Aishwarya Krishnan couldn’t have asked for a better gift on her 17th birthday. As the Class XII student of GD Birla Centre for Education picked up the trophy with her three teammates, the smile on her face said it all. The real winner, however, was the spirit of the game as Aishwarya took her closest competitors for a celebratory dinner after the final race.
The 14th Bengal Rowing Club Student Rowing Championship, in association with The Telegraph, saw 43 teams from 25 schools rowing passionately to make their schools proud.
The competition was fierce but the bonhomie among participants outshone all rivalry. “I will never forget the moment when we stepped out of our boats after winning the race and one my best friends, who was my opponent, came running and hugged me tight. This is the sort of bond we share here. It’s true that when we are rowing we don’t think of anything else but finishing the race. But I have made the best of my friends here,” said Aishwarya, who has been participating in this event for four years. “This was the second time my team won the gold. It was the best gift I could have asked for.” The GD Birla team defeated defending champion Modern High School for Girls to lift the senior girls’ trophy.
In the senior boys’ race, St. Lawrence High School retained the trophy. The boys beat Future Hope in a close finish.
“Future Hope was leading even when we had travelled half the distance but then we just had to fly it out to the finishing point,” said Shubham Singh of the winning team.
Yash Juthani of MP Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School was disappointed on finishing fourth but happy that his school took home the award for best dressed school for their white jerseys with a special logo of two crossed oars and emblem showing the students rowing. “Participating in the competition is in itself a wonderful experience. Every year we make new friends and have great fun,” said the Class XII student. “But we will definitely do much better next time.”
Hemant Bangur, the president of Bengal Rowing Club, was all praise for the students. “Now that our flagship event is coming to an end, I will miss the bubbling energy of the students at the club. I would like to thank the school for their co-operation and active participation,” he said.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who graced the prize distribution ceremony, had words of encouragement for the young rowers. “I congratulate all the winners…. They have earned it by their devotion, concentration and hard work. Those who couldn’t win need not despair. Defeat many a times is the inspiration for better performance and ultimate success. I expect them to achieve this role in the next championship.”
Like every year, the club promoted other sports too, archery and chess being the highlights this year. There was also an indoor rowing competition.
Rowing glory
Junior Girls
Gold: Modern High School for Girls
Silver: Ashok Hall Girls’ Higher Secondary School
Bronze: La Martiniere for Girls
Junior Boys
Gold: South Point High School
Silver: La Martiniere for Boys
Bronze: St. Xavier’s Collegiate School
Senior Girls
Gold: GD Birla Centre for Education
Silver: Modern High School for Girls
Bronze: Sushila Birla Girls’ School
Senior Boys
Gold: St. Lawrence High School
Silver: Future Hope
Bronze: Seventh Day Adventist
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta, India / Front Page> Calcutta > Story / by Samabrita Sen / Monday – June 15th, 2015