Weightlifter Bidyut Kumar Roy is lifted by his well-wishers upon his retirement from the sport after an illustrious 27-year career. PHOTO: STAR

Bidyut Kumar Roy ended his 27-year playing career with a silver medal, as the 43-year-old weightlifter finished second behind Farhad Ali in the 34th National Senior, 15th National Junior and 11th National Women's Championships at the National Sports Council gymnasium yesterday.
Bangladesh Ansar's Bidyut, who had started his career also with a silver medal in 1988 before grabbing 26 consecutive gold medals in different weight categories, lifted a total of 240kgs, 31kgs less than gold winner Farhad of Bangladesh Army in the -105kg category to bring down the curtains on a colourful career in emotional fashion.
"Going out of the championship with a gold medal would have been a great reward for me, but things cannot always go in your favour. However, I have no dissatisfaction winning the silver medal in my last championship today [Thursday] and the feeling is the same as how I felt in my maiden appearance in the national championship," said a smiling Bidyut, who also brought laurels to the nation, winning one silver and three bronze medals in South Asian Games from 1998 to 2010.
The 2005 National Sports Award winner also won a silver medal in the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships and 2012 South Asian Weightlifting Championships.
"It is the right time to say goodbye as promising athletes are knocking on the doors," said Bidyut. "I am lucky that I am retiring from the podium with the love of the current players."
The veteran weightlifter is now planning to prepare himself as a coach to mentor young athletes and is set to enrol himself in the Solidarity Coaches' Course that will begin from December 15 and earn some more coaching certificates from abroad, before starting his new career as a coach.
Bidyut also has an intention to record his name in the Guinness Book of World Records as the winner of 26 consecutive gold medals in national championships.
Meanwhile, two more national records were set on the concluding day with Mabia Akhter producing a record in snatch and jerk in 69kg category while Rokeya Sultana rewrote a record in snatch in 63kg category.