Two Sikkim Karatekas to represent country in Asian Championship

HEM KUMARI RAI AND NEEMU LEPCHA WILL MAKE INTERNATIONAL DEBUT IN UZBEKISTAN
GANGTOK, 08 July: It is again a proud moment for Sikkim as two of its karatekas have been shortlisted to represent India in the Asian Karate Championship scheduled to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 14 to 17 July. On the basis of their performances in the National championships, Hem Kumari Rai and Neemu Lepcha have been shortlisted for the national team.
Hem Kumari Rai will be taking part in the 11th Asian Senior Karate Championship, while Neemu Lepcha will be taking part in the 12th Asian Junior Karate Championship. The girls are participating in an international competition for the first time. Both the championships will be held at the same venue and time mentioned above.
Hem Kumari had bagged gold in the Senior Nationals held in December last year, while Neemu also won a gold medal in the Junior Nationals held in May, earlier this year. On the basis of these wins, the duo has been selected to represent the nation.
Hem Kumari hails from Deu-Damthang in South Sikkim while Neemu Lepcha belongs to Ray-Mindu in Tintem in East Sikkim.
Sikkim State Karate-do Association [SSKA] expressed its best wishes to both karatekas in a small function held at Paljor Stadium today.
Addressing the function, Ms Rai and Ms Lepcha said that they have prepared well for the championship and hope of winning medals for the country. They further expressed that it was their dream to take part at the international level and with this Asian championship their dreams have come true.
The duo further informed that they have undergone a rigorous one-month training at Paljor Stadium under their Chief Coach, BB Subba and other coaches of SSKA.
Sports and Youth Affairs Deputy Director [Coaching], Thupten Rapgyal Bhutia lauded SSKA’s efforts in bringing out many promising karatekas in the state. He mentioned that Karate is a discipline which has been regularly fetching medals for the state.
While expressing his best wishes to both players, the Deputy Director mentioned that the Asian championship is a tough competition and it is a golden opportunity for these karatekas to be given such a big platform.
SSKA chief coach, BB Subba mentioned that both karatekas are in their best form and the association has full hopes that the two will bring home medals from the competition. He added that the two young upcoming karatekas have been consistent in their performances till date and would continue to do so at their debut in the Asian level competition as well.
The Chief Coach also expressed his gratitude to the Sports and Youth Affairs Department and especially the Secretary for the support and encouragement extended to SSKA.

Karateka Neemu Lepcha qualifies for 9th Junior Asian Karate Championship

GANGTOK, 23 May: Sikkimese Karateka Neemu Lepcha has qualified for the forthcoming 9th Junior Asian Karate Championship to be held in Uzbekistan in the second week of July.
A press release informs that Neemu’s qualification for the Asian Championship comes after she bagged the gold medal at the 24th Junior National Karate Championship held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi from 18-19 May. She won the gold medal in the 60 kg [16 to 17 years] Individual Kumite category beating Delhi in the finals.
The national championship was organised by Delhi Karate-Do Association under the banner of All India Karate-Do Federation.
Neemu Lepcha hails from Rey Mindu, Tempyam in East Sikkim and is a student of West Point Sr. Sec School, Gangtok. The Sikkim Karate-Do Association has expressed happiness over Neemu’s performance, the release adds.

Karatekas bag 3 gold medals in National Championship

GANGTOK, 18 May: The state’s karatekas have bagged 3 gold medals at the 8th NKFI National Open Karate Championship held from 14 to 15 May at SNBP school, Pune, Maharashtra. The championship was organised by Maharashtra Karate-Do Association under the banner of National Karate Federation of India.
A press release issued by the Sikkim State Karate Do Association, joint secretary, Bhim Bahadur Subba informs , Buddha Hang Limboo won the gold medal in the 55 kg Junior Boys Individual Kumite beating Maharashtra in the finals. Bijoy Gurung [1st Battalion, IRBn] defeated Manipur in the finals to win gold in the 65 kg Senior Men Individual Kumite and Bhim Bahadur Subba [1st Battalion, IRBn] overcame Maharashtra in the finals of the Open Weight category to clinch the gold medal.
The release mentions that 25 states and services comprising of 800 players had participated in the championship in different categories. Mr Subba has thanked the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs for providing the infrastructure and equipments along with cash incentives to Karate players. He has also thanked the Police Department [IRBn].

Karatekas complete residential winter coaching camp

GANGTOK, 25 Jan: The 15-day residential winter coaching camp for karatekas of the state concluded at Paljor Stadium indoor gymnasium today.
Fifty karatekas from across the state participated in the camp organized by Sikkim State Karate-Do Association [SSKA] from 12 January. The training was imparted by the SSKA chief coach, BB Subba, who was assisted by coaches, Bijay Gurung and Bhim Bahadur Subba. This coaching camp is an annual feature of the association during the winter and summer vacations.
On the last day of the camp the Dan Grade examination was also held, which had the 6th degree black belt and SSKA chief coach, Mr Subba as the examiner. The successful candidates received the certificates from Shito Ryu Seko Kai Karate Do India.
Lhamit Lepcha received the 1st degree black belt, while Hem Kumar Rai, Sushmita Rai, Buddha Bir Mangar and Hiya Hang Subba received the 2nd degree black belt, and Bishnu Kumar Rai received the 3rd degree black belt. Likewise, 4th degree black belt was received by Arjun Rai, Bijay Gurung [IRB] and Bhim Bahadur Subba [IRB].
The chief coach stated that the camp was also a preparation camp for the upcoming Sub-Junior and Junior National Karate-do Championships. He stated that another objective of the coaching camp was to engage youth in sporting and productive activities and to teach new techniques and skills.
He informed that the camp concentrated on the Kumete [Fighting] skills and on teaching score system skills to score more during fights. The camp had a number of new players this time.

Karate winter coaching camp gets underway at Paljor Stadium

GANGTOK, 12 Jan: A total of fifty Karatekas from across the state are undergoing a 15-day residential winter coaching camp organized by Sikkim State Karate-Do Association [SSKA] here at Paljor Stadium indoor gymnasium starting today.
The training is being provided by the experienced SSKA chief coach, BB Subba, assisted by coaches, Bijay Gurung and Bhim Bahadur Subba. This coaching camp is an annual feature of the association during the winter and summer vacations.
These coaching camps prove fruitful in preparing the state team for the national tournaments and also to keep children and youth busy in sporting and productive activities. It may be mentioned here that Sikkim karatekas have been continuously bringing national medals for the state and more importantly few Karatekas have also been qualifying for the National Games every year.
Chief Coach, Mr Subba informed that the camp has 75% new players and this time the camp is mainly concentrating on the Kumete [Fighting] skills and teaching participants mainly on score system skills to score more during fights.
The coaching camp is divided into three sessions starting from 6 to 7:30 AM, then 8 to 9:30 AM and from 1 to 3 PM. The camp has participants aged 7 to 25 years old.
Mr Subba stated that the coaching camp has proved beneficial for the participants in sharing talents with others and also helps them to learn new talents and skills. He stated that if Sikkim karatekas receive support and cooperation from the state then it would help the association to work more for the development and promotion of local karatekas.
The camp is also a preparation camp for the upcoming Sub-Junior and Junior National Karate-do Championships.

Sikkim Karatekas bag silver and bronze at Senior Nationals

GANGTOK, 02 Jan: The 24th Senior National Karate Championship 2011 was held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi from 24 to 25 December 2011, organised by the Delhi Karate-Do Association under the banner of All India Karate-Do Federation.
Khangendra Subba of Sikkim bagged a silver medal in the 60 kg Individual Men Kumite category while Hem Kumari Rai bagged a bronze in the above 68 kg Individual Women Kumite category, informs a press release issued by Sikkim State Karate-Do Association.
Six karatekas from Sikkim have qualified for the upcoming 35th National Games at Kerala, the release adds. The Association has also expressed its happiness on the performance of the players.

Sikkim Karatekas to participate in Senior Nationals

GANGTOK, 13 Dec: A ten-member team of the Sikkim State Karate Do Association, accompanied by coach Bidhan Bhallav Subba and team manager, Hiyahang Subba, will be leaving on 16 Dec for the 24th National Senior Karate Championship 2011 to be held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi from 20 to 21 December, informs a press release.