Boxers Sandhya and Pratima return from coaching stint with team India in Bulgaria

GANGTOK, 21 Oct: Two women boxing coaches from Sikkim - Sandhya Gurung and Pratima Gurung - recently returned home after participating in the 2nd World Women Boxing Championship held in Albania, Bulgaria from 23 to 28 September.
Sandhya Gurung represented India as the coach of women boxers under youth [under 19 years] category, while Pratima Gurung coached a group of women boxers under Sub-Junior category [under 16 years].
A Sikkim Amateur Boxing Association [SABA] press release issued by its president, Prawin Gurung informs that there were altogether 18 boxers and six coaches in the contingent which represented India in the championship which was participated in by 32 countries. The release informs that India was able to get one silver and one bronze under youth category and a bronze under sub-junior category.
The duo who were women boxers of the state are now qualified coaches and have completed their degree from National Institute of Sports in the year 2007-08 and 2009-10. As qualified coaches, they had earlier represented India in the 1st World Women Boxing Championship held in Antalya (Turkey) in 2011.
Sandhya Gurung is presently employed as a Coach in the Sports & Youth Affairs Department.  She has represented India in a number of international championships and had led the interim contingents of women boxers to Istanbul (Turkey), Sri Lanka, Serbia and China in the past.
Pratima Gurung is presently working in the HRD Department as a Physical Education Teacher.  Earlier, she had participated and won medals in a number of national championships.  Both the boxers are primary members of the Sikkim Amateur Boxing Association and have been contributing to the best of their abilities for the promotion of boxing and boxers in the State.
“It is a matter of great pride for the state to have such talented women boxers and coaches representing India in the International arena,” a SABA press release conveys.