Sikkim is all set to host the 1st edition of Eastern India Strengthlifting & Incline Bench Press Championship 2019 from July 12 to 14 at Sikkim Government College, Gyalshing auditorium in West Sikkim.
Around 250 athletes along with officials from eight states will participate in this three-day championship.
Sikkim Strength Lifting Association [SSLA] has been working on war-footing to organise the first edition of the Eastern India Strengthlifting & Incline Bench Press Championship successfully.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, SSLA chief coach Pema Dorjee Bhutiasaid, “It is an honour for Sikkim to host the first ever Eastern India Strengthlifting & Incline Bench Press Championship in the State.”
He said that the State association has been working hard for the grand success of the championship.
The championship has different weight categories in Senior [men & women] and Master’s [men].
“Around 250 lifters and officials from eight States have been participating in the championship. They are very excited to visit Sikkim for this championship. It is also a good opportunity for us to showcase our rich and beautiful natural resources, culture and tradition,” Bhutia said.
The participating states are Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand, West Bengal and host Sikkim.
A team of more than 50 members of SSLA will represent Sikkim in the championship.
The chief coach expressed his immense happiness on the participation of more than 20 women lifters from Sikkim in this championship.
“The participation of such huge numbers of women lifters is a good sign of the development of strength lifting in the State,” he said.
He stated that the main objective to organise such prestigious and big event in West Sikkim was to promote strength lifting in the rural parts and encourage and motivate talented and potential lifters from the different corners of the State.