In presence of the State Minister of Sports Mr. Arup Biswas, Councilor Debasish Kumar, Olympian Gurbax Singh, Mr. Satyam Roy Chowdhury chairman of Ajkal, “Ajkal Khela Sanman” was inaugurated at the Rashmancha Hall, Swabhumi on Sunday.

Former players like Gautam Sarkar, Samaresh Chowdhury, Sisir Ghosh, Monoranjan Bhattacharjee, Dipendu Biswas, Dibyendu Barua,  Anustup Mazumdar and many others along with officials like Abhisekh Dalmia, Subrata Dutta were present at the function. 

Mr. Gurbax Singh, a former Indian field hockey player, who won gold in the 1964 and bronze in the 1968 Olympics, also played for various clubs of Bengal including East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Calcutta Customs, and winner of many other titles including medals in Asian Games was given Life Time Achievement Award. Addressing the hall he reiterated his memories of the past when he played for the country and state and also for the clubs representing in various tournaments.

Shyam Thapa was nominated for the Life Time Achievement Award from the discipline of football. Shyam remembered Mr. J. C. Guha and narrated how he was guided by Mr. Guha like a guardian when he came to Kolkata from Dehradun in 1966. He also described his goal which he scored against Mohun Bagan in 1975 dogging past four defenders. He thanked all his well-wishers and fans and also the organizers. 

Dibyendu Barua, a chess Grand Master, after receiving his award, thanked the Ajkal and also all those who loved him and encouraged him from the beginning of his carrier. He added that his dream now is to build up future Grand Masters.

Indian Women’s Cricketer Jhulan Goswami, after receiving her award, expressed her gratitude to the team members and support pieces of staff of the team who helped her make the MI women’s team champion in the first Women’s Premier League.  She also thanked BBCI for their approach toward the women’s cricket team and also thanked Abhisekh Dalmia.

Shooter Joydeep Karmakar received the same award from A. Dalmia. 

Many other upcoming players of different disciplines, like athletics, and archery, wrestling, were awarded “Ajkal Khel Sanman”. Pritam Kotal of Mohun Bagan Supergiants received the best footballer award. Ankur Bhattacharjee in TT, Sampriti in Badminton, and Amarnath Baskey in football are a few who were awarded "Ajkal Khel Sanman."

Earlier in the inaugural speech State Minister Mr. Arup Biswas became nostalgic about the “Khela” magazine which will be published again monthly after a gap of eight years.

In an exclusive interview with Parallel Sports Mr. Satyam Roy Chowdhury, chairman Ajkal Patrika, and Techno India Group said “We are happy to start the “Khela” magazine again after a gap of eight years in a new shape. An expert team is working on it such that the magazine becomes acceptable to the readers in this present situation.” He added that he does not make a prior plan, whatever comes to his mind for betterment he tries to implement. On being asked whether he is getting associated with East Bengal as an investor, Mr. Roy Chowdhury told our correspondence “We have no such idea neither we had any discussion like this only we have expressed our interest to be associated with East Bengal Academy.”