Exiled by Injustice: My Escape from West Bengal’s Corrupt Sports System to Forge a Legacy

As the founder of Invictus Sportz, my life has been a testament to resilience, battling asthma, spina bifida, and a disc bulge to claim bronze medals at the IKA World Championship in Buenos Aires (2007) and JSKA World Championship in Manchester (2008), earning my place in the AIBSKA - JSKA Hall of Fame. Yet, in West Bengal, my home state, I faced a sports system riddled with corruption and hypocrisy that crushed dreams and drove me to leave for Dehradun to achieve greatness. This is my story of surviving betrayal, navigating a broken system, and finding triumph beyond its shadows, set against West Bengal’s ongoing sports crisis.

A Dream Betrayed in Bengal’s Arena

My journey in sports began with a passion for karate, honed under Shihan Tirthankar Nandy’s mentorship, whose tailored training turned my ailments into strengths—breath control for asthma, core stability for spina bifida. But my desire to uplift others exposed West Bengal’s dark underbelly. In 2019, I met Biswajit, a 100-meter sprinter with electric potential, during my spoken English classes. I funded his training at Rabindra Sarovar Stadium Academy, covering all costs to see him soar. When I approached East Bengal Football Club, they showed interest, but the academy denied Biswajit’s involvement. Worse, at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan International Stadium, he was forced to run a 900-meter race instead of his 100-meter sprint—a deliberate sabotage. “In a state so backward in athletics, in Yuva Bharati Stadium, I saw the murder of an athlete's dream by West Bengal hypocrites,” I declared, my heart seared by the injustice.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. West Bengal’s sports system has long been plagued by favoritism and mismanagement. Reports from 2024 highlight the state’s neglect of athletics infrastructure, with crumbling stadiums and underfunded programs stifling talent. A Kolkata cricketer’s Instagram post about unpaid coaches went viral, amassing 8,000 likes but no reform, echoing the systemic apathy I witnessed. The state’s focus on political controversies, like the 2022 School Service Commission scam involving bribes of ₹5-15 lakh for teaching posts, diverts resources from sports development, leaving athletes like Biswajit stranded.

A System That Punishes Ambition

The corruption I faced wasn’t just institutional—it was personal. Biswajit’s sabotage stemmed from his ambition to join East Bengal, a threat to Rabindra Sarovar’s control. This mirrors broader issues in West Bengal, where merit is often sidelined. In 2024, the state’s football scene faced scrutiny when a youth tournament was marred by allegations of rigged selections, with coaches favoring connected players over skilled ones, as shared on X by a disillusioned parent. Such practices suffocate potential, much like the hypocrisy that crushed Biswajit’s dreams.

I tried again to make a difference, leveraging my MBA from KIIT School of Management and Six Sigma Green Belt expertise. But West Bengal offered no haven. The state’s sports governance, tangled in political patronage, lacks the vision to nurture talent. A 2025 report noted West Bengal’s failure to capitalize on its Santosh Trophy win, with no follow-up investment in grassroots football, unlike states like Kerala. This stagnation forced me to confront a harsh truth: to achieve greatness, I had to leave.

Exile and Triumph in Dehradun

In 2023, I left West Bengal for Dehradun, where I had studied BBA, seeking a fresh start. Even there, challenges persisted. At a football academy run by a Nepali friend, my strict training methods—rooted in Nandy’s discipline—drew backlash from students. Yet, I persevered, securing Byju’s sponsorship for a local tournament that earned Rs. 30,000 and arranging trials for a player with West Bengal clubs like Food Corporation of India and East Bengal. I even sourced a sponsor to provide Rs. 6,840 monthly for his nutrition. But betrayal struck again—he skipped the final trial, accusing me of profiteering. This final blow crystallized my purpose: I founded Invictus Sportz in November 2023 to empower athletes free from corruption’s grip.

Dehradun became my crucible for greatness. Reconnecting with Shihan Nandy, I began coaching at ONGC North Colony, channeling my world-stage experience. Outside West Bengal’s toxic system, I thrived, proving my methods through Invictus Sportz’s mission to support underprivileged athletes. My bronze medals in 2007 and 2008 were won despite Bengal’s constraints, but my true legacy—building a platform for 500 athletes by 2028—was only possible beyond its borders. The state’s crisis, marked by neglected facilities and political scandals like the 2022 education scam, continues to stifle talent, as seen in ongoing reports of misallocated funds.

A Call to Break the Chains

West Bengal’s sports system is a cautionary tale, but my exodus offers hope. Corruption may thrive—whether in rigged trials or abandoned stadiums—but resilience endures. Shihan Nandy taught me to transform pain into power, his drills aligning my broken body with unyielding spirit. I urge athletes trapped in Bengal’s web to seek new horizons, as I did, and for leaders to invest in merit over politics. The world watches—posts on X lamenting Kolkata’s fading sports glory demand action. My journey, from betrayal to triumph, proves that greatness lies beyond corruption’s reach. Through Invictus Sportz, I forge a future where no athlete is exiled by injustice, their dreams free to soar.