Medal glory for school with a passion

Lake:

Sujoy Sen was drenched in sweat but couldn’t stop jumping in joy. His parents have little idea about rowing and think their son pulls boats. The gold-winning rower thinks his real prize will be when they see him in action.

Sujoy was part of one of the three teams from Future Hope that bagged medals at the 17th BRC Students’ Rowing Championship, partnered by TTIS, on Sunday,

The Uluberia boy has been rowing for the past three years.

“A race is exciting only when the opponent is equally good. We were neck and neck with La Martiniere for Boys in today’s race and that is what made it so challenging, I enjoyed every second of it,” said Sujoy, who wants to take up rowing professionally.

Future Hope won gold in the boys’ junior and senior races and bronze in the junior girls’ race.

For the girls, this was their first time at the regatta. “Juman da (rower Juman Ali) has inspired me a lot. I would love to be a professional sculler,” said Samira Khatoon of Class VIII. Her team beat National High School (CBSE).

Teammate Debasrita Das, found the competition tough but inspiring. “While rowing, we felt a certain anger and power which ultimately helped us perform,” said the Class X student. Her takeaway from her debut regatta: “It’s a team sport and each member should support the other while rowing.”

For Future Hope CEO, Sujata Sen, it was the sheer determination of the young rowers that fetched them success. “We don’t have money but we do have a lot of passion. The kids practise every day, be it rain, hail or storm.”

Setaur Rehman, Class XII, a part of the senior boys’ team of Future Hope, admitted there is no alternative to hard work and regular training.

“I have been rowing since six years. I have played many sports like rugby, football, cricket but rowing remains the most challenging of them all. We have to practise every day, there is no break,” said the Malda boy who wants to crack the civil services examinations while continuing rowing for life.

Guiding the Future Hope rowers this time was Will Allen, a student of Westminster School, London, who is volunteering with the school in his gap year.

“They were already going through training and practice, I just helped them do what they were already doing. When it comes to mental strength and focus, these guys are the best,” said Will, who cheered the teams throughout the races.

The rowing championship at BRC is aimed at encouraging more children to take up the sport.

“Initiatives like the BRC Students’ Rowing Championship have changed the future of the sports in Calcutta. This path-breaking effort will not only help rowing grow as a sport in the city but also help stimulate the sport’s development at the national level. This championship plays a key role in changing mindsets,” said Ujjal Dugar, the chairman of the rowing committee at Bengal Rowing Club (BRC).

Additional reporting by Rupsha Chatterjee

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph,Calcutta,India / Home> Calcutta / by Samabrita Sen / May 21st, 2018