Howrah Girl Wins Gold at the International Yoga Championship in Sri Lanka – GetBengal story
The four-day Asia Pacific Yogasana Sports Championship 2024 concluded recently in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Held under the aegis of the World Fitness Federation of Yogasana Sports (WFFYSI) between August 21 and 24, the event was a mega-hit, with athletes from across the region competing. Susmita Debnath, aka Rai from Howrah, became a beacon of pride for India by winning a double medal in the competition this year.
Yoga is a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science that focuses on establishing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science of healthy living.
Many practice yoga regularly to stay fit and healthy. There are close to 300 million practitioners of yoga worldwide. After the accreditation by the United Nations, International Yoga Day is celebrated internationally on June 21. Yoga is now a well-established sport that witnesses the participation of global athletes.
Susmita, aka Rai, is not a familiar name outside the sports fraternity, yet this promising young talent has been striding forward confidently, winning medals and accolades for the country. Susmita Debnath made India proud when she won three gold medals at the International Yoga Competition held in Dubai in 2023. However, her journey had been fraught with anxiety and a grave financial crisis. Her financial constraints threaten her future in international competitions.
To participate in the International Yoga Championship in Dubai, Susmita had to mortgage her mother’s jewellery to cover the expenses. Although she qualified for the Asia Pacific Yoga competition, her journey to Sri Lanka was uncertain until the last moment due to a lack of funds.
The registration fee for the Sri Lankan tournament was Rs 55,000 along with other expenses, including travel. However, many people stood by Sushmita. From college teachers to businessmen, people of various professions and leaders of multiple organisations extended their helping hands, contributing generously to build a corpus that enabled her to tide over the crisis and participate in the competition. She won gold in the artistic solo category and narrowly missed out on silver in the traditional event at the Asia Pacific Yoga in Sri Lanka.
Hailing from Udaynarayanpur in Howrah, Susmita’s journey in yoga began at a young age. Her innate flexibility and strength caught the attention of her mother, Mamoni Debnath, who recognised her daughter’s potential and began teaching her yoga. This early foundation was further strengthened when Susmita’s primary school teacher introduced her to gymnastics.
Soon after Susmita began training under her first yoga teacher, Arup Manna, he passed away. This was a significant setback for her. Despite this, she persisted, continued her training under various mentors, and participated in the National School Games. In Class VIII, she was asked to train under Arun Das of the Baksara Club in Santragachi, Howrah. The commute was long, taking her about two and a half hours from her home to reach the club and train. Yet she never missed her classes. Her dedication paid off when she won multiple medals at the national level, including at the Khelo India Games and the National Games in Uttarakhand.
In February 2024, she was part of the athletes’ contingent that participated in the Khelo India Games, held in Tripura, and won bronze. This was Bengal's first medal at the Khelo India Games. Unfortunately, Arun Das passed away and could not witness his pupil’s phenomenal victory. Das’s demise was another blow for Susmita, but she recovered and started training under Gauranga Sarkar at Konnagar. In October 2023, she participated in the National Games held in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, and won one gold (artistic group), silver (traditional), and bronze (artistic solo) medal in three categories. Her remarkable performance earned her a spot in the Dubai competition, where she triumphed by securing three gold medals in traditional, artistic, and rhythmic pair categories. Additionally, she was the runner-up in the Champion of Champions round, further cementing her status as a leading figure in yoga sports.
Despite these accolades, Susmita’s journey is fraught with financial difficulties. Her family’s modest means, supported by her father Shyamal Debnath’s small rented garment shop, and her responsibilities, including teaching yoga to NCC children in a defence organisation, leave little room for funding her international travel. Her mother is a homemaker, and her younger brother is a Class V student. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree from Udaynarayanpur Madhabeelata Mahavidyalaya. For her Dubai trip, Susmita had to rely on the generosity of relatives and friends and pawn her mother’s jewellery to cover expenses.
Undaunted by impediments, Susmita has already waged a war against the financial crunch and has opened an institute to teach yoga to aspirants. She also hopes to start some ventures and generate employment for other youths. She is planning to start an organisation for trained yoga instructors. The institute will help various schools and clubs that require specialised yoga teachers to connect and recruit such teachers from the organisation. Susmita is also training in dance for rhythmic artistry.
Susmita’s story is a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by many talented athletes in India. Despite their achievements, financial support often falls short, threatening to cut short their promising careers. As Susmita prepares for her next competition, her community and supporters are confident her perseverance and dedication will attract the necessary support to keep her dreams alive.
