Assam’s Rising Stars
Coach Ambrose Borah: Guiding Champions to Glory
Guwahati: In 2025, Assam’s taekwondo fraternity witnessed an extraordinary feat on the international stage. At the 12th Speed Power International Taekwondo Championship held in Kuala Lumpur from February 7 to 9, athletes from Cotton University and Handique Girls’ College brought home a stellar haul—five medals in total: three silver and two bronze. Under the expert guidance of Coach Ambrose Borah, this remarkable performance highlighted both athletic prowess and strategic mentorship.
- Silver medals were claimed by Violina Molia and Noim Uddin Laskar from Cotton University, and Teena Sonowal from Handique Girls’ College.
- Bronze honours went to Shrijoni Das (Handique Girls’ College) and Manisha Hazarika (Cotton University) (The Sentinel).
Coach Borah’s role in nurturing these athletes cannot be overstated; his vision, discipline, and unwavering support have clearly forged a path to international recognition.
Academic and Cultural Laurels: Cotton University’s Multifaceted Excellence
Cotton University continues to shine across competitive platforms, delivering noteworthy achievements in academics, arts, culture, and sports:
- At the 38th AIU Inter-University North East Zone Youth Festival—Tarang Utsav—held in Tripura (January 27–31, 2025), a 54-member contingent from Cotton University delivered an outstanding performance. The university secured top positions in Light Vocal Indian Solo, Classical Vocal, Classical Instrumental (non-percussion), Indian Group Song, and Debate, along with second in Mimicry and third in Quiz and Cultural Procession. Recognized as the Overall Winner in Music and Literary Categories, Cotton University was also adjudged the Overall First Runner-Up of the festival (The Sentinel).
- The Department of Education deserves special mention: a talented student team produced the magazine Dakowal, which earned recognition in both the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records. Other distinguished students include Nishant Malla Buzarbaruah (Best Portrait Artist for a coconut shell painting), Abhijit Tamuly (Grand Master for embroidering Assamese poet names on a traditional gamusa), and Jintu Thakuria (multiple awards, including a Young Researcher Award, Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar, and travel fellowship) (education.cottonuniversity.ac.in).
Handique Girls’ College: Champions Beyond the Classroom
Handique Girls’ College boasts a rich legacy of achievements spanning academics, athletics, arts, and social initiatives:
- In Wushu, student Roitoli Boro captured the gold (taijiquan bare-hand event) at the All-India Inter-University Wushu Championship 2024–25, held at Chandigarh University (February 22–27, 2025) (hgcollege.edu.in).
- Other notable performances include Anjali Basumatary, who earned a gold medal in the Kamrup (Metro) District Taekwondo Championship 2024, and Chandana Baishya, who won third prize in the All Assam Short Story Writing Competition (hgcollege.edu.in).
- Beyond individual accomplishments, the college also reinforces its commitment to social development—through NSS-driven activities like self-defence training, health camps, campus clean-ups, blood donation camps, awareness rallies, and workshops—demonstrating a dynamic and engaged student body (hgcollege.edu.in).
Conclusion
The twin engines of mentorship and talent are propelling Assam’s youth to new heights. From the adept coaching of Ambrose Borah, whose athletes have proudly represented Assam internationally, to the diverse triumphs of students at Cotton University and Handique Girls’ College across multiple domains—art, sport, academics, culture, and social service—their collective efforts are uplifting Assam’s profile at every stage. This is more than just winning medals and accolades; it is a testament to the spirit, dedication, and brilliance that define the region’s emerging leaders.