Defending women’s national champion, Bengal’s Poymantee Baiswa added another feather in the crown in her maiden BRICKS Games. 

She earned a bronze medal as one of the Indian women's team members, losing to China in the semi-final in Kazan, Russia a week ago. In the women's singles, Baiswa lost 3-1 to the Russian paddler in the quarter-final. The Russian paddler won the singles event. 

She won the gold medal in the mixed doubles event with Akash Pal and a silver medal in the doubles with Krittwika Roy in WTT Feeder Cappadocia, held in Turkey in March. 

Still, the 21-year-old paddler from Hind Motor, Hooghly district did not sound elated while speaking from Kazan on Monday. “Yes, I am happy to have won a bronze medal with the team. I also fought against the champion Russian paddler. But I have to improve a lot. This was my first participation in the BRICS Games. It was not the world's top tier players took part here. Rather the players who participated here can be termed the world's second and third-tier paddlers."

She continued, "Still, I learned quite a few important things, especially, about fitness. I must take it to the next level where I can compete with the paddlers of international standards. After returning home I will discuss with my sir, parents to find out a specialized fitness trainer,” explained Baiswa. 

Baiswa, a student of Abhishek Mukherjee, however, cherishes her performance in the WTT contender tournament in Beirut where she also won the gold medal. "I had a satisfactory performance in Beirut and here in the BRICS, I am happy with the way I played against a Russian player."

Poymantee revealed she is not much concerned about playing in foreign leagues to improve her game. Rather her focus is to increase national and international ranking by participating in the national ranking tournaments as well as international competitions. 

"Now I will focus on the UTT franchise league if I am selected this time also. I played in the League last season. I want to deliver a better show in the UTT League this season," Baiswa concluded.