Sarita Devi becomes brand ambassador of Kokrajhar Baarhoongkha Athletic Club

From Our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, May 25: World boxing champion of Manipur L. Sarita Devi has become brand ambassador of Baarhoongkha Athletic Club, the pioneer sports club of Kokrajhar which has been promoting the sporting event especially the football. Most of the players of Kokrajhar who have played in different intertiol event including Olympic Games were the players of Baarhoongkha athletic club.

The Baarhoongkha athletic club on Saturday ceremonially launched the league which is participating the Assam State Premier League to be held from May 29. In Kokrajhar, the league is scheduled to be held from May 31. Altogether 22 players including two from Nigeria, one each from Manipur and Mizoram and two from West Bengal are practicing to participate in the forthcoming Assam State Premier League.

 Talking to reporters, the president of the Baarhoongkha Athletic Club Jono Mohon Mashahary said the premier club which was founded at the behest initiative of Olympian late Binod Brahma had the highest credence in the field of football in Kokrajhar but the club become defunct for many years due to lack of maintence. He said they have decided to revitalize the club to regain its past glory in the field of sports giving football top priority. He said they have brought players even from Nigeria and Ratan Singh of Manipur (A license certificate holder) has been brought as coach of the club. He said there would be 72 games in the forthcoming Assam State Premier League. He also hoped that the Baarhoongkha athletic club would be able to show its ability to join the ISL.

President of Assam Football Association (AFA) Hemendra th Brahma said it was only Baarhoongkha club in lower Assam that played in many intertiol championships. He said the players of the club used to play in Assam, West Bengal and the then East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) in those days and most of the players in intertiol refute were from the club in Kokrajhar. Credit must go to Olympian late Binod Brahma who founded the club and became president with late Jatin Islary as Secretary; he said adding that the club which was established in 1950 should be revitalized with full strength and vigor. He also said BTC region had lack of infrastructures for the sports but despite this fact, most of the players either from football is from that region. He also hoped that the club would be able to regain its past glory in near future. The press meet was also attended by the advisor of the club Maguram Balary and Secretary Kabi Ranjan Brahma.