Social organization Durgapur Adda Young Association held a two-day invitational football tournament, “Sudhindra Kumar Sen – Sudip Chakraborty Memorial Challenge Shield”, on 4th and 5th March, specifically for schools of Durgapur under West Bengal board.
A total of 7 schools and DAYA’s ‘Sinchon’ project boys took part in the two-day football tournament held at the Azad Hind ground near Muchipara, opposite the Bishop’s House of St. Michael’s Church. Students up to class X were allowed to be a part of the school team.
On the first day, DVC DTPS HS School defeated MAMC Modern High School 2-0 in the first match. In the second match, Durgapur Project Township Boys High School (New Boys) defeated the DAYA’s ‘Sinchon’ project team 5-0. It is to be noted that in almost all the participating teams the majority of the boys are in the ninth and tenth classes, but the team of DAYA has only two in the ninth class and the rest are in the lower classes.
In the third match of the day, Bidhannagar Government Sponsored Boys High School defeated, Durgapur Project Boys High School (Old Boys) 1-0. In the fourth and final match of the first day, Bijra High School defeated Suren Chandra Modern School 4-0.
The four winning teams of the first day faced each other in the semifinals, the very next day. Bidhannagar Government Sponsored Boys High School defeated Durgapur Project Township Boys High School (New Boys) 2-1 in the first semifinal, while DVC DTPS HS School defeated Bijra High School 3-0 in the second semifinal.
In the final, held on the same day, Bijra High School defeated Bidhannagar Boys High School 6-5 in Tiebreaker, after the score line was 1-1 in the scheduled time. Riju Mandal of Bidhannagar Boys High School was selected as the best player of the final.
Thus Bijra High School lifted the “Sudhindra Kumar Sen Memorial Challenge Shield while Bidhannagar Boys High School lifted the Sudip Chakraborty Memorial Challenge Shield.
It is very encouraging that so many teams have taken to the field with enthusiasm even in this age of mobile games. Corona lockdowns, as well as mobile phones, have pushed students off the field for the past two years; but who not knows the importance of sports and games for a normal healthy life!
Durgapur Adda Young Association started organizing the tournament from this year to bring the youth back to a healthy and normal life. DAYA is determined to hold this football tournament every year on a larger dimension engaging more school teams.