AGARTALA, August 10 (TIWN): On Sunday, after a gruelling nine hour battle , Saikat Choudhury emerged champion with his partner Subhradip Sharma at the 2015 Tripurainfoway Mega Quiz and fondly remembered his father who had passed away a day before.As he walked up to take the championship prize , Saikat was calm and composed and those on the podium at the Nazrul Kalakshetra giving away the prizes had no inkling of the bombshell the champion was about to drop.As he received the first prize from Saumen Sarker, Editor of Tripurainfoway, quizmaster and presenter Subir Bhaumik asked the winners for a reaction. " My father passed away on Saturday , but I feel he is always around blessing me . I think that blessing carried me to victory," said Saikat leaving all on the podium stunned."What a great spirit !!! TIWN MD Saumen Sarker instantly hugged Saikat on stage and audience appluded across the packed hall."What passion for quiz , I am amazed by the spirit," said Sujata Sen , director (East India) of the British Council and the chief guest of the Megaquiz.Saikat and Subhradip had left the nearest rivals far behind -- by 20 points. They notched up 75 poins against the 55 secured by the runners-up.He had taken his chances and hedged his bets in the final round,, scoring several bonus points on questions unaswered by rivals.The huge crowd that packed the Nazrul Kalakshetra hall throughout the day heartily applauded Saikat and Subhradip but were stunned into silence when the champion said he had lost his father on Saturday." It is unbelievable," said quiz masters Indraneel Bhowmik and Subhasis Kar.. " How can somneone bat with so much confidence after such personal tragedy."

 Saikat lost his father Retd Police officer Bibutibhusan Chowdhury on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Sujata Sen arrived with two of her colleagues at the invitation of the tripurainfoway.com to explore possibilities of doing teachers training and English learning projects with the Tripura government to improve the quality of education, specially English communication skills in the state.