Strength-Lifting has a lot to offer: Pema Dorji Bhutia

GANGTOK, 18 Aug: From bodybuilding to strength lifting and going on to serve as a national referee Havaldar Pema Dorji Bhutia of Sikkim Armed Police has come a long way. The former Mr Sikkim is the first national referee from Sikkim in Strength Lifting. After serving as referee for a couple of national level strength lifting championships, he is now working towards bringing out more national referees in strength lifting from Sikkim.
46-year-old Pema Dorji hails from Lingdok-Nampong in East Sikkim and became an inspiration for many young bodybuilders when he won the title of Mr Sikkim in his early 40s in the year 2009.
He started strength lifting last year with his debut performance in the 19th Senior & 11 Master National Strength Lifting & Incline Bench Press Championship in June 2013 in Haryana. In this championship, he not only won a gold medal in Incline Bench Press but also set a National record in 62 kg category of Two Hand Curly event.
During this championship, Pema Dorji also sat for the India Strength Lifting Federation National Referee Examination 2013 and passed in his first attempt with 61% marks and became the first national referee from Sikkim. He is also training many youngsters as the state coach.
Speaking to NOW! he said, "I want to inspire the people and especially the young generation to be concerned about their health and live a healthy life in any age". While mentioning about the scope in strength lifting as a lifter as well as referee, he said that in just one year of the introduction of the strength lifting sport in the state, Sikkim has already produced many players and won medals as well as appreciation. He informed that he is also preparing three men and one woman for the national referee examination to be held later this year.
Pema Dorji served the 20th edition of the Senior National championship as a national referee in February earlier this year. Interestingly, he also won 2 gold medals and Champion of the Champions title in the same championship.