Four from Sikkim to compete in sub-junior national swimming championship

AYUSHI DAHAL

GANGTOK,: Four young swimmers from Sikkim, all between the ages of 11 and 14, have qualified to represent the State at the Sub Junior National Swimming Championship, to be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, from August 6 to 9. The four day national event will see the swimmers compete against the best young talent from across the country.

The Sikkim contingent includes two girls and two boys. KinsumDolkarNamgyal and Tenzing Sherpa will represent the girls’ category, while KenzoJigmeWangchuk and JaaydenGyatsoNamampaBhutia will compete in the boys’ category.

The swimmers earned their qualification through the 20th Sikkim State Open Championship, organised by the Sikkim Amateur Swimming Association (SASA) on July 11 and 12 at theTashiNamgyal Academy pool.

Interestingly, the State meet is usually held in August, but SASA moved the schedule to July this year specifically so that qualifying swimmers would have enough time to prepare for and participate in the national event. The young athletes will be accompanied to Jaipur by three officials from SASA. The delegation will include SASA president Karma SonamChopel, general secretary YasminPradhan, and coachRaginiRai, who will escort and guide the swimmers throughout the championship.

The Sikkim Amateur Swimming Association has been consistently organising well-structured events that continue to raise the standard of the sport in the State. Through such efforts, Sikkim is steadily making its mark on the national swimming circuit, with more young athletes earning the chance to compete at the highest level each year. As the four swimmers prepare to head to Jaipur, the entire State sends them off with warm wishes and confidence, hoping they bring laurels home and continue to inspire the next generation of swimmers in Sikkim.