Darjeeling, known as the “Queen of Hills,” is well-known for participating in various sports. However, not much work has been done in the Sports History of Darjeeling; still, there is a craze for sports in society. Unfortunately, the legacy of sports (esp. of football) in Darjeeling declined after the agitation of the 1980s and not gaining any momentum for revival.

The major sports in Darjeeling are cricket, football, and hockey. Volleyball, basketball, table tennis, squash, lawn tennis, athletics, swimming, billiards, boxing, and gymnastics are also popular. Besides, Horse Races and golf were also famous in Darjeeling. However, horse races and golf were discontinued in Darjeeling as part of sports but were very popular during the British Regime.

Golf Course:

Senchel Golf Course was also famous in Darjeeling. Darjeeling’s golf course was constructed around 1900. “It was leased out to a club called Golf Links in 1907 by the then district commissioner for 99 years,” said Jordan Norbu, a Darjeeling golfer. Golf Links vanished after the British left the country in 1947. However, army personnel used the turf until the late 1980s. They left because documents proved that the Darjeeling Improvement Fund (district administration) owned the land.

Tiger Hill in Darjeeling is one of the country’s highest golf courses. It will be revived, with the state tourism department seeking expressions of interest from national and international firms. They would implement the course through a public-private partnership (PPP). This nine-hole golf course is one of the highest in the world (altitude of 8,150 ft). It is close to Tiger Hill and has a Club House and a Tourist Lodge.

Lebong Race Course:

About 8 km from the town, Lebong Horse Race Course is one of the smallest and highest Race Course in the world. Races used to be held during the Spring & Autumn season under the management of the local Gymkhana Club since 1925, but it shut its gates in 1984. The course is presently under the army.

Dawa Tshering Bhotia, popularly known as ‘Dawa Jockey,’ is one of the two last surviving jockeys of the golden age of the fifties. The other man is Naswan Madan, a soft-spoken person, proprietor of the Chowrasta stores, and the previous owner of the Central Hotel. He raced horses for the thrill and romance of it.

The Governor’s Cup, the great Darjeeling classic, was the most coveted trophy in racing. Dawa had won it five times, demonstrating his professional ability. Only small ponies from Manipur, Imphal, Kalimpong, and Tibet could race. Aside from the totalisators, several licensed bookmakers or bookies were in small stands. Thompson, Awaaz, Chumbey, Ramchatti, and others were famous among them. The odds of each horse changed depending on the size of the bet. The Lebong races were identical to their larger counterparts in Bombay and Kolkata. Dawa’s most significant moment in life came when he won the Governor’s Cup in 1952. The other four Governor Cups he won as a jockey were in 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1962.

Explore more about the role of the British in the Darjeeling hill station

Football:

 Football is a well-known and celebrated sport in Darjeeling. It has a rich legacy in Darjeeling. Darjeeling Gold Cup Football Tournament was once a prominent fixture in the football calendar of the country, with major clubs in the nation and from across South East Asia participating in the tournament. The Tournament elicited a robust response from fans and footballers from the hills and plains.

Gorkha personnel serving in the British Army had initially instituted the Gurkha Gold Cup. It started in 1975 with Mohun Bagan AC, the first champions. In 1975, the Brigade of Gold Cup started in Darjeeling. Mr. Pemba Bomzon stated that the Gorkha Brigade was a Cup sent from Hong Kong to the District Magistrate of Darjeeling, the Gorkha Cup’s Ex officio President. This cup used to hold in October.

The tournament was held regularly until 1985. East Bengal Club was the last champion. The tournament could no longer be due to the Gorkhaland agitation, which began in 1986. The Darjeeling District Sports Association used to organize the tournament, which attracted top teams from Kolkata and across the country. The tournament’s patrons include former footballers Shyam Thapa, Chuni Goswami, Prasun Banerjee, and former India captain Baichung Bhutia.

The role of the Sports Association & Clubs is also of great importance in the sports of Darjeeling. For instance, Darjeeling Gymkhana Club and G.D.N.S. are still organizing tournaments to enrich and promote sports activities in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Gymkhana Club:

Darjeeling Gymkhana Club Ltd. was founded in 1909. It plays a vital role in the tourism map of Darjeeling, the “Queen of Hills.” It is prominently above the Mall Road, next to Raj Bhawan, and is one of the region’s most well-equipped clubs, with indoor and outdoor games facilities. It comprises about 400 permanent members and 49 special members, mainly 1st Class Gazetted Officers. Darjeeling Amusement Club was the previous name for Darjeeling Gymkhana Club Ltd. The British Government established the Gymkhana Club as a premium club.

Mr. M.K. Brahmin said that Club used to organize the Tournament at a 9-hole Golf Course at Tiger Hill. Gymkhana Club also organized polo.  The Club organizes the Lawn Tennis Tournament. Gymkhana Club, the biggest roller skating rink in Eastern India, is made of Burmese teak wood. At Gymkhana, famous players such as Michael Perera and Geet Sethi competed. They also organize coaching for Badminton and Lawn Tennis in the winter season.

Besides, The Darjeeling Gymkhana Club used to organize two seasons for horse racing in May and June, October and November on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Lebong. The principle race meeting was during the Puja holidays when there were four days of sports and events keenly contested. Your Excellency, the club’s president, is the Governor of West Bengal, and the committee’s ex officio executive member is the District Magistrate. A 14-member Executive Committee that is elected by the membership manages the Club.

Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sangha:

G.D.N.S. (Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sangha) founded in 1932. However, G.D.N.S. widely organized the tournament from 1952 onwards. Pemba Doma Trophy started in 1956 for Volleyball. Even today, the Dulichand Agarwal Trophy for girls and S.D. Lama Cup for boys is organized for volleyball. Darjeeling & District Sports Association, according to Mr. Pemba Bomzon, established the Hurley Cup. Later, in the 1970s, the name was changed to Darjeeling District Sports Association, then Gorkha Hill Football Association. The name finally changed to Gorkha Hill Sports Association in 2012, affiliated with the Indian Football Association (I.F.A.).

Apart from Hurley, Malla Shield, Jashoda Giri League tournament used to organize.  Until the 1970s, many teams from Bhutan and Sikkim took part. Darjeeling’s famous football clubs included Darjeeling Dynamo, Tarun Khelkud Sangh, Himalayan Sporting Club, M.R.F.C., Singamari Lions, and others.

However, Gorkha Hill Games & Sports was established within D.G.H.C. in 1989. In 1992, Gorkha Hill Football Association was formed, and in 1998, Gorkha Hill Sports Association was established to promote sports in Darjeeling. They also established SAI in Lebong to provide coaching to young players. Archery is also a famous sport in Darjeeling. In Kalimpong, there is an Archery Association. Peril Lepcha recently won the Junior National Archery (Traditional) Championship.

Adventure Sports:

Darjeeling is well-known for its Adventure Sports, which range from Aero Sports to Water Sports. Darjeeling offers a wide range of adventure activities. Trekking, mountaineering, whitewater rafting, paragliding, camping, and other activities are famous.

Trekking in the Darjeeling Hills dates back nearly a century. In fact, along with the Sangalila range, the first organised trekking route in India was established. The trek starts in Darjeeling and continues through Maneybhanjyang, Tonglu, Sandakphu, and Phalut. The alluring natural beauty is abundant in Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Orchids, and Wild Flowers. Darjeeling is a popular adventurous mountaineering destination. It is a mountaineer’s paradise because there are many peaks and mountains to climb. Climbing Darjeeling’s higher peaks requires tremendous strength, energy, vigour, and zeal. To qualify, one must go through extensive training programmes.

On November 4, 1954, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) was founded in Darjeeling, India, to promote mountaineering as an organised sport in India. HMI was founded in Darjeeling with the help of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.Tenzing Norgay was HMI’s first director of field training. HMI offers Adventure, Basic, and Advanced Mountaineering courses regularly.

White Water Rafting is an exciting adventure sport introduced in Darjeeling Hills in 1991. White Water Rafting on the rivers Teesta and Rangeet (Triveni), the scenic beauty of the banks, surrounding hills, flora, and fauna, and sightings of various fish species are enchanting.

International players like Prakash Padukone, the first Indian to win the All England Badminton Championship, have previously competed at the Nripendra Narayan Bengali Hindu Public Hall in Darjeeling. National football teams such as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, as well as clubs from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, regularly competed in hill tournaments. Chandan Singh Rawat was most likely a well-known figure in Darjeeling. Chandan Singh Rawat, an ex-Olympian and international footballer, was a prominent and consistent member of the Indian National team after independence.

With the quest for Darjeeling Talents, we can overcome even identity crises. Moreover, Sports play an essential role in India as a significant factor in promoting national integrity. So, the sports legacy in the Darjeeling hills can be revived and promoted with its previous zeal.

Read more to know about the history of Darjeeling