Far from the media glare, sportspersons from the State were making Assam proud by their sheer performances at the 37th National Games in Goa last month wherein they clinched 56 medals, their best tally since the 2007 Games which was held in Guwahati, hence giving us the home advantage.
What is also more impressive is that the tally has been arrived at with contribution from several disciplines: Archery, lawn ball, swimming, boxing, taekwondo, etc. This is a pointer that the State sports scenario is improving thereby encouraging individuals to perform to their potential, something which the sporting extravaganza called Khel Maharan is being aimed at.
Yes, a sporting event is always characterised by surprises, where many with reputation are made to bite the dust by those who are better prepared or have a better day. For example, the shocking defeat of Commonwealth Gold Medallist Nayanmoni Saikia in the individual lawn ball competition. This is the beauty of such multi-level competition. But what is universal is that talent when coupled with hard work always pays. Nayanmoni later compensated for her loss by guiding the team to a gold. She therefore became the first player from Assam to have won gold medals in every edition of the National Games since 2011, again a reflection that experience and exuberance are important features of athletes.
A look at the medal winners from Assam will reveal that several athletes missed the gold medal by a whisker. The difference between a gold and silver is that extra moments put in by the winners behind the scenes. One hopes that these missed opportunities will turn into golds in the next edition of the Games.
For Assam, what will also be heart warming is the performance of its men’s table tennis team which clinched a bronze medal during the Games, marking their return to the podium after a gap of 36 years, in a sport which it dominated in the late 1990s.
