 12 different states have already confirmed participation. From Bengal, Aloke Mandal, Ujjwal Sarkar and Rimo Saha will be competing.
