Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata: Like every year Beyond The Finish Line threw up stories that led people breasting the winner's tape, even as the guests lauded Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata for bringing such a positive change in mindset of the city over the last decade.
Asian Archery Gold winner Ankita Bhakat, Living legend Joydeep Mukherjee and football icon Bhaichung Bhutia, besides ace composer singer Anupam Roy.
Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Ankita while speaking about her Gold said, "Paris Olympics was a wakeup call. I got overawed. Things got out of control. So I refocused and worked hard. I decided to leave the disappointments behind. The Gold at the Asian Championship held at Dhaka was the result. Next Olympics is again a huge pressure. No one from India has won gold in our field. But we will give our best."
Speaking about overcoming odds, Joydeep Mukherjee remembered the historic 1966 Indian Davis Cup team that reached the finals, where they faced Australia at home in the World Group Challenge Round in Kolkata on grass courts. He remembers how he and Ramanathan Krishnan secured a famous doubles win against the pair of Newcombe and Roche.
That episode is still a burning example of guts and punching above the weight from Mukherjee alongside Ramanathan Krishnan and Premjit Lal.
Tata Steel World 25K Ratna Bhaichung Bhutia recalled, "Joining East Bengal at the age of 17 changed the course of my life. If I am anything today in football, it is because of the fans, the clubs that I played for, the honour of representing my country.”
Talking about the race, he said it's a significant stride from a few thousand in the first year to 23000 this year. It shows the change it has brought "
Anupam Roy said, "The fact that our city congregates on a Sunday in winter thanks to the Tata Steel World 25k speaks volumes. This is a very inspiring moment for all of us. Sport gives you second chances and that's the beauty."
The gala evening concluded with all four sporting icons applauding the Tata Steel World 25K for the transformative impact it has had on the city’s sporting ecosystem.