Three kick-boxers from Sikkim are in team India to represent the country in the WAKO World Senior Kickboxing Championship 2019 to be held from October 19 to 27 at Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sikkimese kick-boxers, Phurba Sherpa, Phur Khandu Sherpa and Srijana Chettri are members of 12-member national team to represent India in this world championship.
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It has been informed that the trio has been shortlisted in the national team on winning gold medals in the senior national kickboxing championship 2019 held in Haryana in the month of July earlier this year.
Thirtyone-year-old Phurba Sherpa hails from Upper Sumin in East Sikkim and all set to represent the country in the World Championships for the third time.
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She had represented India earlier in World Championships at Ireland in 2015 and then at Hungary in 2017.
She had also represented the country in World Martial Art Games at South Korea in 2016 and again in Asian Kickboxing Championship at Turkmenistan in 2018, where she also won a silver medal for India.
Twentyfour-year-old Phur Khandu Sherpa is the younger sister of Phurba Sherpa and this is her debut appearance in the world championship.
She has bagged three gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal so far for the State in the national championship.
Twentytwo-year-old Srijana Chettri is a resident of Yangyang in South Sikkim and this is also her debut appearance in the world championship.
She won three gold medals and one bronze medal for the State in the national level.
They have undergone rigorous training sessions for the world championship.
They are leaving on Friday for Delhi to join the national team which is scheduled to leave for the championship on Saturday.
Speaking to media on Thursday at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, they have expressed their satisfaction on their practice and preparation for the world championship.
They have further expressed their confidence to give their best to win medals for the country.
In a small function held at Paljor Stadium conference hall, Sikkim Association of Kickboxing Organisations (SAKO) executive members expressed best wishes to all three kick-boxers for the world championship by offering khadas and bouquets.
SAKO president Bhim Bahadur Subba stated it was great achievement not only for kickboxing fraternity but for the entire State that three kick-boxers from a small state have been shortlisted to represent the country.
He expressed his best wishes to them to win medals and laurels for the country and the State.
Likewise, SAKO chief technical director, Bidhan Ballav Subba mentioned Sikkim has been continuously producing international kick-boxers for the country.
He stated such achievement has been possible due to good team work of the association, coaches and players.
He encouraged them to give their best to keep the name of the country and the State on the top with their performance.
He also expressed his confidence that they would win medals for the country in this world championship.