1st Sikkim State Inter-School Badminton Championship 2025 underway at Paljor Stadium

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK, : The inaugural State Inter-School Badminton Championship 2025, organised by the Badminton Association of Sikkim (BAS), was officially inaugurated at the indoor hall of Paljor Stadium, Gangtok on Monday. The two-day event was graced by Sports minister Raju Basnet, who declared the final round of the championship open.

He was joined by C. Zangpo, vice president of the Sikkim Olympic Association (SOA) and chief advisor of BAS, BAS president Jacob Khaling, and other senior executives of the association.

The championship, being held for the first time in Sikkim, has been initiated under the guidance and vision of Chief Minister PS Golay. In line with the Chief Minister's direction, BAS has undertaken a grassroots-level talent hunt, conducting selection trials across schools to identify budding talent from both rural and urban areas.

The preliminary rounds were conducted at the school level to ensure maximum participation and early identification of young athletes. BAS has emphasized the importance of spotting talent at a young age, so that appropriate training, coaching, and mentoring can be provided, preparing them for State, national, and even international competitions.

Minister Basnet noted that sports in Sikkim is witnessing a period of rapid growth under the leadership of the Chief Minister, calling it a "golden era" for sports in the state. He expressed confidence that badminton in Sikkim will continue to flourish under the leadership of BAS president Jacob Khaling.

BAS president Jacob Khaling shared that the idea behind the championship is to scout talent across the State, regardless of region, and to provide a platform for young players to showcase their skills. While Sikkim is a small State, it has previously produced Olympians in disciplines such as boxing and archery, he said, and BAS hopes to add badminton to that list.

The championship saw participation from over 100 schools across Sikkim, with more than 600 players competing. Following several rounds of matches, over 100 players from 36 schools have qualified for the final phase of the tournament.

Although this year’s championship focused primarily on Under-17 and Under-19 categories, BAS received strong interest in hosting competitions for Under-11, Under-14, and Under-15 age groups. The association aims to include these additional categories in the next edition of the championship.

The BAS extended its gratitude to Chief Minister PS Golay, who is also the chief patron of the association, for his continued trust and support. The association reiterated its commitment to nurturing young talent and producing world-class badminton players who can represent Sikkim at Northeast, national, and international levels.

The championship includes both individual and team events, offering a comprehensive competitive platform for students to test and enhance their skills.