SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, March 8: The Jharkhand cadets won a total of 28 medals in the recently concluded Tata Steel Sport Climbing Championship which was beyond anyone’s expectations. But what surprised sports pandits of state the most was the extraordinary success of a chess player of state Ashtha Rani Bhuiyan of Jamshedpur, who won a gold and silver medal.
Aastha Rani Bhuiyan won the gold medal in Speed Climbing and silver medal in Lead and Bouldering event of Sport Climbing in fashion. In the championship, cadets of 12 states had participated in the five days championship which concluded on February 25.
The medal-winning performance of Aastha Rani keeps significance as she is a recognized ranking player of Jharkhand chess and has won two gold and one silver in state chess championship in girls’ event along with representing Jharkhand in national chess championship several times.
“Of course her performance will go ahead in this sport,” said Bibhas Roy, the coach of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) who guided Aastha.
Aastha Rani, the daughter of national chess arbiter Jayant Bhuyan, was a chess player by birth. Once she joined the summer camp of Sport Climbing and got a deep interest in it. Finally, she joined the Sport Climbing of TSAF at JRD Stadium in 2017 and began regular practice under Coach Bibhas Roy.
“No doubt she is recognized as a chess player. Recently, she came among the 10 top players in Jharkhand notwithstanding, I have let her select the sports event and she has chosen climbing,” said Jayant Bhuyan, father of Aastha.
TSAF coach Bibhas Roy while praising the skill and stamina of Aastha said that since Sport Climbing has been included in Olympics, it is becoming popular with people fast. He said since the game is new it has also grown opportunities for players.
Roy said Jharkhand has a bright future in this sport as Aastha and other budding talents have emerged in Sport Climbing but for long term achievement, the state government will have to develop infrastructure (wall) in other districts of Jharkhand. At present in Jharkhand, the Climbing Wall facility is only in Jamshedpur JRD Stadium.
“Not to speak of girls even boys have not achieved this rare distinction of winning gold medals in two disciplines (chess and Sport Climbing) at this level what Aastha has got,” said Adityanath Jha senior journalist of Jamshedpur who has been covering sports events for last 35 years.
