Thakur Nagar, West Bengal (12 July, 2024)

Transcript:

Namaskar, I am Mandira Biswas, presently I am studying MPEd in Post Graduate Government College of Physical Education. I am in my final semester of Masters of Physical Education. Today I will discuss with you my likes and dislikes about the world of sports. My major game is Taekwondo and hence I will share with you how I started the sport, how was my journey and the difficulties that I faced. While I was in class 10, when everyone usually leaves sports, I started. There was a banner in front of our school which had a picture of Taekwondo in it where a boy was kicking. I do not know why I fell in love with that banner and memorised the two contact numbers which were provided there. I came back home and told everybody but the first thing I heard was how can a girl do Karate. Not many knew the difference between Taekwondo and Karate then, the difference was not very clear to me as well. They told me you will hurt your chest, you are a girl and you will have various problems, you will become more like boys. But I convinced my parents and took my brother with me to take admission. I did get myself admitted. But the fees were quite high for us. I was not employed at that time. Eventually, when I started practising everyday, one of my teachers guided me personally and told me if I could continue in future, I do not have to pay any fees then. So I went and practised at the designated time everyday and then one day I did not have to pay the fees anymore. It made me feel happy as I no longer had to pay fees. My teacher’s name was Debesh Biswas. He put a lot pay of effort for me. In 2014 I played District Championship and I lost that. I decided not to play anymore. Back home, sir consoled me by saying that Mandira, there are wins and losses in a game, you must play on and you will win. If you do not win even then, I will ask you to discontinue. He started training me again. Next year, in the District Championship, when I came first, my fear went away. Then I played at the State level from 2015 and every year, until corona virus hit, I managed to secure gold. Then when I joined college, I participated in inter-college, inter-university and inter-state games thrice. Then a time came when people back home were talking about my marriage and I got married. My husband is a coach. I have been married for three years now and my husband takes me for practice. I am now doing my MPEd and I stay in hostel. But I have never missed a game till date. Last year, in April, suddenly my back started hurting. I did not pay much heed to the pain. A few days passed and everyone advised me to consult a doctor. I then got to know that I have tuberculosis. It was hard for me to accept this and I had to consult many doctors. I also came to know that I have chest congestion and I have 750 ml of fluid in my lungs. This made me cry and I thought my career in sports was over. But my husband always stood by my side during my treatment. I had to register in the TB abolition programme. The professionals there put me on a weight machine informed me I have to eat properly and take proper medication. I hope it is known to all what medicines are necessary for eradicating extra pulmonary TB. I used to study in Banipur College at that time and used to stay in the hostel. My principal permitted me to stay at home for a month. But it requires six months of medication. I then asked for permission to allow me to cook my lunch as in our college we were provided with food only in the morning and evening. But I needed to take my medicine after a heavy meal. So having rice was important for me. During the course of my medication I used to continue my practice in the mornings and evenings. So, while on medication after my successful, I never skipped practise. My teachers helped me a lot maybe because I never skipped my classes. Another point that must be spoken about, which happens almost everywhere, is the case of sexual harassment. In the clubs and schools there are both good as well as bad teachers and students. I think everyone must be a little careful. That a teacher will always be good is not a right conception. If you cannot protest on the first day, you can never protest ever again. This has happened to me once and I want to forget that because I had to change my club for that. Everyone was falsely blaming me of having an affair with the teacher with whom I used to practise. He had a wife. But I did not quit as I was not wrong. When I used to go for practise everyone used to taunt me. After a while I left the club and did not play for a year. But then, after a year I thought if I leave it would imply that I had done something wrong. So I rejoined the club. Now I am married and I stay at my in-laws’ house and in hostel. To continue my studies as well as my game is not easy. I have got a supportive husband and hence I can still do it. The other day I went back home and counted that I have won 23 medals after marriage. Along with Taekwondo, I have played inter-college Kho Kho and have been a runner up, I have played inter college volley ball and also have been runner up there. I have medals in high jump and long jump too. Somewhere I feel good that I must have done something for which god has helped me continue the sport. During my illness, when I used to faint in hospital, everyone told me to stop playing. When I was on TB mediaction, my weight became 53 kilos but I used to play in 49 category. My weight shoot upto 53. The medication stopped on 18th November and the doctor told me that I have recovered. Within two weeks I reduced my weight to 49 kilos again. I played my Inter-College in 49 category and came first. From there I went to North East where I got Bronze. Then there was all India but I did not play that because I was still recovering at that point. Following that was Khelo India Championship. Had I played all India, I couldn’t have secured my Khelo India medal. I want to stay attached with sports and that is why I am studying MPEd. Rather than being a physical education teacher I want to be in NIS and be a coach. Only then I can be in this activity all through my life. I do not want to be just a teacher. I can always be a teacher as I am studying MPEd now. I want to be a good coach with NIS degree. I do not want to do the 6 week certificate course, I want to do the 1 year diploma course. I have filled up the form this year also and my name is on the merit list. But as my course is not yet completed, I won’t be able to join this year. But I join the course in future so that I remain associated with my sport. As I have got the support of my family, I will definitely do this.