SSBBA to host mega bodybuilding championship in Gangtok

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK, : The Sikkim State Bodybuilding Association (SSBBA) is set to host a mega bodybuilding championship to mark its silver jubilee, coinciding with the celebrations of 50 years of Sikkim’s Statehood.

The championship will feature four competition categories with a total prize pool of Rs25 lakh, the highest ever offered in any bodybuilding competition in Northeast India.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, SSBBA presidentArunGurung stated that the Mr. Sikkim Bodybuilding Championship, held annually by the association, is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the State. He announced that this year, in addition to the 24th Mr. Sikkim Bodybuilding Championship, the association will also host competitions in Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, and the Denim Jeans and Sports Model categories.

The championship is scheduled to be held on August 23 at Manan Kendra in Gangtok. It will mark the 24th edition of Mr. Sikkim and the 7th edition of the Men’s and Women’s Physique competitions, which will be conducted as open-category events.

Gurung said the championship’s scale and prize offerings have already attracted interest from athletes outside the State and even from neighboring countries.

The winners of the Mr. Sikkim title will receive a Royal Enfield Classic 350 motorcycle, a gold chain, and cash prizes for the top five finalists. Similarly, the winners of the Men’s and Women’s Physique competitions will be awarded a Royal Enfield bike and a scooty respectively, along with gold chains and cash prizes. Winners in the Denim Jeans and Sports Model categories will also receive cash awards.

SSBBA will soon launch its official website, www.sikkimbodybuilding.com, which is expected to go live by July 7 or 8. Interested participants will be able to register online and pay the required entry fees. The association also encouraged athletes and enthusiasts to follow the association’s official Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.

In a socially driven initiative, the SSBBA also announced its plan to support the State government’s “NashaMukt Sikkim” campaign by setting up gym facilities in three rehabilitation centres: the Freedom Facility Centre in Gangtok, the Sikkim Rehabilitation and Detoxification Society in Nimtar, and the Sanjeevani Rehab Society in Namchi.

The SSBBA president expressed hope that this gesture will help youth undergoing treatment at these centres to adopt a disciplined lifestyle and improve both their physical and mental well-being through bodybuilding.

SSBBA executive member Rahul Sarda noted that this year’s championship is not just about competition but also about promoting a greater cause. He emphasized that the association believes fitness should go beyond gym walls and competitive stages, serving as a means of healing and transformation.

Sarda stated that the equipment to be distributed will be curated for safety and relevance to the recovery programs at the centres, with the goal of supporting individuals on their path to rehabilitation and dignity.

Also present at the press conference were SSBBA joint secretary SumanTamang, treasurer Laxmi Maya Gurung, and other executive members of the association.