Kolkata: Not many of you will know that Kolkata Police has a proud tradition of excellence in rowing. Members of the force have won two gold medals in the Open National Championships, have been semi-finalists at the All India Police Sports Meet, and won the state championship.
At the national level, India’s introduction to rowing dates back to the British era, when Calcutta Rowing Club was founded in 1858. The Rowing Federation of India administers the sport in the country, and India’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal was won by Naib Subedar Bajrang Lal Takhar in 2010.
Given this background, Kolkata Police has launched its very first Rowing Academy, inaugurated yesterday at Subhash Sarobar by Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, Mr. Soumen Mitra IPS. The academy, to be run by Kolkata Police Sergeant’s Institute, will offer its services not only to members of KP and their families but also to those members of the public who wish to take up the sport professionally. The Kolkata Police are grateful to Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority for letting out the land to build this academy, and also thankful to HDFC Bank as our co-partner.
Our, Reporter in Chief
R. Manoj Kumar Sharma
Siliguri City, West Bengal
