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It
is not clearly known when swimming was taken op as sports in Tripura
but so far as I know coaching in swimming on modern technique was
first introduced in this State in 1960 with some students and
sportsmen from Police Department constructing a bamboo structure in
‘Budhjung Pond’ under the guidance and active support of Sri
Ramesh Roy of Education Department. Accordingly, Annual aquatics
competition in few styles such as 100-meter free style, 100-meter
backstroke and 50-meter butterfly was started in the said
‘Budhjunj Pond’ in 1961. In the following year coaching camp in
swimming was started along with other branches of sports in
‘Mahadev Bari Pond’ at Udaipur. In the same year Water Polo
Exhibition was also initiated. The first Inter Sub-Division Swimming
Competition took its initial step in 1962. Tripura swimmers were
encouraged to participate in the longest swimming competition of
Asia in the same year. Our girl swimmers attained unique success in
their maiden appearance in All India Autumnal Aquatics Competition
in 1962.
It
is a mater of great pride that in 1963 Tripura first earned Gold
Medals in 74 KM swimming, the longest in Asia, and in 19 KM swimming
competition on the Ganges. After that memorable event Tripura never
looked back, continued her voyage of success in long distance
swimming, which is engraved in golden words in the aquatics history
of India.
In
1966 boy swimmers of Tripura become second in Group Competition in
Madras. In the succeeding year Tripura swimmers assumed third
position participation in National Swimming Competition. These are
no mean success for a small, remotely situated hilly state like
Tripura.
In
a bid to popularize this branch of sports in Tripura, Swimming
competition was introduced for our budding swimmers on the occasion
of the Children’s Day in 1968, which is still continuing with much
funfair.
The
name Rati Ranjan Dhar is an inspiring name in Tripura as he attained
spectacular success in long distance swimming. He became second in
India-Cylone Palk Strait Swimming Competition held on March 28, 1969
covering a distance of about 25 miles in 17 hours and 58 minutes.
The
Swimming Competitors from Tripura Secretariat have been taking part
in All India Secretariat Staff Swimmers Meet since 1970 and have
been continuously earning awards every year either as Champion or
Runners up. Thus eking out a prestigious position for the state in
aquatics competition conducted at National Level.
The
All India Rural Swimming Competition got off to a colourful start in
1973. Our state stepped into the competition in 1974 at National
Swimming Pool in Delhi and made their presence felt in the National
capital being champion in girl’s group and runners up in boy’s
group.
The
All India National Age Group Swimming Competition was introduced in
1974 and our state earned a rare distinction of winning nine Gold
Medals creation record in the meet. In 1975 Second All India
National Age Group Swimming Competition was held in New Delhi where
five national records were built up by our swimmers. All of you will
be elated to know that four, out of six, swimmers selected to
International Meet at Seol were from Tripura. Their names were
Ashish Chakranorty, Prabir Chakraborty, Badal Banik and Sentu Lal
Sur whose trainer was the writer himself. But unfortunately the
Government of India declined to give permission to their
participation in the Seol Meet. Everybody will by glad to know that
some of our swimmers are still winning awards at regular intervals
– among them are Ashish Chakraborty, Badal Banik, Rabindra Modak,
Sentu Lal Sur and Chandan Dhar.
In
the above context it can safely be said that the prospect of
aquatics in Tripura is quite promising.
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