Sikkimese footballer wins bronze in 36th National Games

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Sikkimese footballer Novin Gurung has won a bronze medal with the Services football team in the 36^th National Games 2022 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The Services – a combined team of footballers from Army, Navy and Air Force – defeated Karnataka 4-0 on Tuesday in the play-off match for the bronze medal.

Novin, a right back, played for Services in all the games but did not feature in the play-off match. It is the first football bronze medal for the Services in National Games.

Novin expressed his happiness to win a bronze medal in the National Games.

Services had lost to the eventual winners West Bengal 1-0 in the semis.

Novin, who hails from Rongli, has been playing for the Navy and the Services football teams regularly since past four years. The 23-year-old also plays for professional football clubs and has signed up with Rajasthan United FC for this coming I-League. He started his professional football career with Shillong Lajong FC and then went on to play for Real Kashmir FC and East Bengal FC.

The Sikkimese footballer would be reporting for pre-season training with Rajasthan United FC later this month.