Sikkim arm wrestlers win 21 medals, including 8 gold, in national championship

KUSH HANG LEEWANG

GEYZING, : Players from the United Arm Wrestling Association of Sikkim (UAWAS) bagged eight gold medals, five silver medals, and eight bronze medals at the 42nd National Arm Wrestling Championship held in Guwahati recently. The Sikkim arm wrestlers won medals across all categories.

Among the gold medallists were Lehndup Dorjee Bhutia, Phu Tshering Bhutia, Roland Lepcha, Ranam Lepcha, Sherap Dorjee Gurung, Namdu Bhutia, Amit Neupaney, and Pandey Unmun Rai. Rai secured two gold medals in both the right and left-hand categories.

Similarly, Chandan Kumar Chettri, Sherap Dorjee Bhutia, Roland Lepcha, Dil Bahadur Bhujel, and Sushma Rai won silver medals, while Phu Tshering Bhutia, Ongdup Tamang, Bhajan Gurung, Ranam Lepcha, Dil Bahadur Bhujel, Chad Maya Pradhan, Nirmala Limboo, and Gauri Maya Pradhan claimed bronze medals.

UAWAS president and Arm Wrestling Association of India general secretary Ganesh Kumar Subba, while congratulating the team, expressed that Sikkim has played a crucial role in promoting arm wrestling in India. He added that the sport has a bright global future.

Subba further stated that Sikkim's outstanding performance at the national championship reflects the growing popularity of arm wrestling as both a sport and a physical activity in the State.

“Being a promoter of arm wrestling in the State and witnessing the youth gradually take up arm wrestling as a passion and sport means a lot to me and to others who have worked toward promoting this once-alien sport in Sikkim,” Subba said.