Kolkata, Dec 15: The 8th edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K celebrated inner strength of an athlete and their undying zeal to reinvent themselves with five great champions at the “Beyond the Finish Line” (BTFT) raising a toast to the spirit of Kolkata on Friday.
The evening saw International Event Brand Ambassador Colin Jackson speak about winning, racism and finding the inner strength to touch the winner’s tape every time he stepped out on to the track. “I remember Carl Lewis tell me one time in a competition after I had become world champion that I had to change one aspect of my game–stop losing. It worked something up inside me. The rest is history,” Jackson said while interacting at BTFL.
Talking about Indian sport, he said, “India is a sleeping giant. It’s just waking up. Neeraj Chopra is the first of the many icons you are going to have in a hurry. I would love to come to this country and work here to help this country achieve that dream.”
An accomplished all-rounder who played for Glamorgan, he said, “I decided to give up cricket when I was not selected for the Wales team because of my colour. I told myself I will play a sport where I control my destiny. Where if I cross the finishing line no one take away my glory in my sport. I never looked back at cricket.”
Archer Deepika Kumari talked about the personal struggles before getting into archery, “I never knew how tough completions are when I started my career. When I played Commonwealth Games at the start of my career, during that time I got to feel the pressure and competitive side of it. Privileged to get Padma Shri from the govt for my success and my game,” she said.
“I come from a very poor background. We had to go to the field to relieve ourselves and bathe in the river so when I got a chance to train in Tata Archery Academy I told myself I don’t want to go back to my life. I gave everything to archery. And archery gave me back. Archery helped me survive. Again after motherhood I almost gave up sport but only after winning the national games this year I am filled with hope.”
Archer Atanu Das and husband to Deepika said, “We have a similar background. I have grown up in a lower middle class family. Knew very little about my sport at the start.I was rejected by Tata Archery Academy. I did not go back, but it taught me a lesson. I focussed and in 2007 I won the subjunior nationals defeating a number of Tata cadets. They called me back. After that we never looked back. Deepika and myself plan to head for Paris together and win it together for India.”
Bhaichung Bhutia said that India has hope but it will not be easy for Indian football as all other countries are also developing. Talking about playing for two of the biggest clubs of India, he said, “I was the OG of East Bengal and I got so much of adulation. Half the city hated me. Then I went to Mohun Bagan, the other half hated me. But I enjoyed the love of both the halves and that made my life special.”
Jhulan Goswami remembered how she opted to stand out of the playing eleven for the sake of the team in 2017 World Cup. “My team winning was much more important. I told the coach drop me if you want. But the next day while practicing at the nets I realised that I was not enjoying my bowling and was trying too hard. I relaxed and that changed everything.”
She signed off saying, “I want to do something for the women’s cricket. It was my long term dream. But after I decided to hang my boots , I decided to do something for the girls like me who are talented and don’t have the opportunity. Now that’s my new goal.”
The Beyond the Finish Line is a joint initiative by Procam International along with Empowerment Partner GoSports Foundation. The glittering event was supported by Title Sponsor Tata Steel , Associate Sponsor IDFC First Bank, the Official Cooldown Companion Bira Light, Telecast Partner Sony Sports 1 and Hospitality Partner Oberoi Grand Kolkata .
The evening was hosted by sports historian and commentator Boria Majumdar.
The night ended on a high with melodious performance by Saregama’s prodigious singer Jaan Shanu, son of Kumar Sanu.
