Tahura Khatun is the 'new kid on the block' in the state athletics. She not only won two gold medals in the recently-concluded state athletes in 400 and 200 meters in the under-18 category but set the New Meet Record in 400 meters clocking 55.07 seconds to win Satyaranjan Roy Memorial special award for the second consecutive time. 

Previously, she also won the gold medal in the 400 meters in the under-18 category in the junior national championship and also a bronze medal representing the relay team in the national championship held in Guwahati last year. 

The 17-year-old girl hails from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. Along with her three sisters, Tahura has an ender brother also while her father is a farmer, struggles to survive financially through the cultivation of others' lands. 

But a more important part of Tahura's journey was the obstruction from her surroundings. As Tahura is from a Muslim community, her parents had to face a lot of ignominy and snubs from their relatives as well as their neighbors. 

She remembered, "The neighbors used to taunt, even offer insulting words to my parents when I used to go practice in my locality under the coaches, Miratun Nahar and Bagbul Islam. They opposed my running wearing shorts. I did not give up. My parents used to inspire me a lot. The snub from my surroundings increased my determination.” 

Once Tahura started shining with the medals the scenario as usual changed. Tahura who left her village after being selected to train under Sanjay Ghosh and stay at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel one year ago, added, "I do no stay at home now. But the people of our community who had strong objections against my running do not say anything to the parents. Rather nowadays they seem quite curious about my athletics.”

Tahura even won the gold medal in the Tri-Nation BKSP Cup held in Bangladesh last December in the 200-meter event. 

But she did not sound elated much with the medals she won so far. Rather her focus is more on the diary where she writes about her time in training as well as in the competitions. "Yes, I write my timings in my diary every day. My focus is only to reduce the timing. I know, winning meals at the senior level will matter actually," concluded Tahura.

Incidentally, Mohun Bagan emerged as the overall champion in the recently held state athletics meet from 13th to 16th August at the SAI complex. Mohun Bagan earned 668 points while East Bengal obtained 546 points to finish as the runner-up. Simultaneously, 22 New Meet Records were set in the competition.