Kickboxers return from national championships with 11-medal haul

GANGTOK: The Sikkim Association of Kickboxing Organizations [SAKO] team returned Wednesday, loaded with a rich haul of 11 medals from the 16th Junior & 17th Senior National Kickboxing Championship held at Angul Stadium in Orissa from 07 to 10 April.
The state team has bagged eight medals in junior nationals and three medals in the senior nationals.
Passang Putit, Deeki Palmu, Mandira Karki, Lhamit Lepcha and Shezey Lepcha bagged gold medals in junior catgory, while Phur Chuki Lepcha and Joshan Lepcha won silver medals and Lakden Lepcha won bronze medals in the junior nationals.
In senior nationals, Susmita Rai and Bimla Tamang bagged gold medals and Dojree Pintso Lepcha won a bronze medal for the state.
The 14-member SAKO team was led by Navin Rai as coach and Tempa Gyatso Lepcha as manager.
The Additional Director, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, RK Rai, handed over the medals and certificates to the state team members today at a special function held here at Paljor Stadium.

While congratulating the martial artists, Mr Rai mentioned that to win medals in such a prestigious championship was a matter of pride for the entire state and its people.
He mentioned that these medals were the fruits of dedication, sacrifice and sincere efforts of the players and their coaches.
The Additional Director congratulated the entire team on behalf of the department and the people of Sikkim for making Sikkim proud.
“These players have proven that Sikkim has tremendous potential and can do much better in contact sports in the national as well as in international levels”, he added.
Mr Rai encouraged the players and SAKO to continue with their sincere efforts and training to further improve on their performance.
SAKO general secretary, BB Subba, who is also the chief technical director, mentioned that the state has done much better than expected with such a small contingent by giving a good fight to their opponents.
He mentioned that there was a substantial improvement over last year when SIkkim won only one medal. This time 11 medals came to a 14-member team.
Mr Subba urged the Sports and Youth Affairs Department to continue supporting the association.
The team-members expressed their satisfaction on their performance in the championship and mentioned that it was a proud moment for them to win medals for Sikkim.
They also mentioned that they would now continue with their training and dedication to win more medals for the state as well as for the country.