Cradle of Table Tennis - Siliguri
. Tourism
. Tea
. Timber
. Table Tennis
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| Ankita in action - London Olympic 2012 |
She was the only female TT player from India who flew to London and represented India in the London Olympics 2012. She hails from Rabindra Nagar of Siliguri and belonged form a very humble background. She completed her bachelor's from Siliguri College and currently works in a nationalized oil company.
She started this game in her tiny hands when she was four years old, and her talent in this game took her to newer heights, she played and practiced in YMA club. Her first coach was Amit Dam and later trained by notable national players like Mantu Ghosh.
Her first breakthrough was when she won 2 gold medals in Ajmer cadet girls singles in 2003, she was only 10 years old at that time. From then, there was no looking backward for her, she kept bagging medals after medals and won different titles.
2. Soumyajit Ghosh
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| Soumyajit in International Game |
Born in 1993, He was the youngest Indian player to qualify in London Olympics 2012.
In 2013, Ghosh created history by becoming the youngest national champion ever by beating six-time champion Sharath Kamal in the finals of the 74th National Table Tennis Championships. He followed that up by winning the singles event at the Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championships in Dharwad, Karnataka. He also won the singles event in the U-21 category at the Brazil Open in Santos.
On 30 April 2017, Soumyajit Ghosh won the ITTF Challenge Seamaster Chile Open singles event, by beating compatriot Anthony Amalraj in the final. This was his first ITTF Pro title and he became the third Indian to win an ITTF event.
3. Nandita Saha
Nandita is an Indian table-tennis player. She was a part of the Indian trio who defeated Canada in Commonwealth 2006 at Melbourne and won the Bronze medal for India.
Siliguri Indoor stadium :
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| Siliguri Municipal Indoor Stadium |
Multipurpose Municipal Indoor Stadium: Wooden flooring can accommodate 10 to 12 tables. The stadium also host National & state level matches frequently hosted by TTFI & WBTTF. In stadium it also organised NDTTF summer camps and provides training to young talent.
An ace player also quoted, There is a huge pool of talent in north Bengal and if proper facilities were provided to the players, there would be many good players coming out of the region. We
Most of the aspiring table tennis players in the town have to practice in small clubs, where it is much easier to follow the sound of the ball than in large stadiums. As a result, they face many difficulties when they play regional, national or international tournaments, which are held in big stadiums. The authorities should set up an academy at a stadium in the town, where not only the players will be able to practice properly but also the right people will be in control and helping the players realize their potential. The academy should have at least 20 boards and a gymnasium as well as a swimming pool. Hope concerned authority shall take note of her comment and do development in this aspect.
Hoping in the coming days we will get many new talents oozing from Siliguri. We from HOBNOB team salute the zeal of our national players and making their hometown proud of them.
Credits :
Wikipedia
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