Authorities of the District Sports Association of North Dinajpur have decided to telecast live the 4 x 400-meter relay race for women at the 21-Commonwealth Games-2018, being held in Australia, on a giant screen in Raiganj stadium on Saturday.

Local girl Sonia Baishya will be sprinting on the tracks. According to officials of the DSA, they have decided to mark the event after the success of the local girl in making it to the Commonwealth finals.

“This morning, the sports association made announcements on mikes across the town, inviting people to witness Sonia’s race on a giant screen in Raiganj stadium from 12.37 pm on Saturday,” a local said.

Officials of the district administration, meanwhile, have extended their helping hand to the DSA. Sports lovers and students from different schools in Raiganj, including teachers and students from Sonia’s former school, have been invited to witness the race, sources said.

Residents of Raiganj welcomed the efforts of the DSA and looked all set to witness the Raiganj girl in the Commonwealth Games for the first time. Sonia is pursuing her Bachelors in Arts Part-1 from the Charu Chandra College in Kolkata.

Her father, Baren Baisya, was a former councillor at the Raiganj municipality and is a contractor by profession. Her mother Mamata Baisya is also a former councillor and is now a housewife. Sonia’s father is a sports lover and has always encouraged her daughter, it is learnt.

Sonia has been selected to take part in the Commonwealth Games after winning a gold medal in the invitational tournament of the Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently.

“We are proud of Sonia. According to local time, she will start running her 4×400 meter relay race at 12.37 pm on Saturday. We have arranged for a giant screen at the Raiganj stadium to display her race on Saturday. We have also made announcements, inviting sports lovers and students to reach Raiganj stadium on time,” Secretary of the district Sports Association, Sudip Biswas, said.

“We have also invited teachers and students of a number of schools in Raiganj. Officials of the district administration are lending their helping hand in making our endeavour a success. The display will encourage students and will prompt development of games and sports in the district,” he added.