Strength-lifters all set for national c'ship

GANGTOK, 15 Jan: A nine-member Sikkim Strength Lifting Association will be participating in the 22th edition of Junior, Sub Junior, Senior & Master Federation Cup National Strength Lifting Championship 2014-15 to be held at Guru Ravi Das Gurudwara Ground, Phagwara in Punjab from 23 to 26 January. The state team comprises of Karma Lhamu Bhutia, Leena Chettri, Karishma Subba and Manisha Tiwari in women’s category, while the men’s team has Pema Dorji Bhutia, Dhan Bahadur Tamang, Devendra Basnet, Ram Dhoj Rai and Damber Bahadur Rai.
The team, led by Pema Dorji Bhutia as the team coach, will be leaving on Friday [16 January] for the championship.
Mr Bhutia informed that the team underwent rigorous training for a month to prepare for the championship. “Looking at the present form of the team members, the SSLA is very hopeful that our lifters will win medals for the state in the championship,” he expressed.
Karishma Subba, Manisha Tewari, Devendra Basnet, Ram Dhoj Rai and Damber Bahadur Rai are participating for the first time in the national strength lifting championship. The association is looking forward to their debut performance and hopes that they will also clinch medals for the state.
The SSLA team is participating in this prestigious championship for the fourth time. In its first attempt, the team won 2 medals after which it hauled in 6 medals in its second year. In the last edition the SSLA won 5 medals for the state.
SSLA has also expressed its gratitude to Lotus Travels for providing tracksuits to the state team members and Agarwal Fast Food for its support to the team.
[SAGAR CHHETRI]